@lookingforward The club I started is for kids but I will be working together with youth to teach them. Do you think I should find more occasion to work with other teens my age?
@ACEPLUS That’s the first time I’ve seen Caltech dissed for being too technology-focused and having not enough science theory. If people are going to criticize Caltech, it’s usually for being too theory-focused and better suited for people interested in physics and math than for those interested in engineering and CS.
@Ynotgo I just showed my natural homeschooler ignorance 
Thanks for clarifying, I always thought it was extremely focused on science, technology, CS, and engineering instead of math.
Like others, said, these will be reaches, and you should try to get better EC’s, and some related to your major. Try looking for summer programs or internships that will boost you.
That Clash Royale thing is amazing, I love the game but am not that good, but that will not help for Ivies. Maybe if you had a clash royale club and you were Prez…
Your GPA is great but you were homeschooled. Your PSAT will be good too, as you got 1450 last year, so you can get atleast 1490 for NMF this year. If you study even more you can get your SAT to near 1600, which is good. You can probably get into all states schools, including Cal, but Ivies and others will require strong EC’s too, and leadership and stuff. Try to build your resume until you are a senior, so you will have a good chance.
^^^Cal is equivalent to Ivies in terms of difficulty in admissions–Cal requires strong ECs too, not just grades and test scores.
Yes, you need ECs with peers, not just with younger kids. All applicants to top privates do. And for stem, collaborative math and/or science. Some will add internships. The ways you choose stretch and teamwork matter, show adcoms a lot.
Chill. 
@preppedparent The admissions rate for UC Berkeley is around 16%, so selective, but certainly not as selective as the Ivies. For Engineering majors, particularly EECS, the admission rate is significantly lower than that, but it doesn’t seem like the OP wants to apply to engineering.
Being in CA gives @ACEPLUS an advantage, because he can apply to a mix of UCs + Calpoly and be pretty sure he will get in somewhere good if his SAT score is good and he writes good essays.
The homeschool angle makes it a bit more difficult for UCs, and I hope he is connected with a homeschool group that can advise about how to apply to UCs as a homeschooler, along with how to create homeschool transcripts and school profiles for colleges other than UCs (which don’t want transcripts up-front).
(OP, you will have taken all the UC a-g requirements, including a year of a visual or performing art, right?)
Then, the OP can apply to mainly more selective colleges than UCs so long as there are UCs he would be happy to attend.
Its at least as selective as Cornell, and maybe even Penn and Brown.
@Ynotgo Yep I will take probably drama in my senior year.
I’m not super interested in engineering; not only is it extremely competitive but a little too mainstream for my taste
I’m dont feel like my skill set and interests has any affinity with Berkeley for some reason. I fell much more attracted to private schools like HYPS, I just need to bring myself to the level where I actually have a shot
@Ynotgo And yes, I am connected with a decent homeschool group and am fairly familiar with the whole college application process for homeschoolers, thanks for asking
Sorry about this, but do you really know enough about what engineers do? Imo, it’s where substance, skills, and curiosity/a yen for problem solving meet. Not mainstream, except for those maybe missing some of the creative side.
And what do you really know about tippy tops? Remember, what attracts you is only half the equation. You have to match them. You’ve got to dig into what they want and look for.
@lookingforward I’m thinking more of computer science majors. We have an abundance of those in CA. Mechanical Engineering is quite popular as well.
All I know is that Test scores are the bare minimum for top schools; EC’s and essays are the major determinant.
Without any major awards (I don’t count the video game, sorry) and average essays, I don’t see any of HYPS accepting you. Getting F=MA would be a good addition, though.
@asianfang Yes, unfortunately no major awards besides usual NMS and NAPS. I will aim for silver or gold F=MA though
@preppedparent What kind of bold and personal essays do you recommend?
They wouldn’t be personal to you if you are relying on an internet stranger to make suggestions for you. Your essays will ideally tell the reader something about you that they can’t glean from the rest of your application.
OP, if you sufficiently know what these colleges are about, what they look for, you will know how to present yourself.
That’s not opinion or hearsay on an anonymous forum, some of it from parents, other from high school students. If you want them to see you as the admirable sort who researches, processes, and understands, you have to be that person, do that digging.
Otherwise, you have names of college targets you like, but miss what they want. You’re guessing. Some poster says you need this or that and you go off chasing it. Another says something else and that distracts.
Go to the right sources, starting with your targets.
@lookingforward Is PrepScholar a reliable source?
I don’t think any for-profit site should be relied on. They’re not the college, not adcoms. PS focuses on test prep.