Sorry for the inconvenience, but...

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
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<p>...but I just had to post this chances thread. ;)</p>

<p>I'm a junior right now at a very competitive public school. So far I'm thinking about applying to Caltech next year as a planetary sciences-related major.</p>

<p>[Academics]
GPA: 3.96
WGPA: 4.75
No rank
Courseload: 5 college prep courses, 9 honors, 8 AP, 2 at Princeton University, 1 independent study on environmental studies; skipped 2 years of math, 1 year of programming, 1 year of chemistry, and 1 year of music theory; exhausted all bio courses at my school, so I'm taking 200-level classes with Princeton students next year --> hardest courseload in my grade</p>

<p>[Test scores]
SAT M: 800
SAT CR: 720
SAT W: 720
SAT II Bio: 800
SAT II Chem: 800
SAT II Math 2: 800
AP's sophomore year: Computer Science A 5; self-studied Biology 5 and Environmental Science 4
AP's junior year: Calculus AB, Chemistry, English Language; self-studying Human Geography, Psychology, Statistics</p>

<p>[Primary extracurriculars and TERMINAL officer positions]
Environmental Club - President (and founder)
Debate League - President
Tutoring Society - President
Amnesty International - Vice President
Model United Nations - Vice President</p>

<p>[Secondary extracurriculars]
French National Honor Society
Science Club
Soccer</p>

<p>[Recognitions]
USA Biology Olympiad semifinalist (top 500 in the nation)
NJ Science League qualification and certificates
NJ Governor's School on the Environment nominee, finalist, then the program was canceled
AIME qualifier (115 AMC 12)
Shore Bowl quarterfinalist and team captain
NJ Scholars Program (humanities focus) nominee, finalist, scholar
Princeton University Moot Court Tournament seventh place team/quarterfinalist
Colonial Valley Conference fourth place team
Varsity Policy and Lincoln-Douglas debate teams
JPMorgan Chase Lincoln-Douglas Tournament Award
AP Scholar last year, hopefully National AP Scholar this year
...And some other small stuff</p>

<p>[Summer activities]
2003 - travel in Europe and Asia
2004 - skipped 2 courses
2005 - skipped 1 course, worked as a tutor
2006 - NJ Scholars Program, Environmental Management course through Harvard SSP, JSA symposium on leadership and politics, maybe getting a job and/or a course or two at the local CC if possible</p>

<p>I've explored the fields of biology and public policy throughout high school, and they overlap nicely in the field of environmental studies, which I plan to major in in college.</p>

<p>What do you guys think of my chances? Thanks in advance for any comments. :)</p>

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<p>i'm going to guess decent chances, although a couple more science/math related extracurriculars wouldn't hurt (chem/physics olympiad, etc)</p>

3

<p>They're better stats then I had coming into Caltech...</p>

<p>Make sure to talk to Rolo, the soccer coach, if you're interested in playing here. Coming here before the start of the year for preseason was one of the most fun times I've had at Caltech.</p>

<p>Try not to burn out before coming to Caltech, though, as you'll get no break once you're here. It is nice and perfectly understandable to relax the last bit of senior year, so you might want to keep that in mind.</p>

<p>Ben could say more, as always :-P</p>

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<p>Yeah... you have far better stats than I have, and I got in. </p>

<p>Go hang out with your friends.</p>

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<p>The main really impressive thing is the advanced courses. You seem to have focused a great deal of your effort in skipping ahead, which is great, but if you can, try to show some evidence of original scientific thinking, too... a lab internship or research project of some kind would be good. When you actually write your application, list the advanced courses you took but spend less time mentioning what you "skipped" because it makes you look a little obsessed with that.</p>

<p>Just my personal, very off-the-cuff advice.</p>

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<p>I think you're in if you don't screw anything up</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice, everyone. :)</p>

<p>Ben - how about working for a professor on his/her own research rather than doing my own? I've found it hard to get Princeton professors to act as mentors, though I guess I could try Rutgers this summer. And yeah, I won't stress the classes I've skipped too much because it'll be communicated through my transcript. I just wanted to mention the rigor of my schedule without listing every course taken, as my courses set me apart from others at my school.</p>

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<p>Working for a professor would be just fine, also, especially since, if you do a good job, many of them will encourage you to work creatively on your piece of the big project.</p>