<p>guitarmanars--I will be busting my behind to get my diploma eventually, though. It'd feel...awkward never having one even if I did have a degree, you know?</p>
<p>Just for the benefit of future applicants, I post my stats too.</p>
<p>Decision: Rejected
SAT:1st take - CR690/M800/W680, 2nd take - CR740/M800/W730
SAT IIs:Math II 800/Physics800/Chemistry800
GPA: not calculated
Rank:1 of 110
Essays: This wasn't that particularly good, I don't think. I wasn't fully happy with it. I talked about my passion for maths and physics, and how Caltech is obviously suitable for such things. I said it better than that, but that's sort of it. Also talked about how I try to be fairly balanced in what I do, and how I had an experience of moving to a completely new environment and adjusting when I immigrated to New Zealand, blah blah, so I'll contribute to Caltech in blah blah ways.
Teacher Recs: Sent in three. My physics teacher wrote things along the lines of "in the right environment, Eric will be able to significantly add to humanity's understanding of the Universe", which I thought was a big call. A university professor wrote things like "I would dearly like Eric to attend this university, but we cannot offer enough to fulfil his potentials", my English teacher who I also know personally wrote pretty much how great a guy she thinks I am. So they were pretty good I thought.
Counselor Rec: Pretty good too, pretty much "the best in my career, best in the history of the school", "he will do exceptionally well wherever HE CHOOSES to attend"...
Hook/other achievements: I guess the IMO bronze medal? Obviously not big enough. Have taken university papers in 1st year accelerated maths, 1st year theology, 2nd year accelerated linear algebra, 2nd year quantum physics, 2nd year electromagnetism (during highschool), currently taking 3rd year group theory, 3rd year thermal,statistical,particle physics, 3rd/4th year quantum mechanics, and 3rd/4th year classical mechanics papers (incidentally, this paper uses the same book that the most advanced undergraduate classical mechanics paper at MIT uses as well) [In New Zealand, school year starts in February and finishes in November]. One of eight to receive the Premier award (the highest award possible) in the New Zealand scholarship exams, first in the country in maths in various competitions/exams, other various national level scholarships, NZ representative in selective programmes, such as to The Hague International Model UN or the USA International Space Camp, working on the diploma of Associate of Trinity College of London in Piano Recital, member of the school senior A debating team for 3 years, regional rep at the nationals for debating, coach of the debating team in my final year of highschool, various best speaker awards, other random things like playing rugby for the school, entering short story competitions, composing a school song, running quite a few scholarship classes at school, tutoring, school prefect, etc.
Country: New Zealand
Ethnicity: Korean
School type: Integrated (religious, but sort of public and sort of private)
Gender: Male
Other Factors: Not sure, they couldn't interview me, cuz they didn't have anybody in New Zealand, appied for fin.aid. although I don't think that matters in admission, what other factors are there?</p>
<p>Hopefully someone next year would find that helpful in some way.
I'm not like bitter about it or whatever, although it might sound like it a little.
I know there are a lot of good applicants, and it's quite hard for internationals.
I'd be somewhat interested to hear people's opinions on why I got rejected though.
Not saying that I shouldn't have been rejected, nothing like it.
Just curious to see what people think.
Anyways, good luck to those of you who have been accepted.
For the rest of us, hopefully we'll get in somewhere where we will enjoy just as much.</p>
<p>Regards
Eric</p>
<p>rhea -- this seems pointless. with a degree from a top 5 university, nobody will ever ask you for a high school diploma. wouldn't this just be a waste of time?</p>
<p>Why not graduate from HS in three years WITH a diploma and admission. Can't you take the required courses over summer at the JC or HS?</p>
<p>But what is the point if you already got into college? At that point, a high school diploma is essentially worthless.</p>
<p>Can't they rescind your acceptance if you don't graduate?</p>
<p>Ben, I'm really, really attached to my school :)</p>
<p>In order to graduate I need another year of English, and that's all--the English I take freshman year will suffice for that.</p>
<p>And zking--no, my school wouldn't let me take the English at a CC :(</p>
<p>Your school decides whether or not you can take a college course? lol</p>
<p>no, but they do decide whether or not they'll let me use those credits to graduate, as a private institution has every right to...</p>
<p>Rheasilvia
My S also left HS as a junior. He needed English 4. He worked out a deal with his HS that he took 1/2 year during summer (the grammar part), and then an english course during 2nd term at Caltech. The on-line course took 3 weeks. There is no really good reason to get a HS diploma, but being a mom, I worried that he could leave college before graduating. Plus, it seemed so simple to do.
I don't think the chronological age of 17 or 18 makes a difference. You know if you are ready for the full-time college experience.Caltech's housing system is so helpful, because you live with kids from all grades. They can ofer advice, as well as role model how to have fun as well as good study skills. Personally, I never liked the idea of all freshmen dorms, and then moving each year.</p>
<p>business-sized letter came in today.
If anyone's that interested in stats.. <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=1961517#post1961517%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=1961517#post1961517</a> .</p>
<p>Rheasilvia, I hope you are able to work it out with your school.
