<p>Thanks for the suggestion Mathwiz, but I don't want to end up possibly in this situation again- so I'm staying as far as possible from tech schools. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, it seems like it's impossible to get into places I got into before because I can't get good recs (class size is way too big) and I haven't had time for ecs. On top of all of that transfer admissions are hard, and well frankly I don't think I'll be able to get into anywhere close to the caliber of Caltech. I feel trapped, and I fear I'm going to have to stay in this hell hole for 4 years. :(</p>
<p>I will repeat again what I have already mentioned. You CAN get letters of recommendation from high school teachers. Its common sense that they just know you better. But if you do not believe me, call the transfer targets up and ask them just as I did. It worked for me. Also, dont worry too much about college ECs; I dont think they expect transfer possibles to be too intertwined with student government of where they are leaving. </p>
<p>While I do believe you are more afraid of the workload than the nerdy environment (I know for a fact there are nonnerds at Caltech that you could find), staying away from tech schools are probably a smart thing just to null your anxiety about it. Despite what people say, avoid Olin, Mudd, Cooper Union and Rose Hulman. </p>
<p>With that in mind, Harvard/Stanford/Yale are just unlikely for you. Sorry, but you are competing with ridiculous people for too few spots. Its possible, but plan for a different set of options. </p>
<p>Look more at Cornell, Northwestern, Rice, Duke-like schools. They are probably just as good as any of your other choices, but dont have eliteness to them.</p>
<p>And finally, chill the hell out. You did well in high school and thats what they will look at in your transfer apps.</p>
<p>"Ridiculous people?" If coming from Caltech doesn't qualify as "ridiculous," then what does?</p>
<p>I don't believe Olin accepts transfer students. I think a couple of students have come to Olin after finishing a college freshman year elsewhere, but started anew at Olin, as Olin freshmen.</p>
<p>Seiken said it all and very well! Stay away from the tech schools, apply to a couple of uber reach, but concentrate on those top 25 schools that will offer you both great academics and a well rounded college atmosphere. </p>
<p>You had an extremely difficult choice to make last year, and you made a good decision based on the information you had at the time. The fact that it hasn't worked out doesn't mean you can't change course now and go somewhere that suits you better.</p>
<p>Adding my voice to the chorus that you should not resign yourself to staying if you don't want to.</p>
<p>HS recs might work; TA recs WILL work. Coming from CalTech will be a big plus point as schools consider whether you have the ability. You obviously do. Don't worry about ECs. </p>
<p>You have an excellent reason for transfer, you have the qualifications. If you do not fixate on one or two schools, but apply to a range of top schools that are not tech schools, you will get some good results. Remember that there are numerous top schools which are not Harvard or Yale, where you could enjoy yourself and have a topnotch education, well recognized as such.</p>
<p>I repeat schools such as Mich, Purdue and many that others have suggested. Please do try for Harvard, Yale, Stanford... but expand the list. Maybe Hopkins? Although I will warn that it is intense for Engineering students as well, but has a broader student body.</p>
<p>Go for it, blindfaith. Go for it.</p>
<p>Go to SUNY BUFFALO!!!</p>
<p>Even if you don't know your professors very well, ask each of them until you find two willing ones... Your chances for acceptance are extremely high--especially since you were accepted as a freshman.</p>
<p>Also, don't be negative about Cal Tech in your essays--it will reflect badly on your self!</p>
<p>What if I said Tech's teaching was bad and that the workload left no time for things other than academics? I mostly talked about how I wanted to get so much more out of college other than just academics in math and science- I talked about my love for humanities and all the extracurriculars I did in hs that I can't do here. My statements on Tech were "This place isn't for me, the teaching blows, but it's perfect for some people - unfortunately not me". Will that reflect poorly?</p>
<p>And does anyone have stats on what transfer acceptance rate for people who for once admitted?</p>
<p>Blindfaith,</p>
<p>I wouldn't have recommended talking about the bad teaching at Caltech; one of the things colleges don't like to see is a transfer talking ill about their college. While I understand that you don't like it -- reflecting it in your essays can often make you sound more pompous than your character actually is. The other reasons were fine, imo, but I wouldn't have talked about the teaching.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you, I know you'll certainly go far!</p>
<p>Anyone want to read my main essay?</p>
