<p>I got a letter from CalTech today and I was totally expecting to be rejected but lo and behold I was actually waitlisted!!!!!</p>
<p>Does anyone know how big of a deal it is to get waitlisted at CalTech versus actually getting admitted and actually getting rejected? How big of a chance do I have of getting in now--realistically. </p>
<p>I'm the first to admit that my supplemental essays were crap >.< BUT my general essay was...if I say so myself, quite unique and awesome in general. Will the admissions committee look at my essays again? What exactly will they review when they're deciding who to admit from their waitlisted list?</p>
<p>My SAT score was superscore:2230 Math:690, CR:760, Writing: 780. and my three SAT scores were Chem: 770, Math 2:750, Literature:730. As for my extracurriculars--Key Club, International Club, Mock Trial, and Indian Classical Dance + volunteer @ Indian dance shows. I've taken a few community college classes (Astronomy, Calculus, Chemistry) and workshops (Biotechnology, Johns Hopkins U Engineering workshop). </p>
<p>What do you guys recommend I send for my supplimental information. So far, I'm planning to send my senior project research paper--I transformed E.coli bacteria cells to make amylase and then tested conditions in which the bacteria made the most protein. I'm also sending the recommendation that my mentor (who's son goes to CalTech) wrote me. </p>
<p>Please give me more suggestions, I'll be grateful for all the feedback I get. Thanks sooooo much.</p>
<p>u have a great sat score
but its CalTECH…i guess ur math score is your Achilles’ heal
a few students from my schoo lget in every year and for the most part they have 800s</p>
<p>i suggest u send in a letter of interest similar to someone who got deferred</p>
<p>ya–I’m pretty bad at SAT math. BUT–I’ve taken all the hard math/science classes at my school and I’ve gotten A’s in every single one of them and 5’s on majority of the tests (damn you Env. Sci!). I also got a perfect score on the math portion of the ACT. I’m hoping that will make up for my SAT scores.</p>
<p>include in your letter your intent to enroll if taken off, if that’s really what you would do.<br>
talk about how you love the school and really want to attend. I don’t know if you should include your actual research paper, perhaps just mention what you did in your letter. I think, if possible, ask for the rec to be relatively concise but strong and outline points you don’t think were mentioned in your app.</p>
<p>While I’m not saying I agree with the standards/process, or trying to be mean, from everything I’ve heard CalTech is extremely choosy with regards to SAT scores, especially math scores. They accept so small an incoming class that they can afford to be. Unfortunately, I find it doubtful you will make it off the waitlist with a 690 in math, and 750 in MathII (where 800 is the norm). (Again, not necessarily saying I do or don’t agree with their selection criteria, just reporting what I’ve heard).</p>
<p>Your wait listing was because of the 690 math. That is probably bottom 5% at Caltech. Have you done anything that would demostrate that number was a fluke? I don’t think I’d even want to be competing in classes with students who are 75% scoring higher than 780 in math… if that 690 is accurate, you’re be a better fit at many other universities.</p>
<p>Oops, I overstated that a little… 75% of Caltech’s freshmen in 2005 (couldn’t find more recent) scored 750 or above, and the 75th% was 800.</p>
<p>At any rate, Caltech and math facility are so closely correlated that not having the facility would make it a very frustrating place I would think.</p>