<p>GPA: 3.8 UW (going to a very competitive HS, one of top 30 for admissions in top 10 most selective universities according to the Wall Street Journal)
4.3 Weighted
Mostly As in Science/Math, I think I have 2 A-s somewhere in there</p>
<p>Taking 4 APs Sr. year, hardest courseload available (except I stopped Spanish after finishing AP Lang. during Junior)</p>
<p>SAT Is (only took once)
Math 790
Verbal 770
Writing 770</p>
<p>SAT IIs (all first sittings--does this matter at all?)
Math IIC 800
Physics 800
Chemistry 790
US History 730</p>
<p>APs
AP Computer Science A 5
AP Computer Science AB 5
AP US History 5
AP European History 5
AP Spanish Language 5
AP Physics C Mech. 5
AP Calculus BC 5</p>
<p>ECs
Science Club--Founder, Leader 11-12
Piano (levels I-IX, age 4-17)
Saxophone (Jazz Band, Orchestra, Marching Band) 9-12
Varsity Tennis 9-12
Assisted in Science Summer Camp, 20 hrs per week for 3 months
Volunteered for local school district, et up computers and classrooms, performed sax for class 9-12
109 on AMC, 4 on AIME</p>
<p>Awards
Invited to State Convention for Piano 8 times, county honors recital 5 times
American Invitational Math Exam invitee
AP Scholar with Distinction
National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist</p>
<p>Problem is, I am rather lacking in Science/Math ECs. Should I even bother? It seems like there are so many people who have the same stats as me that apply to CalTech except they've done extensive research, etc...</p>
<p>Your AIME participation counts as a math/science extracurricular activity to some extent, and your AMC and AIME scores are not bad at all.</p>
<p>You've amassed a pretty impressive record. We definitely admit a bunch of people who don't have a pile of math/science EC's. Write good essays, show passion for math/science (if you have it) and give it a shot. It would be silly not to.</p>
<p>Actually, I just looked it up, and I got a 3 on the AIME rather than a 4 (I guess I got one wrong that I thought I had or something). Is this much of a difference? I love science and math, but it's not the ONLY thing I love--will I be able to take quality classes in other subjects as well at CalTech? I know the quality of the math/science classes will absolutely blow me away, as will the intelligence of the student body, so I'm not worried about that at all.. Also, could any current students comment on the effects of the 2:1 male:female ratio on the social scene?</p>
<p>In my first reply to the thread, I asked a few questions about CalTech (I'm still not sure whether I'm applying or not), especially about the social life and whether students get a good experience--not just a good education. I wasn't asking current CalTech students to analyze my chances, I know it's going to be something of a crapshoot and depend largely on my essays.</p>
<p>I love science and math, but it's not the ONLY thing I love--will I be able to take quality classes in other subjects as well at CalTech? </p>
<p>Um... depends. We have a good econ department (and I believe our political science department is good as well, but I don't know anything about them), and some of the humanities courses are pretty good, but if you're at all interested in any in-depth study of something in the humanities or social sciences, you probably won't be too happy with the offerings here. I'd suggest checking out the course catalogue and seeing if the non-science offerings are what you'd like. We're kinda 1-dimensional. </p>
<p>Also, could any current students comment on the effects of the 2:1 male:female ratio on the social scene?</p>
<p>Being a female student, it doesn't affect me terribly much. I have no particular preference for female over male friends, so... whatever. It does tend to make the relationship scene kinda bad for the guys. The fact that the school is full of nerds (and I fully include myself in this assessment) affects the social scene far more than the ratio.</p>
<p>I'm a current male Techer. The 2:1 ratio doesn't bother me at all, but it is kind of weird when I go home for break and suddenly there are twice as many women around. </p>
<p>The social atmosphere is without a doubt quite different from the stereotypical drunken partying haze of college life, but it is not qualitatively worse. I've been having a wonderful time and made friends with amazing people while I've been here. Being a small school, it's very easy to make friends, and I really enjoy the fact that the school is full of nerds. The individual houses, and ASCIT (the student body, Associate Students of Caltech) have social teams that put on fun events, such as last night's Jimmy Eat World concert, as do various organizations around campus. The fact that there are fewer parties than at a normal college is not indicative of an inferior social scene; rather, parties line up less with students' idea of a good time.</p>
<p>"The fact that there are fewer parties than at a normal college is not indicative of an inferior social scene; rather, parties line up less with students' idea of a good time."</p>
<p>With some, probably most students, yes that's true. But I have plenty of friends who have a more stereotypical view of how college life should be and are satisfied (or almost satisfied maybe) by Caltech's offerings. Caltech is a nerd school, yes. But nerds are a pretty diverse breed, more so than any even they themselves realize. The point is, whatever your idea of fun is, chances are you can find a group of people that share any interest from WOW to basketball to Beirut and everything inbetween. </p>
<p>Obviously (s)he's joking. You have near perfect SAT's and perfect AP scores and yet you ask if you should even bother. Maybe with that kind of logic you shouldn't :D. You definitely SHOULD bother. You may not get in, just because not everyone with perfect scores gets in, but you do have a good chance(as good as any other person really).</p>