Math/Science Activities + General Chance

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
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<p>Thanks in advance for answering these questions.</p>

<p>I'm working on my Caltech app right now and have a question regarding the Math/Science activities.</p>

<p>I have three activities that are "questionably" math/science</p>

<p>My school has no math/science ECs or computer-related ones for that matter, but I have devoted a lot of my time in high school to teaching myself computers (I now obtain frequent work building/troubleshooting PCs as well as in graphic design). *Note: The school I attended in 9th grade did have a computer club (Business Professionals of America) and I placed 3rd in the state in the PC Support Competition, but my school from 10-12 has no similar club.</p>

<p>I also tutor at least two hours a week after school, usually in math/science subjects like calculus and physics. </p>

<p>Finally, I do a lot of studying/self-teaching of math and science for Quiz Bowl (I am the captain of our team and main math/science player), so would that count as well?</p>

<p>With that said, my credentials are as follows:</p>

<p>4.0 unweighted GPA (I'll probably be a valedictorian)
5s in AP Chemistry and AP US History
Taking AP Physics, AP Calc, AP Psych, AP English, AP Govt/Econ this year and helping teach an Honors Chemistry class. (first quarter grades were all As)
800/800/760 Math/Reading/Writing SAT I
800/780/770 US History / Math II / Chemistry SAT IIs</p>

<p>Outside of School
Model United Nations Officer (also nominated for two awards at conferences)
Quiz Bowl Captain (we won 1st place in region in 03 and 2nd in 04)
Teenage Republicans Member
All of the myriad honor societies (National, Science, English, Math, Social Studies)
I spend on average 2 hours a week tutoring for National Honor Society (although I was doing it before then too)</p>

<p>Summer Activities (Last Summer was the first summer I could do anything, explained after the list)</p>

<p>Burnett Honors College Summer Institute at UCF (Basically all Computer Science and math for three weeks) (I also won 1st place in their programming contest)
Boys State (was elected to house of representatives)
Statistics I at Valencia Community College (A)</p>

<p>My recs are stellar, so not worried about that.</p>

<p>Now, there is one qualifier to this... the reason most of my ECs are from last/this year and why last summer was the first I did anything.</p>

<p>I broke my hip in eighth grade and have had four surgeries since, so I've spent most of high school recovering from surgeries in a wheelchair. I hope this doesn't sound stupid but I've spent most of my high school life just trying to survive and make good grades. I still have to walk with a cane and can't walk for a long amount of time.</p>

<p>I've got a letter that I plan to include in my application that details what happened to me and how my dedication to engineering kept me going, but I don't know if that's going to cover for the lack of math/science ECs. </p>

<p>Thanks for your time,</p>

<p>Tom</p>

<p>I'd be happy to answer any questions anyone may have. I am grateful for any help that anyone could offer.</p>

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<p>I apparently can't edit more than once, so I will post in reply form...</p>

<p>I forgot to mention a fourth "questionable" math/science activity-- During my sixth period I am a teacher assistant for an honors chemistry class... I help teach them (on occasion guest lecturing) and walk them through their classwork. I think that's a science one! <em>slightly happier</em></p>

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<p>All the activities which you ask about definitely count for the math/science category (I do admissions at Caltech, so you can trust me on that one) :)</p>

<p>Your Burnett Honors College Summer Institute and programming contest are quite nice -- I can see that being a way to convey passion, but only if you actually mention it somewhere else (like in essay 1 about what makes you a good fit for Caltech) as opposed to having it be a random activity tucked in there somewhere.</p>

<p>The college course is good too.</p>

<p>Hey, random question: this Boys State stuff, and being elected to things... isn't it a little silly, since everyone there is competing to be elected to the same apparently meaningless things, blah blah? Isn't it just a longish popularity contest? It just always struck me as kind of an odd activity with limited educational value, if any. What did you think of it?</p>

<p>Your letter about your special situation due to your disability will certainly help us to view your application in the appropriate context. It doesn't sound stupid at all, and I think doing what you've done in your situation is quite impressive.</p>

<p>You sound like an interesting character with a strong academic record and a compelling story. Just make sure to craft your various nice activities, etc., into a broader narrative that emphasizes your passion for science/engineering, so it doesn't seem you did the stuff but didn't care much. That's good advice for all applicants, by the way ;-)</p>

