Is Caltech really that hard to get in?

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>I know my questions are probably odd, and stupid, but I'm sorry for asking.</p>

<p>Is Caltech really that hard to get in? I know I never took any of my SAT's, or ACT's and I would need to take my classes at a local 2yr Community College (CC), so I could be ready for a 4yr college. I know I'm not a smart guy, but that's just me.</p>

<p>What would, and honestly be the chances to get into Caltech? Or would it be impossible?</p>

<p>I'm really sorry for asking those questions. As I was reading, and people say it's difficult. I'm not sure how difficult.</p>

<p>Thank you for any info.</p>

2

<p>I have no idea, actually. I cannot tell given your information. You would be applying as a transfer student, which is generally not an easy way of getting in, so I’d say your chances would be hurt by that. Also, keep in mind that credits tend not to transfer when you try to transfer to Caltech. That’s a lot of years in college…</p>

3

<p>Would if someone took course at a local college such as in my state of PA, and then don’t transfer the credits to Caltech, but instead take a placement test for Caltech to placed in the right classes? I know my local 2yr CC offers a placement test to get in. I’m only asking.</p>

<p>Please look at Northampton.edu</p>

<p>That’s the local college.</p>

<p>Thank you for your reply.</p>

4

<p>As a high school student, I also take classes at a local university, fully knowing that they won’t transfer.
While yes, you can take a placement test to get into the correct courses, I wouldn’t recommend it. The courses taught at Caltech are probably very, very hard. Even the intro ones. Placing into a higher level class might save you time, but you risk taking classes that are way over your head. I mean this in the nicest way possible.</p>

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<p>yes it is :)</p>

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<p>Are you still in high school? If so, I would highly advise taking either the SAT or ACT or both. I think (?) that these scores are still going to be important for transfer admissions.</p>

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<p>its hard! they only have like 1000 undergrads</p>

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<p>Once you’re in, Caltech is one of the hardest schools in the world. Have you taken a look at the core curriculum?</p>

<p>[Core</a> Curriculum - Caltech Caltech Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/learning/core]Core”>http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/learning/core)</p>

<p>Most everyone runs screaming. (If you don’t, by all means, apply!)</p>

9

<p>Ok, first are you a HS student or have you graduated from HS and are in a community college right now?</p>

<p>If you are HS student, then you need high SAT/ACT, high GPA, SAT II, reserach and other EC’s, demonstrated passion for math and science and you are going to be competing against some of the brightest young minds in the country. If you have not taken SAT/ACT, you do not have exemplary math and science activities, your grades are not very high etc, then your chances are near zero, if not zero. Sorry to be brutally frank.</p>

<p>Now what happens if you graduate from HS and still want to go to Caltech. You have two choices</p>

<p>1) Join a college that 3/2 program with Caltech. You do three years in that college (e.g. Pomona, Whitman etc) and transfer to Caltech and complete 2 years to get a degree from Caltech. It is competitive and you have to excel in your college.</p>

<p>2) Take the transfer examination and transfer. The exam is very tough and not many get in. Here are the statistics</p>

<p>Transfer Admissions Profile:
Caltech admits transfer students from all regions of the world, and from many kinds of post-secondary institutions. Caltech seeks the most qualified students, regardless of the type of institution from which they come. The table below describes a few combined characteristics of four recent transfer applicant pools (Fall 2007 to Fall 2010):</p>

<p>Four-year Totals Applicants Admits
Total 431 35
U.S. 2-year institution 208 15
U.S. 4-year institution 165 16
Non-U.S. institution 58 4</p>

<p>In the last 4 years 431 students took the exam and 35 made it. Of the 431, 208 were from a community college and only 15 made it. I am sure those who take the exam and got in studied very hard. So only about 9 students get in any year. Not a large number.</p>

<p>Caltech will not transfer credits (for example they give no credit to AP classes).</p>

<p>[Transfer</a> Applicants - Caltech Caltech Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/applying/transfer]Transfer”>http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/applying/transfer)</p>

<p>So if you want to get into Caltech, you need to work very hard. Period.</p>

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<p>there is no chance. Northampton is a subpar community college, caltech is one of the hardest and most rigorous institutions in the world. I would guarantee that little to no credits would transfer, and there is no way that you would probably pass a placement test given how laid back NCC is. Sorry you would have to like do all 4 years</p>

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<p>@mazewandrer- i am in class 12th, i am an indian student. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/india/1285542-transfer-chances-indian-student.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/india/1285542-transfer-chances-indian-student.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>please read the following thread and suggest if i could do anything regarding my plans to transfer to caltech .
(if i my ECs,and GPAs are good enough i am thinking of applying for some of the ivys as well)</p>

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<p>It appears that you are an international student living in India right now and that you do not have a strong academic record, a strong SAT score nor do you really have a demonstrated passion for math and science. I do not believe in chancing students, but if those facts a true, the odds are stacked against you.</p>

<p>You can apply to Ivy’s, but remember that many qualified international applicants including from India, so it is not going to be easy unless you have a great profile.</p>

<p>For a transfer student, you need to able to pass the transfer exam. So what you need to do is go to a college in India or outside, study really hard and take the exam and get through. It is very difficult and you have to put a lot of work. </p>

<p>There are no shortcuts.</p>

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<p>@mazewandrer-Thanks a lot for thar advice :slight_smile: i agree with the academic record part.i am working on it and the numbers are good this year.(though not that good in past).i haven’t taken the SAT.will a this june/july.i am good in physics but i haven’t participated in any Olympiads or anything.the late realization is the main reason why i am in this condition.but better late than never, i am ready to slog.
Just wanted some advice about how i can improve my profile.</p>

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<p>Can anybody please tell me how much does a bronze medal in International Physics Olympiad and National Chamionship in National Physics Olympiad help for international students in caltech admission?</p>

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<p>They certainly wouldn’t hurt your application.</p>

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<p>^ Haha…That’s why I love Caltech :D</p>

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<p>@LHC: what does ‘won’t hurt your application mean’? You mean that they have no impact in the chances?</p>

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<p>@imtitanium It means that it can only help your application. We don’t know by how much though, tbh as we are not evaluating your application.</p>

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<p>^^^^ exactly</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Does that increase your chances? Absolutely. Is it sufficient to get you in on its own? No. It is your whole package that matters, so if you only this and nothing else (i.e. if you have bad recommendations, grades, SAT scores etc.) it will not help. So it is good that you have that award but do not expect that alone will get you in.</p>

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<p>yes because i got rejected XD</p>