Should I apply to Caltech?

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>I'm not particularly set on Caltech as one of my top choices, but I thought I would have a good chance of getting in, especially since I'm a girl very into the sciences and that both of my parents went to Caltech. My stats are:</p>

<p>I go to a very competitive hs in CA
3.7 uw GPA, no class rank
2130 (taking it again in OCt), 33 ACT (took it again in Sept)
after school job as tutor for 2 years
library volunteer for 3 years
treasurer for school club for 1 year
accumulated 300 hrs of community service</p>

<p>Do you think I should try? I'm planning on being a pharmacist...</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

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<p>Caltech does not give preference to either gender. It also does not, to my knowledge, give preference to legacy applicants.</p>

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<p>If you want to go to Caltech, you might as well apply. However, your quantitative stats are lackluster and your EC’s are not science- and engineering-oriented, so your chance seems quite slim.</p>

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<p>Also, you need Math Level 2 and a science Subject Test.</p>

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<p>Oh I took the SAT Math 2 and got an 800. I also took SAT Bio (800) and SAT Chem (750). Thanks silverturtle!</p>

5

<p>Please read these two threads: It will give you a good idea if applying to CalTech makes sense for you.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/442418-anyone-wanting-know-their-chances-getting-into-caltech.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/442418-anyone-wanting-know-their-chances-getting-into-caltech.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/577759-why-caltech-different-open-letter.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/577759-why-caltech-different-open-letter.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>CalTech is known for it no AA (affirmative action) type admission policy. There was an discussion in the CalTech student newspaper if the increase in the number of admitted female applicants at CalTEch were due to AA and the admissions office denied it. Similarly, there is no preference for legacy. Hence, those will not help, but your passion for math and science will.</p>

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<p>I think you really should, there’s no harm in applying to one more school anyway :)</p>

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<p>If your goal is medical school or pharmacy school, I would NOT apply to Caltech. Such professional schools look mostly at grades and test scores, and a good GPA at Caltech is VERY hard to get. To get a comparable GPA from a state school (any UC) or any liberal arts college would take MUCH less work, and you’d actually have a life outside of classwork. For a pre-med, pre-vet, or pre-law, Caltech is NOT for you. I presume pharmacy schools are similar.</p>