<p>Did anyone else get a tennis offer from CalTech?</p>
<p>Are you saying that you have firm offer of admission from Caltech based on your tennis proficiency? As far as I was aware, all admissions were based on the regular application process and a coaches recommendation would be considered at that point, however you still need to have great academic credentials and demonstrated passion for math and science. In other words, sports proficiency is a minor factor in the application scoring as you have to cope with some very tough classes and some of the brightest students in the country. </p>
<p>If someone has offered you admission already (without waiting for EA or RD process), then it is very unusual and in fact the first time I am hearing of it. If the coach has merely encouraged you to apply or even told you he/she would recommend you, just note that coaches have less influence at Caltech when compared to other top institutions.</p>
<p>The coaches have no real influence in admissions. Thus, you almost certainly mean that you were contacted.</p>
<p>^^^^ True, coaches have very little influence. Having a coaches support helps, but the candidate needs to be very strong to begin with. The coach has some influence, but is very marginal and significantly less than in other top institutions. If you are already very strong, the coach can put over the top, but if you are lacking in something even marginally, the coach cannot help.</p>
<p>In other words, do not expect that your sports proficiency will give you any advantage and apply on that basis. If it helps on the margins good, but that is about it.</p>
<p>We’ve received two emails from the tennis coach in the last week or so. My daughter has been on varsity for three years, but is by no means a top player. We can’t even figure out how Caltech knew out she is on the tennis team. But I guess the universe of girls who get high SAT scores, have a high class rank, indicate they want to major in physics, and play varsity tennis is probably not too big.</p>
<p>^^^ That is exactly one of the type of candidates that Caltech is looking for: Good academic performance, able to handle 5 hard classes in physics, math etc in just the core.</p>
<p>However, coaches have very little influence except at the margins. While I would advise your D to consider it, she needs to be able to get in on her steam, the tennis is the icing on the cake.</p>
<p>Also receive the email from caltech tennis coach 
However it seems will not have much help ><</p>
<p>Caltech offers tennis lessons?</p>
<p>Applied Physics, perhaps?</p>
<p>Wow it seems a lot of people here are jaundiced.</p>
<p>Do we have tennis coaches? I thought those people were professors here and just happened to be amazingly good at the sport. Well at least the tennis instructor I had had the air of an academic professor…</p>
<p>^ No, our tennis coach is not a professor at Caltech but an actual qualified professional tennis coach. [Caltech</a> Athletics: The Official Home of the Beavers](<a href=“http://www.gocaltech.com/sports/wten/coaches/index]Caltech”>http://www.gocaltech.com/sports/wten/coaches/index)</p>
<p>And to the OP: More likely than not she probably just contacted you to consider applying to Caltech and/or playing for the tennis team. Unfortunately, as others have previously stated, athletics can’t guarantee anyone admission no matter how good of an athlete you are. You’ll have to get accepted based on your strong interest in science, etc…</p>
<p>I’m on the tennis team, so if you have any questions you can PM me.</p>
<p>I also received 2 emails today, which is somewhat confusing because my tennis ranking is horrible, although I do play on a successful team for USTA Jr. Team tennis and was pretty successful on my high school team as the #1 singles player. I received the AP scholar award with distinction today, so maybe that has something to do with it? My SAT scores and SAT subject scores are also very good, but I wasn’t considering applying to Caltech because I haven’t done any amazing scientific/engineering research or won any academic competitions. Are these emails just meant to get more people to apply?</p>
<p>If science is a passion for you, and your grades and scores are in range, don’t let lack of research or awards and prizes keep you from applying. It is possible to get in without them if your love of science and transcript show you could succeed at Caltech.
At least, that seems to be true based on my son’s admission and first few years there.</p>
<p>If I recall correctly, my S was contacted my Caltech’s baseball coach. My S hadn’t played baseball more than 2 years of rec in upper elementary school :-). Yes, my S was admitted, but not for his baseball prowess :-)</p>
<p>I was offered a spot on the Volleyball team while applying last year. I was admitted but im like 100% sure it wasn’t cuz of volleyball…the coach even said she had no real say in it at all</p>