(me --> Caltech)?

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>Okay, so "what are my chances" for Caltech this year? I'd like honest, reasonable opinions. Thanks.</p>

<p>white male
small private school
financial aid applicant</p>

<p>NUMBERS:</p>

<p>4.0 uw, 1/80
800m/760v
800 Chemistry
790 Math IIC
790 Physics
780 Writing
5 Calculus AB
5/5 Calculus BC
5 Physics B
5/5 Physics C*
5 U.S. History
5 European History*
5 World History*
5 Human Geography*
5 English Language*
4 Chemistry
4 Biology*
4 Computer Science AB
4 English Literature</p>

<ul>
<li>self-study</li>
</ul>

<p>All above APs were taken in 2 years.</p>

<p>ACADEMICS:</p>

<p>WA State Science & Engineering Fair finalist (independent theoretical math research)
Math Team (4x, state 4x)
State Math Competition (1st, 1st, 3rd, 3rd)(applied math project, problem solving)
4 AIME
Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award
single school nominee for WA Scholars Program
deparment awards (math 3x, science 3x, German 3x, social studies 1x)
National Merit Commended
NHS (2x)
Technology Honor Society (1x)</p>

<p>MUSIC:</p>

<p>All-Northwest Band (1x)
All-State Band (2x)
Western International Band Clinic (3x, 1st chair)
State Solo Competition (3x)
Wind Ensemble (4x)
Jazz Band (3x)
Pep Band (4x, state 3x)</p>

<p>SPORTS:</p>

<p>Varsity Cross Country (2x)
Coach's Award (2x)
state (2x, individual qualifer, 7th team, 30th individual)
Varsity Track (4x, state 1x)</p>

<p>SUMMERS:</p>

<p>Germany (visited relatives, spoke German)
Thailand Missions (helped build AIDS hospice)
construction janitorial (40 hrs/week)</p>

<p>OTHER:</p>

<p>committed Baptist Church member (wrote article for regional Christian journal)
cartography as a hobby (mostly historical/linguistic)
mining as a hobby (locate and extract gold and silver from abandoned mines)
wood-chopping (a few hrs/week during a winter)
doing crazy things</p>

2

<p>
[quote]
4 Chemistry
4 Biology*
4 Computer Science AB
4 English Literature

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Don't put these scores on the listing in the app. They won't help, and including them can hurt. If they're on the CollegeBoard printout, don't worry about it -- that's not conspicuous, and after reading hundreds of applications I haven't looked at it once.</p>

<p>Your math research and various awards seem fairly impressive. I don't know what year you are, but there may still be time to enter Siemens/Intel -- something might come of it.</p>

<p>I'd say overall there's very little that's "wrong" with your application, and you're more impressive than average in the awards/activities category. From Caltech's perspective, you are a nice, fairly accomplished, quite well-rounded kid. There's no feeling of "overwhelming intellect" here -- the 4 on the AIME and the state-level science fair don't break the ceiling. Still, everything is solid.</p>

<p>I'd say you have a very strong foundation if only you can make us believe you have a great deal of passion and potential -- not passion in that obedient "oh yes I'd love to go to Caltech" sense but real spunk, a real desire to change the world in a big way. Your goal is to transcend "accomplished, nice kid" to make an impact with the force of your intellect and personality.</p>

<p>So be brave in your essays. Talk honestly, like you would to a friend, about what makes you want to do science at the highest level, and why you love it, etc. I think that'll do it.</p>

<p>With average essays, this would be a 50-60% in my view. With excellent essays, it would get higher, much closer to 80% or so. This is the sort of application where the personal part makes a difference, so go for it.</p>

3

<p>ben, would you consider the fact that he has independently studied 6 AP courses impressive? How much of a role would it play in admissions?</p>

4

<p>Yes, I would consider it impressive. It would play a significant role.</p>