Too many Chance me threads again. Please read these threads

[mazewanderer]

<p>Too many Chance me for Caltech threads again. Please read these threads first and hopefully you do not need to ask a general question.</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/577759-why-caltech-different-open-letter.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/577759-why-caltech-different-open-letter.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/442418-anyone-wanting-know-their-chances-getting-into-caltech.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-institute-technology/442418-anyone-wanting-know-their-chances-getting-into-caltech.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

[poppingpopcorn]

<p>@ Mazewanderer - This forum is for prospective Techers to ask personal or general questions. There is nothing wrong with “chance me” threads. If a prospective applicant wants to ask a question, they should feel free to do so, and get an opportunity to get personal replies. I have seen you before trying to shut down certain types of inqueries, which is put-offish. Caltech is quite a warm and inclusive place, so don’t give them the wrong impression!!</p>

<p>@ prospective applicants - go ahead and ask whatever you want!!!</p>

[MaybeOnMars]

<p>I’d like to ask something!

1. how to start my own research project… Something Chemistry
2. how I could show I’m a hard worker…like how ,ant extra curriculars
3. anything else I could do as a wannabe chemical engineer
4. compensating for a 3.5 average gap fresh,an year</p>

<p>I really appreciate it, thank you.</p>

[mazewanderer]

<p>Here is the first, second and last paragraphs of this thread started by Michael Woods about 6 years back.</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>

For anyone wanting to know their ‘chances’ of getting into Caltech
It seems like every time I check this forum, there are pages of new “What are my chances” threads. Sometimes the titles are polite, sometimes they’re gimmicky, and sometimes they’re written with the letter z replacing all of the normal s’s–all in the name of getting some current Caltech student to read the thread, and then pass some sort of speculative judgment on the possibility of the original poster being accepted by Caltech.</p>

<p>I’m going to take a moment, and go through what I believe a typical high school student should ‘look like’ in order to stand a good chance of being accepted at Caltech. This is also what most new Caltech students ‘look like,’ and it’s based heavily on my perceptions of the student body as biased by the people I interact with on a regular basis. Take it for what you will.
…</p>

<p>Now, can we please post fewer “What are my chances?” threads? Really, you’re not going to learn anything new, or even remotely useful from them, and they’re not going to help anyone else, either. If you’ve got a specific question about the application process, or about something you’re considering including in your application, then sure, go for it; but don’t post asking for your chances and expecting to hear back that you have exactly a 73.8% chance of being accepted, because nobody can tell you that. Most likely you’ll hear some variation on the above five paragraphs.</p>

<p>That all said, good luck to all of you!

</p>

<p>So if some reads these threads and then asks the questions, it actually helps the candidate more as they can be very specific and focus themselves. If you want to major in music and business, a very quick read will tell you that it is not a fit. I am aware of how welcoming Caltech is but I think doing homework first is good for the student and that is all reading those threads first will do for them.</p>