Good luck to everyone, in deciding which college to go to. I'm positive that most of the people on this thread can be successful at any university and beyond.</p>
<p>Accepted!! </p>
<p>I am from India ( international!)</p>
<p>sorry --- in a hurry -- will post details later!</p>
<p>Decision: Rejected</p>
<p>Stats:</p>
<p>SAT: 2170 (750M 760CR 660WR), I did it in January but the scores didn't count
SAT IIs: 800MII, 720Phy, 760Fr
TOEFL: 300
GPA: French system, about 16.5-17/20
Rank: 6 out of 36</p>
<p>Essays: Didn't work too hard on them, but they were good
Teach Rec.: 1 great, 1 very good
Counselor Rec.: I guess it was good, but I don't really know</p>
<p>Location/Person:
State or Country: Lebanon
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Male</p>
<p>major strength/weakness: I didn't have many scientific activities, and nothing to note in terms of awards. Rank was also pretty bad.</p>
<p>rejected.. don't feel like posting stats, but i'm fairly sure that my low math2 score killed me.</p>
<p>Thank you, elladorkess! Bookworm, it shouldn't be hard for me to finish that last requirement, and I'm not so worried about my chronological age either--I want my diploma for sentimental reasons. Which are often the most important. Thanks for your good wishes.</p>
<p>*Decision: Accepted *</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>]SAT I: 2200 (CR 720, M 780, W 700)
[</em>]SAT II: Math IIC 800, Physics 800, Chemistry 800
[<em>]GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.277 W
[</em>]AP: All 5's: Chemistry, U.S. History, English Lang & Comp, Physics B, Calculus BC
[li]Rank: unranking weird school =D[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Subjective:[ul]
[<em>]Essays: Not the greatest in the world, hopefully free of mechanical errors. I applied last minute with no hopes of being accepted because caltech had only 200 incoming freshmen last year.<br>
[</em>]Teacher Recs: pretty good?
[<em>]Counselor Recs: the same old praise
[</em>]Hook: am of female gender[/ul]</p>
<p>Location/Person: [ul]
[<em>]State: New Mexico
[</em>]School Type: Public
[<em>]Ethnicity: Asian
[</em>]Gender: Female
[li]Strengths/Weaknesses: Good AP scores, winning some state competitions/ poor SAT I scores, boringly Asian[/li]Why was I accepted: Very good question. I'm happy about it though. Got rejected from MIT, my top choice, and am now regretting moving out of Massachusetts because there's obvious geographical bias. Don't know if I will actually go to Caltech although parents are extremely enthusiastic. [/ul]</p>
<p>Decision: Waitlist</p>
<p>Stats:
SAT I (by section): 800M,740V,780W
SAT IIs: 800 IIC,800 Chem,800 Phys
APs: 8 5's after 11th
GPA, Weighted and Unweighted: 3.9,4.7
Rank: 21/395 2/395
Senior Yr Courseload: Mentorship, Bio, Econ, English, Anatomy, Comp Sci, Diff Eq, US Hist</p>
<p>Number of Apps from Your School: 2
ECs listed on app: Masjid youth group, academic team, math team, sci bowl, Universal Muslim Association of America
Job/Work Experience: Applied Physics Lab AI research, Artificial Limbs in Kuwait</p>
<p>Essay: why Caltech one was nice, tied together APL and infinite possibilities
UMAA
Teacher Recs: didn't read but the ones I asked usually do well
Counselor Rec: didn't read
Hook (if any): APL AI, Kuwait see above</p>
<p>State or Country: MD
School Type: public
Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: Male</p>
<p>Why: The update that I was going to be published for AI took pretty long.
The other of the 2 was waitlisted too though far less stats
Many more things to be sent in</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT: 800 Math, 750 Critical Reading, 640 Writing
[</em>] SAT IIs: 800 Chem, 790 Math II, 710 US History
[<em>] GPA: 4.98 weighted, 4.23 unweighted (4.33 points awarded for an A+)
[</em>] Rank: 1 of 517
[<em>] Other stats: 8 APs (Chem, Physics C (Mech and E+M), BC Calc, Lit, Comp, US, and Euro); no final grades lower than A my entire high school career (more than half of them A+'s, as is evident from my GPA)
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays: My best essay was one where I compared my personal values and experinces metaphorically to Newton's 3 Laws of Motion in both function and name. The second essay was a generic "Why I want to go to CalTech" essay
[<em>] Teacher Recs: My Honors/AP Chem teacher and my French III/IV teacher
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Probably a good one, my counselor and I are tight
[<em>] Hook (if any): Probably my diverse list of extra curriculars (mostly humanities: Model UN President, Bible Study leader, Academic Bowl Team captian) which also included some math/science stuff (Robotics Club, Physics Club, independent research project, Math Team Captain) Also, I've won numerous awards in international Model UN competitions. My academic bowl team is also the league champion.
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[</em>] State or Country: Pennsylvania
[<em>] School Type: Public
[</em>] Ethnicity: Caucasian
[<em>] Gender: Male
[</em>] major strength/weakness: Physics, Chemistry, Math
[li] why you think you were accepted/rejected/defered: Strong, East Coast Candidate with good recs.[/li][/ul]Other Factors: Dual Citizenship (Swiss/US), 3 Part-Time Jobs totaling about 25 hours per week (20 hours per week in the Kitchen of a local nursing home, 5+ hours for my e-bay business, and, during the summer, a lawn care business)</p>
<p>Congrats!!!! :)</p>