<p>I got my CalTech decision today and I was rejected - not even deferred, and I was kinda surprised by that. I know this doesn't 100% necessarily mean MIT will reject me too, but how much hope do I have? MIT is by absolute first choice and CalTech was around 3... but does that matter?</p>
<p>advice/words of comfort appreciated.</p>
<p>Today I also was rejected and similarly I was surprised. Did I think that I won’t get in? Not really. But I truly thought that I would be deferred. All of my “statistics” fall right in the ranges for accepted students and think I was qualified and interesting. I really feel pretty bad and I sympathize with you. I also applied to MIT and now I am worried about another rejection, but I guess there is nothing we can do but wait.</p>
<p>Not every top school evaluates applicants the same way. This is clear when looking at Ivy admissions: People who are accepted at Princeton get rejected by Harvard, and vice versa. The best thing you can do now is to forget about CalTech and hope that MIT comes through, and hopefully both you and me can celebrate on Dec 16th =]</p>
<p>Keep your head up man. The fact that you had a shot at CalTech speaks volumes about your strength as an applicant. Rejection is tough but the best thing to do is to accept it and move on.</p>
<p>It seems like the top schools are a “crap shoot” for all. I’ve looked at a lot of stats on Naviance, MyChances and CC. And often you just go “huh”? It’s easy to see that the top schools want more than just good stats. Beyond that, you really can’t predict much.</p>
<p>Good luck to all the gutsy and organized students that submitted ED and EA apps to their favorite schools!</p>
<p>I got deferred by Caltech. I really thought if anything it would be deferred from MIT and acceptance from Caltech. </p>
<p>I love MIT 100%, I spent 3 months working on that app, whereas I only spent maybe only 2 weeks for my Caltech App. But now, I too am having second thoughts that I’ll make it to MIT because Caltech and MIT have similar in strengths.</p>
<p>Just curious, what were your GPA/scores?</p>
<p>GPA 4.0.
Weighted 4.92
Rank: 3 out of 548
SAT I: 2340 (two sittings)
SAT II: 800 Math 790 Physics 780 Bio/M</p>
<p>o.o</p>
<p>Did you do any Siemens/Intel/Science Fair?</p>
<p>Nope. I won a regional science bowl and was a California rep at Nationals. I won some small math competitions but nothing huge. </p>
<p>I also competed successfully in economics competitions, but I doubt that really appealed to Caltech. If you wanna see my stats go to my <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/824654-consolidated-ea-rd-2014-results-thread.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/824654-consolidated-ea-rd-2014-results-thread.html</a></p>
<p>I have a female friend from ym school who got in Caltech… and I seriously cannot see any reason why she made it in other than the fact that she is a nerdy girl. I am ranked higher, have better (if not same scores), higher weighted GPA, more AP’s done, in math club and sciecne bowl (whereas she was in NEITHER), etc etc. I am starting to think Caltech is a radical sexist. She probably doesn’t even know what Siemens/Intel/Science Fair is.</p>
<p>Well there is no doubt that gender has a big role.</p>
<p>At MIT, the acceptance rate for women is 5x higher</p>
<p>in either case, I am extremely demoralized. I am applying to top notch tech schools and being owned because of my gender :/</p>
<p>HYPhoper- is that sarcastic?</p>
<p>Agh. Can we please NOT open the gender can of worms on every thread?</p>
<p>Let’s all step back and take a look at the big picture. If you didn’t make it into a school, then you didn’t fit there. If you did, then you do fit there. You’ll end up at the best school for you if you apply to the best schools for you. It will all work out in the end.</p>
<p>For some reason, and this may just be me being weird, I did not Caltech appealing at all and didn’t even consider applying there. I know it’s the second-best tech school in the nation (we all know which one’s first), and they have absolutely superb academics and students, but the environment just seemed so unlike MIT and I felt as if I would never fit in there. I guess I took more of the hollistic, experiece-based, approach to applying to schools.
So with that being said, from someone who thinks Caltech and MIT are radically different schools, don’t let a decision from Caltech give you any hints about your MIT decision.
Also keep in mind the kind of fails Caltech pranks are, and the magnificently creative success of MIT’s hacks. That should tell you MIT obviously picks the better students. haha</p>
<p>I agree, dosoon. I liked the academics and opportunities offered by CalTech, but I feel like I would NOT fit there. It’s too hot, too sunny, and too small for me.</p>
<p>@dosoon - I know what you mean - I’ve always felt like MIT was better for me as well.</p>
<p>Look at it this way, if you are either a good fit for MIT or Caltech, and you get rejected by Caltech, then you have a better chance of being a good match for MIT.</p>
<p>haha I’m not so sure abotu that. People can get into both :)</p>
<p>I definitely agree. Not into Caltech very much, although I’m sure i’ll hate the cold northeast winters should I get into MIT…it’s 45 out and freeeezzing right now!</p>
<p>It’s 20 degrees Fahrenheit with windchill here. :)</p>