<p>I did not apply for aid, perhaps a mistake - maybe not. Caltech doesn't discriminate between those who apply for aid <em>unless</em> you are international.</p>
<p>For my ECs i had a few wins in a Maths Olympiad (only school-wide mind you) , one International Maths trip, I founded a BOINC team for my school that was searching for pulsars in the Einstein@home thing (sounds much more impressive than it is and i haven't done any work on it for a while - stupid computer crash). Won the school maths prize, did a few non-science schemes (Young Enterprise, Duke of Edinburgh) and helped in a junior science scheme or two. Played a bit of soccer</p>
<p>That's really about it (aside from a few bits and bobs - like scoring at a golf tourney :) ). Notice that hardly anything occurred outside of school, no state or county wide competitions (there are no states lol).</p>
<p>I think one thing that is often underestimated in importance are the essays on your application.</p>
<p>I would seriously ask around about what Caltech thinks about gap years though, I know in the UK if you apply for Physics or Maths - unless you are doing something to further your knowledge in those areas like Kit4hk is - universities often discourage gap years.</p>
<p>Finally - maybe you could apply anyway and then reapply after your gap-year if unsuccessful? I can't see why that would disadvantage you.</p>
<p>Jaffa- how about your stats? What did you write for your essay.. Just asking for fun.. Which uk unis did you get in?
Thanks everyone else.. I don think i can do much science stuffs in my country.. Unlike in canada.. No huge unis, research here..
missed out on the asian olympiad..</p>
<p>My stats weren't amazing (SAT I Crit: 760 Math: 800 Writ: 630!, SAT II Maths II: 800 Phy: 780 Chem: 760). I'm predicted 4 As at A level (Maths, Further Maths, Chem and Physics and at GCSE I had 8 A*s and an A.</p>
<p>For the essay I wrote about why i wanted to study physics, the excitement of being able to predict what will happen before it happens etc. really the essay is, in my opinion, the perfect place to vent about why you love your subject and why you think it is more worthy to study than others.</p>
<p>Interestingly i haven't had to send any certificates yet - just the high school transcript. As for school grades i didn't really have any as we didn't have regular assessments. The international office seems to be very understanding when it comes to students from abroad.</p>
<p>It was the commonapp one - my head of sixth form filled it in - and from i gather he wrote down just the GCSE and A level grades and nothing else. The commonapp one didnt appear to be too detailed in terms of termly grades or anything</p>
<p>I didnt write them - my sixth form teacher did, he may well have included copies of my GCSE certificates but he wouldn't have any proof of predicted grades - he kinda is the proof. :D</p>
<p>I seem to remember that for the UCs i filled in my own transcript online and was not required to give any proof at all for those - i think you have to send some form of transcript if you are accepted though.</p>
<p>i think i need to send my GCSE and AS certs.. but really don feel like sending my school ones.. only my biology A levels is spoiling my transcript! I hate it!</p>
<p>I just realised i neglected to mention something: once i do get my A-level results i have to send them certified copies as a kind of final transcript. Which would include AS-levels and GCSE certificates i suppose. Actually maybe not GCSE certificates.</p>