<p>are you applying to say ucla at all. it might be lower than your other schools, but many noteworthy alumni have come from there and have gone to great grad schools. as i hear it...its workload is somewhat different from that of caltech. I also think recs are really important in this process, and can make you or break you. since caltech is such a small community, maybe you can have an afternoon chat with a prof and it can really help. think about social science and humanities professors as they are usually quite willing to talk, and i'm sure colleges would prefer an eloquent recommender as well.</p>
<p>I already submitted all of my applications (essays too) and my recs have been sent out. :(</p>
<p>I'm not applying to UCLA at all - I think the deadline has passed as well. I live on the east coast so if I'm going to a public school I wouldn't mind going to my state U which is decent.</p>
<p>Hi blindfaith,</p>
<p>I think you have a shot. I know a couple of people from Caltech who applied to Harvard last year and were accepted-- one went to Harvard, the other stayed at Caltech and is still there now probably. I know another student from Caltech who transferred to Stanford a couple years ago. It seems like schools definitely understand the "Caltech sucks" reason for wanting to transfer. It is as good a reason as any.</p>
<p>I dropped out of Caltech after my first term a few years ago, so I had to re-apply to college as a freshman and I ended up going to my state university. Now I am trying to transfer somewhere else-- I applied to Harvard, Brown, and Yale. I doubt that I will be accepted by any of them, but I figured I might as well try. I think my chances would have been better if I had finished the year at Caltech and tried to transfer after that.</p>
<p>By the way, I am very sorry that things at Caltech are not working out for you. I totally understand where you are coming from. When people say 'Tech is hell,' they are not exaggerating.</p>
<p>I am curious-- what schools did you end up applying to?</p>
<p>Yale, Stanford, Duke, Washu, and Decent State School</p>
<p>Missed the Harvard deadline though.</p>
<p>Idk about colleges being of Tech's rather unique situation. When I talk to upperclassmen they chuckle and say that it's extremely hard to leave from Caltech. I kinda think this is because people here have tons of work and as a result make a half asses effort on their apps- not sure though. I guess I do have a shot, but I'm kinda mad that I gave away such awesome opportunities. And to any prefrosh considering Caltech reading this - realize that Tech is not for everyone. I'm doing well in my classes and I guess I'm slightly above average here but that does not mean that this is the ideal college for me even if I love math and science. From my short but revealing time here, I've come to the conclusion that Tech is best for kids who are extremely focused on <em>just</em> math and science. Our extracurriculars and student life are quite limited and if you really do enjoy things outside of academics in the sciences please do not come here.</p>
<p>But Serj T. don't worry about me - I'll be fine. I don't regret one bit of my experience here even if i made the wrong decision - I've learned so much about myself - my limits, my abilities, my goals in life and I've gained a better perspective on life after just about 2 terms here. The way I see it I'm going from Point A to Point B (whatever those points maybe) with inevitable detours along the way. Tech's just one of those detours :).</p>
<p>Blindfaith, your last post is exactly what you need to say in your transfer essay!</p>
<p>blindfaith, good luck. Just curious, are those the exact words you used in your essay..."the teaching blows"?</p>
<p>Hah, of course not. I talked about how Caltech is first and foremost a research institution and that it's very apparent that professors are here to research and then to teach. I gave two examples that showed what teaching was like here, and then I left it at that. I think giving examples without saying "Tech sucks or teaching here blows" is much better because it lets the adcoms arrive at their own decision on what Tech is like.</p>
<p>My essays were about how tech is rigorous and how it leaves little time to spare for things outside of math and science. I emphasized how stifling the place was for me as I like to participate in clubs and activities as well as to take classes in the humanities. I did however say that people were depressed here, and said that many people are not happy with Tech. I mentioned the bad teaching, but all of the "tech sucks" stuff was limited to about 250-300 words out of 1.5k. </p>
<p>The rest of the essay was about what I want from college and how going elsewhere would help me achieve them. At the end of the essay I said something to the effect of - I dont regret my time here and that I learned alot - but nevertheless tech is not for me.</p>
<p>I'll keep you guys informed, also how good or bad is being at the 75% percentile for my physics class (my prof giving me a rec is going to write this)? (As in 1 above 3 below) It's certainly not <em>the best student I've seen in years</em> - so will I be able to get into good places even though Im not the best or close to it in my classes? (I'm simply average maybe a little tiny bit above average)</p>