IF you are going/went/go to Caltech...

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>I am interested in going to a school like Caltech and I was wondering what your highschool carrer was like (what you did to get into caltech) , how your experiance at caltech has been, and what you think about my plan (also comment on my schedule) ? </p>

<p>So if you could please answer the above questions id really appreciate it.
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Plan : I want to major in either computer science, or engineering and get a graduate in it, while getting a bachellors in bussiness. I am currently a incoming sophmore so im very young yet i really focus on my future. I am alredy prepping for the SATs with a few books. Is this the school for me? The following is my highschool schedule what should i change.</p>

<p>9th>>><<< English 9cp>> Algebra 1cp>>Health/Geography/Careers>>PE>> Spanish 1 >> Physical science cp</p>

<p>9th to 10th summer>>><<< Geometry semester 1 and 2 taken online </p>

<p>10th>>><<< ACD English 10cp>>Algebra 2cp>>>ACD World history>>>PE>>>Spanish 2>>>ACD Biology Cp>>>Mass Media</p>

<p>11th>>><< English 11cp>>>Math Analysis H>>>US history AP>>>Spanish 3cp>>>Chemisty H>>>Computer programming 1</p>

<p>12th>>><<<english 12cp="">>>Calculus AP>>> Physics AP>>> Computer repair ROP >>> Economics and Politics CP/AP</english></p>

<p>ACD = Academy. I am in the academy which changes certain courses to be acd courses. These courses are focuses on my choice of topic, for me computer repair specifically and bussiness and IT in general. So my essays in english for ex. would than be based on computers.</p>

<p>ROP = Off campus class with hands on training. </p>

<p>DO I HAVE ENOUGH APs????</p>

<p>ECs So far-
* Plan on over 80 hours of community service
* Became comptia A+ certified (cert. pc tech after self study) at 15
* Member of CSF (requires 3.5gpa and 10 hours of com. service a semester)
* Creating a computer based club this upcoming semester, i plan to be the president of this club and take an active role in it though my senior year
* Getting a job at the geeksquad my 10th-11th grade summer
* Plan on taking more technician classes at comptia.org
* Academy program includes job shadowing, interns, and interveiws. Also includes feild trips to companies. All based on computers and bussiness (however at any time if i choose i may go into the engineering academy)
* Working on a new product , and im hoping to sign a deal with companies like samsung for them too sell it, but of course cant really count this one
* Was 5th class president, not sure if colleges care because some people say it does matter while other say they dont really consider it a good sign of leadership</p>

<p>SATs: I plan on taking the SAT and the SATII at the end of 10th grade or the end of 11th grade (not sure yet)</p>

<p>Application : obviously havent written an essay but i am going to send in for the early application (early choice)</p>

<p>Me: Live in southern california (30 min to LA) and I am male of italian ancestroy (born in new york) . </p>

<p>Thankyou in advance for any comments.</p>

2

<p>I wouldn't come here to do business as a bachelor's degree. (Although some do.) I think it would make more sense in your situation to undergrad in engineering and pursue an MBA.</p>

<p>It seems that your math and science background would be a little weak, only getting to AP Calc, and only one year of AP science. However, if that's all your school offers/all you can do, then I'm sure Caltech will take that into consideration. ECs definately would show an interest in computers, although perhaps pursuing some sort of research in comp sci would show more of interest towards science which I feel like is more what Caltech is looking for.</p>

<p>Overall, I'm not sure that Caltech fits you. A lot of what you're doing seems like very practical computer work with an interest in business management. Caltech is very science oriented and more focused on theory and research. CS here is very theoretical here and form what I hear is basically math. EE might be closer to what you'd be interested in.</p>

3

<p>I think you're confusing Caltech with Best Buy.</p>

4

<p>I agree that Caltech is not a match. A place like RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) or WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) or RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) is a lot more in line with the applied kind of work you want to do. MIT would also be somewhere to think about, but it would be a high reach. I am almost completely sure you would not be happy at Caltech.</p>

5

<p>A little quick in dashing the hopes of a 15 years old aren't we? Spellcheck and a little polish along with a lot of info we do not have about the individual might qualify him as a future star.</p>

6

<p>My best advice would be to do what you want to do, not because it's a formula for getting into college, but because you want to do it. Caltech looks for students who are driven and exhibit a passion in their fields of interest. So go ahead and found that computer club, get the certification, and take the toughest classes you can get into, but do it primarily because you want to, not because someone said that's the way to get into Caltech.</p>