<p>I really like all that I know/have read about Caltech, but a lot of things, the enrollment info for example, really discourages me. Do I have a chance? Should I bother applying? I'll just put everything...</p>
<p>Basics:</p>
<p>Male
White (Polish descent)
I attend a less-than-stellar Catholic school (fml) in a relatively small city in South Texas.</p>
<p>Objective:</p>
<ul>
<li>SAT I (breakdown): 2270 (CR: 740, M: 760, W: 770)</li>
<li>ACT: 33 superscored (SAT better obviously)</li>
<li>PSAT: 214</li>
<li>SAT II: Spanish with Listening, Math II, Chemistry (good scores expected on all, 800 on Spanish and probably Math also)</li>
<li>GPA (3 years, not on 4.0 scale): 100.651 weighted; 97.659 unweighted</li>
<li>Rank: 5 of about 120</li>
<li>AP (scores in parentheses): Spanish Language (self-study 5), Calculus AB (5), English Langauge (4)</li>
<li>Senior year: Calculus BC, Biology, English Literature</li>
<li>Course load: Hardest possible; I’m one math class ahead of every one else in my grade (they basically made a new one (Calc BC) for me)</li>
<li>Major Awards: no siemens, intel, etc.</li>
</ul>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<ul>
<li>Extracurriculars (leadership):
-Boy Scouts (Eagle Scout): very active, work at camps, many positions of leadership in my Troop.
-Cross country for several years, varsity.
-Science club (not school-based): taught at a local hospital by a surgeon, meet weekly, study advanced organic chemistry, anatomy, biochemistry, etc.
-Participate in city Knowledge Bowl, 1st place this year.
-Boys State this past Summer
-Speaking competitions: 1st at school, 2nd citywide, same for 2 years.
-Participate in school theatrical productions, both significant acting roles and technical support.
-Peer tutoring (mainly of Freshmen), after school around 2 times a week, mainly in Spanish.
-Research involving plants and gene expression that has implications in human diseases (about 100 hours)
-Statewide academic competitions, place in district and qualify for state
-Math club, 3 years
-NHS, of course
-many “academic excellence awards” from teachers
-AP scholar
I speak Spanish fluently as a second language, where does this go? </li>
<li>Summer stuff: I attended the Duke TIP program, studying Algebra II (which I subsequently skipped in school) and computer science (programming), the Summers and Freshman and Sophomore years. This past Summer, internship at a local computer company helping with computer repairs, website upkeep, etc.</li>
<li>Research: submitted to siemens but no win.</li>
<li>Essays: not really started, but assumed to be great</li>
<li>Volunteer/Community service: around 200 hours; activities include church fundraisers, school fundraisers and events, nursing homes, tutoring, and Boy Scouts, which includes teaching young kids, constructing certain structures such as fences, etc.</li>
<li>Teacher Recommendations: 2 from “AP savants,” also supplemental one from said Science Club teacher</li>
</ul>
<p>Etc.:
Yes financial aid
major in biochem</p>