Stats:[ul]
[]SAT: 1540 (800 Math, 740 English)
[]SAT II: 780 Math, 800 Physics
[]ACT: N/A
[]GPA: 3.963 UW, 4.154 W
[]Rank: N/A
[]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): 5 on World History, Human Geography, Calc BC, and Computer Science / 4 on US History and English Language
[/ul]Subjective[ul]
[]Essays: Pretty last minute but decent. Could have done way better though
[]Teacher Recs: My math/science teacher was my computer science and math teacher (3 classes in total) and is my adviser for my Girl Scouts Gold Award. Weaker humanities rec.
[]Counselor Rec: My counselor really likes me and she told my mom that she wrote a really good letter of recommendation.
[]Supplementary Material: Siemens research paper
[]Hook (recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): legacy, but I don’t think they consider that
[/ul]Personal[ul]
[]Location: New York
[]High School Type: Public
[]Ethnicity: Asian
[]Gender: Female
[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Extracurriculars: President of school Robotics Club, main programmer and active builder of Girl Scouts robot (participation in robotics world championships and state championships with my Girl Scouts team), created / founded website to centralize product reviews (not sure if this was significantly considered), Co-President of Teen Advisory Board at public library, Co-Vice President of STEM Club, developed app for gene expression data for a biologist (research #1), data acquisition application at Brookhaven National Lab (research #2), mobile computing / machine learning research as a Simons Fellow at Stony Brook, Science Honors Program at Columbia University, Science Olympiad, Mathletes, worked at Kumon, volunteered at a children’s museum, varsity / JV (co-captain) tennis, national guild pianist, was cello player in chamber orchestra
[]Awards: 1st place in computer science and modeling for local research fair, Honorable Mention at regional research fair, completing the Gold Award for Girl Scouts (using tech skills and helping the community by implementing watering system for a sustainable garden), VEX Robotics Excellence Award (x2), VEX Tournament Finalist (x2), Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge Semifinalist, New York State History Day 1st place (participation at nationals), NHS, National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar with Distinction
[]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: Wow. I was extremely surprised and grateful to get accepted given the highly competitive nature of the school. I’m not really sure what stood out on my application but I’m thrilled that it was enough. Good luck to everyone with other results![/ul]
Stats:[ul]
[]SAT: 1540 (750 RW, 790 M)
[]SAT II: 740 Chemistry, 800 Math Level 2
[]GPA: 4.42 W ~3.7 UW (My school counts A-s separately from As)
[]Rank: School Doesn’t Rank
[]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): Studio Art: Drawing (3), US History (5)
[/ul]Subjective[ul]
[]Essays: Pretty solid
[]Teacher Recs: I believe they were good, I had a good relationship with both of my teachers and I did have to work harder in math than I used to that year
[]Counselor Rec: I believe it was good as well, I have a good relationship with my counselor
[]Supplementary Material: Caltech doesn’t really have supplements
[]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Woman in STEM, URM (but Caltech doesn’t care)
[/ul]Personal[ul]
[]Location: California
[]High School Type: Private
[]Ethnicity: Biracial, White/Hispanic
[]Gender: Female
[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Extracurriculars: Co-founder of a diversity magazine, Co-leader of a arts and crafts community service program, refugee tutor, science publication staff member, co-leader of art club, editor-in-chief of Visual Arts publication, volunteer at local aviation museum, and leader/member of various other clubs, I took a college course over a summer
[]Awards: National Merit Commended, Hispanic Recognition Scholar, President’s Service Award Bronze, Spanish Honor’s Society, Honor Roll
[*]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:[/ul] I guess I’m proof that you don’t have to have a 1600, 36, and a 4.0 GPA to get in? I’m crazy excited and surprised I got in.
Stats:[ul]
[]SAT: 1550/1600
[]SAT II: 800 in Math II and Chemistry, 780 in Physics
[]ACT: N/A
[]GPA: 4.0
[]Rank: N/A
[]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): 5 on AP European History, English and CS; 4 on AP US History and Spanish Language
[/ul]Subjective[ul]
[]Essays: Were decent, and I spent a lot of time on them. Were more technical and straightforward than my applications to more liberal arts based schools
[]Teacher Recs: STEM rec was probably 10/10, as it was written by my CS teacher, with whom I’m very close. My Humanities Rec I changed to a different teacher very last minute, but it probably was an 8/10 as the teacher gave me a very high grade in their class when I took it. I waived my rights so I didn’t read either rec, but I’m evaluating based on how I think my teachers regard me.
[]Counselor Rec: Probably super generic. Didn’t know him well, and I go to a big school.
[]Supplementary Material: None
[]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Athlete
[/ul]Personal[ul]
[]Location: New York
[]High School Type: Large
[]Ethnicity: Asian
[]Gender: Female
[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Extracurriculars: Ranked competitor in the sport I was recruited for, Head of CS tutoring in school, Web Development in Honor Society, Speech and Debate (Captain), Columbia SHP participant
[]Awards: Numerous essay awards, National Merit Finalist (Semifinalist at time of admission), numerous Speech and Debate awards (state and national level), National Honor Society
[]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: Regarding athletics, I believe that it does give your application an edge if you are recruited by a coach at Caltech. However, at schools such as Caltech or MIT, athletes are by no means “less qualified” than other applicants; the coach’s power only extends so far as they can allow a qualified applicant with special athletic skills be noticed by admissions. It’s certainly different from D1 schools, e.g. the Ivy Leagues, where athletes can have significantly lower grades or test scores but still be guaranteed admission. But if you’re good at a sport, your grades are pretty good, and you like STEM, by all means…go for it! Good luck
[/ul]
