Not a typical 'chances' post?

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>Thanks to Woods and others for the information in the chances post. This post is more specific to transfer admissions. My application is nearly complete, with my current focus on finalizing the essays.</p>

<p>I am a 27 year old transfer applicant for Fall 2010. Details to explain:</p>

<ul>
<li> 10 year break from school after GED at 17</li>
<li> Relatively successful career in sales</li>
<li> Two 'failed' business ventures (wouldn't change a thing though)</li>
<li> Experienced a drastic shift in values after losing father to cancer</li>
<li> Enrolled in 6 classes for the following semester (two philosophy, one religion, psych, Eng, and math course in Fall 08)</li>
<li> Rekindled a passion for math and science; I used to compete in math competitions, math club, etc.</li>
<li> Math classes taken since Fall 08, including current semeseter: intermediate alg, college alg and trig (to catch up with where i left off) calc 1-3, diff eq, lin alg.</li>
<li> Science classes: Gen Chem 1-2 + labs, Physics: Mechanics, electro, magn</li>
<li> No SAT score, never took, not required for xfer applicants</li>
<li> 4.0 GPA, with 50%+ of 56 credits taken for honors</li>
<li> VIRTUALLY NO ECs, cursory involvement in my school's honor society, Phi Theta Kappa</li>
<li> worked 30+ hrs/wk for first full year</li>
</ul>

<p>I have visited an admissions counselor twice, with a separate visit to meet the director of admissions. I live in the Phoenix, AZ area so every trip leaves a dent. I have gained useful insight into the admissions process through these interactions, however I would like a bit more subjective analysis from Lizzardfire, Quell and any other Beaver with a bit of spare time to share with me.</p>

<p>The transfer exams are the first 'gate' that an applicant must pass through, and I feel confident that I have gotten from my calc and physics classes everything that I could. I test well, and my hope is that my college's curriculum has prepared me for the material covered on Caltech's transfer entrance exams.</p>

<p>The essays will be vital for my application, due to my non-traditional path. This post may not provide you with enough insight to answer the very vague 'question' that I am asking, however I hope that it may provide a beginning for a dialogue with a few helpful Techers.</p>

<p>I want to use the 5 essays, in total between the commonapp and supplement, to most effectively communicate the passion that I have for my interests, and the experiences that have facilitated this transition in goals. Also, I wonder if I should perhaps join a club - even if I am most interested in spending that extra time talking to professors or pre-reading for the next weeks classes.</p>

<p>Thanks for any input that you might find helpful as I finalize my application and begin editing my essay drafts. Sorry for the super long post.</p>

2

<p>Also, I can join Mensa if I send in the membership dues - would this help towards ECs?</p>

3

<p>No. I think it’s safe to say Mensa wouldn’t help in any way. </p>

<p>However, I have a question about how much you enjoy math/science. Right now, you’re only taking one math/science class, out of a total of six courses. Have you ever taken a heavily math/science leaning courseload? And of course, how well did you handle it? Just as an example, last term I had 4 math courses, and 1 econ course. The way Caltech is set up, everyone has to pretty much take at least 2 major courses per term, and another science/math class or two to fill other requirements. Are you sure that’s something you’ll want?</p>

4

<p>BeaverHunt, I’d suggest that you take a look at Marsden and Weinstein, Calculus I, II, and III, Apostol, Calculus, Vol. I and II, and the Feynman Lectures on Physics (3 vols.) as prep for the transfer exam, and also as an indicator of whether Caltech is the right place for you to continue.</p>

5

<p>I was not clear in my intital post. The listed 6 classes was my first semester in school, during Fall 2008.</p>

<p>Spring 2009: College Alg, trig, Gen Chem I + lab, English</p>

<p>Summer 2009: Calc I, Intro to Logic, US Constitution </p>

<p>Fall 2009: Calc II, Physics I: Mechanics, Gen Chem II + lab, Intro Java Programming.</p>

<p>Spring 2010: Calc III, Physics II:Elec/Magn, Biopsychology, Dif Eq and Lin alg.</p>

<p>I have a 4.0 and have had the top final grade in ALL of my chemistry/physics courses, and top two in ALL math classes. I’ve gotten one B on an exam since entering college, with my average score on major math/science exams just under 96%. I have scored the highest on all but one final exam in all math and science classes taken. I know it’s not about competition as much as comprehension, however it is important to me to score near the top of every class while at a CC if I hope to keep up at schools such as Caltech. </p>

<p>Sorry for the unclear info in the initial post, and please feel free to ask any further clarifying questions.</p>

6

<p>Thanks Quant. I actually purchased Caltech’s physics course ‘book’ by Purcell from their bookstore on my most recent visit. I will definately look in to your suggestions for calculus. Also, I just picked up ‘Surely you’re joking Mr. Feynman’ to help me further understand one of Caltech’s most influential alum. I may reference this book in an essay.</p>

7

<p>Also, I’m not sure that I want to take 4 math classes, but I’m very happy with 3 science and 2 math, or 3 math and 2 science. I am majoring in Chemical Physics or Physical Chemistry (depending on the school I attend), and hope to apply this to a graduate degree in Neuroscience. Caltech’s Computation and Neural Systems graduate program has MANY classes available to undergraduate students, which would go towards my intended ‘option.’</p>

<p>Perhaps I did not title this thread appropriately, and should consider consolidating this information and reposting with a more accurate heading?</p>

<p>Thanks for you feedback!</p>

8

<p>My mistake, Feynman was not a student at Caltech but rather an influential professor and researcher.</p>

9

<p>I really don’t know much about transfer admissions, but I wouldn’t guess that extracurricular activities would be a huge part of them, especially in your case. As someone else said, mensa doesn’t matter for admissions (although it does save you a lot on geico car insurance, seriously). </p>

<p>Again, since I don’t know anything about transfer admissions, it’s hard to say much about your chances, but it sounds like you’ve got a fairly compelling story and that you’ve got your stuff together. I wish you the best of luck, and if you have any other questions feel free to post more.</p>