<p>Oh, finally: it's cool that you're a member of the Teenage Republicans, etc., but a good bit of general advice for anyone is not to emphasize your political views too much (for example in your essays; listing a political club as an activity is great, obviously). Talking about politics has been done well maybe once or twice in all of the applications that I've read, but it generally hurts more often than it helps. (This goes for both liberal and conservative views, and I think it's a pretty good idea at all schools.) Not that I think you were going to do that, but it's something I've been meaning to say for a while.</p>

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<p>"Hey, random question: this Boys State stuff, and being elected to things... isn't it a little silly, since everyone there is competing to be elected to the same apparently meaningless things, blah blah? Isn't it just a longish popularity contest? It just always struck me as kind of an odd activity with limited educational value, if any. What did you think of it?"</p>

<p>In some ways yes, in others no. It definitely is a popularity contest (Our Chief Justice was elected because his name was Wang and our Agriculture Secretary was elected because his name was Moses). But like high school, you can get different things out of it depending on what you put in. I tended to gravitate to the people there that actually cared about politics and leadership; subsequently, my conversations with them led me to learn a lot of things I might not have otherwise. It was a lot of fun writing bills with people who had views completely opposite to my own. It was also fun debating bills in the chambers because the people who really cared about the issues were the ones who got involved. Of course, that was hindered by some of our elected officials--one guy made a motion to appeal a particularly bad decision of the Speaker of the House (which in the real house of reps has to be heard) and the speaker kicked him out. This bothered me so much that I also made a motion to appeal the Chair's decision and was also kicked out--starting a chain reaction of people appealing and being kicked out. It was a scene of civil disobedience fit for a movie... I chuckle now remembering it. Concisely said, what you sow is what you reap. I still talk to quite a few people from Boys State and it is an experience I will not soon forget. I really enjoyed the insanity of 16-hour-work-days constantly writing or debating bills and discussing politics in between.</p>

<p>Regarding your comment about politics, I definitely understand and agree. I think the old adage about religion and politics applies most when making first impressions--and that's certainly what college apps are. </p>

<p>Finally, thanks for replying to my comments (and so quickly!). I have surfed these boards for quite some time and always find you quite funny . Your brutal honesty and "complete pwnage of forum noobs" typically make my stressing about college apps much more amusing :D</p>

<p>I must say that you have made my day. If I could jump for joy I would :) </p>

<p>Thanks again for your help! (I hope you get to read my application, you seem to remind me of me...)</p>

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<p>
[quote]

Hey, random question: this Boys State stuff, and being elected to things... isn't it a little silly, since everyone there is competing to be elected to the same apparently meaningless things, blah blah?

[/quote]

At Girls State, I decided to become a state trooper because I was too scared to run for office. We had to do "PT" in the hot sun and "patrol" for "drunken drivers" -- but hey, I didn't have to give a single campaign speech!</p>

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<p>Boys State and Girls State seem to have a distinct regional appeal. Midwesterners generally like ECs that emphasize public service and involvement in politics, perhaps more than people on either coast. (I was NOT in Boys State as a kid, but I was an avid member of my school's debate team.)</p>

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<p>I am in Florida :P I did it because it's considered a great honor academically around here and because it seemed very interesting. I thought it would be something like my Model United Nations conferences. It was, although not as interesting--the MUN conferences are much more merit-based.</p>

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<p>Personally, I skipped Boys State for a band camp and have never looked back.</p>

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<p>o what the heck?</p>

<p>you've got freaking good chances man! </p>

<p>you're making me feel so bad =&lt;/p>

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<p>Boys' State MA had wicked good food. We also had a lot of lectures by Larry DiCara, who ran the program or something; the topics jumped all over the place and were overall pretty edifying.</p>

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<p>Wow, TrichoTilloManic's predictions of events that happened over two years ago are stunningly accurate. Tricho, can you tell me if I will get off the waitlist? The suspense is just killing me...</p>

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<p>I bet he could even tell you what house you'll be in!</p>

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<p>I wonder if he could tell me what major I'll end up as...</p>

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<p>Which may or may not be related to what house he'll be in...</p>

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<p>lol, Lloyd House EE House...</p>

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<p>yay.......</p>