<p>I am thinking about going to caltech, after I graduate from highschool. I would like to know what your gpa was like when you were in highschool if you got accepted. Also how many clubs were you in? If you go to caltech do you like it? Also, would it matter if I have not been In an H or Ap classes throughout highschool (but I have kept a GPA of 3.8 in my CP courses)?</p>
<p>Thanks a bunch guys.</p>
<p>I suggest you read the "Official Decisions Thread" at <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=157236%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=157236</a></p>
<p>Each post should have some information about the poster.</p>
<p>Focus on doing the absolute best you can in high school, not on it being "good enough" to get into your school of choice. There really is no "secret way" to get into a school guaranteed- everyone is different.<br>
For clubs, pick some thing(s) you like, and throw yourself into them. Doing one or two things you enjoy very well is much better than doing a whole bunch of different things "for college admissions".</p>
<p>I second what jdhutchin said.</p>
<p>If you want to go to Caltech, you probably enjoy math and/or science. To get in, you want to show as much interest and talent in these areas as possible. This means taking advantage of extracurricular opportunities in these areas (anything from science fairs to competitions to summer classes) as well as maintaining a high level of performance in school and taking the most challenging classes you can. There is no minimum GPA, SAT, or number of clubs. It's more about what all of these factors together, combined with your recommendations, say about your passion and skill in math and the sciences.</p>
<p>While Caltech doesn't place as much of an emphasis on well-roundedness as e.g. Harvard, good grades in other classes can't hurt.</p>
<p>In some respects, I disagree with what simon and jd said. </p>
<p>During high school, I had a philosophy of doing activities because I enjoyed them, not to pad college applications. I didn't do anything with the intent of getting to college. It was more like I did things for fun, and as a pleasant side effect I got into Caltech.</p>
<p>But that's just my two cents.</p>
<p>Some public universities don't seem to agree that high schoolers should simply do what they find enjoyable. For example, you can be admitted to the University of California by getting high SAT & SAT subject test scores - but only if you don't take UC-transferable college courses in the same subject areas as your subject tests. This is making my decision of which courses to take next semester much more tricky than it should be. (mtf612: FYI, I'm a high school junior.)</p>
<p>So depending on which universities you like, simply doing what you enjoy won't necessarily be good for you later on.</p>
<p>Fortunately, Caltech is not the University of California. However, I'd say it's a good idea to at least be mindful of the general organization and policies of your state's public university system (AFAIK, many aren't as ridiculous as the University of California), even if your heart is set on Caltech.</p>
<p>Maybe what I said didn't quite come across as I meant- I agree with you 100%, neapol1s, that's exactly what I was trying to say. Do clubs because you want to, not because you think they will "look good" to college admissions officers.</p>
<p>Perplex also makes a good point about "being mindful of the general organization and policies of your state's public university system." I go to a private high school run by the University of Chicago, which has a crazy admissions office (essay questions have included "What do you think about Wednesdays?" and "(Japanese characters) means 'mind that does not stick.'"); so my view on college admssions might be drastically different from how they actually are.</p>
<p>I was trying to make the point that neapol1s made, but maybe it didn't come across right. The point is to communicate the passion that you already have, not to fake it. Do what you enjoy.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I do feel that students should know that there are opportunities beyond what their school may provide. I didn't even know about Intel STS and Siemens Westinghouse until months after I'd already applied to college. Had I known, I might have entered.</p>
<p>If you're interested in a field, research it, and see what possibilities there are for you to enter a competition, intern in a lab, etc. It should be an interesting experience, and even if you don't win anything or discover something absolutely amazing, the simple act of demonstrating that you can take the initiative to pursue your interests will significantly help your chances.</p>
<p>I think (but I could be wrong) the two things that helped me the most were my work with a small group investigating the application of computer technology to historical research and teaching at a public university and my performance in the neuroscience class I took last summer. Neither of these things look amazing alone on an application, but they were interesting to me, so I worked hard. When I decided to apply to college, I ended up with two very good recommendations.</p>
<p>Hehe... UChicago is somewhat like the anti-Univ of Ca, from what I know. One is private, the other public; Univ of Ca has very strict admissions subject requirements and "approved" course lists (and you get points for taking extra "approved" courses), UChicago has only general "suggested" subjects for applicants; essay questions on the Univ of Ca application do not have multiple interpretations...</p>
<p>So yes, the degree to which you need to worry about doing very specific stuff to "pad college applications" definitely varies from university to university. In this respect UChicago and University of California seem to be on two extremes, and being an extremist, I'll be applying to both. :-)</p>
<p>BTW, mtf612, if you are a junior then this fall you can participate in the Siemens-Westinghouse that simonster mentioned. I believe the application materials and info will become available in a couple days. Try to get started immediately if you plan to participate; believe me, these things can take a while.</p>
<p>thanks guys. well im looking towards caltech as I am a huge computer nerd . But unfortanetly I dont really "excel" in math. For my freshman year I had to repeat algebra 1 (an 8th grade course)and physical science (a 9th grade course that I was able to take in 8th grade but my teacher was a b**** and I bombed it) . So Im not great in those area (now they are straight A's but I am not in the highest courses available. So I have 3 more questions. !) Should I take summer school to get ahead in history , and in its place take a fine arts class (I mean would colleges like this or not care) ? 2) Will the classes Im in affect me and should I take at least 2 ap course in my high school years ? 3) Which would be better : start a cluub , or join a club and become a leader ? Currently Im only in 1 club which is really just a club that meets 4 times a semester , and we do 10 hours of community service. Its for kids with 3.5 gpas and up. Thanks in advanced guys!</p>
<p>You should take closer to 5 AP classes in your high school years if it's at all possible (i.e. if your school offers them). Many of our applicants take more than that. If you're not taking your school's hardest available courses in math and science, you basically have no hope. (Caltech is much harder than your high school, and if you can't even top out in your high school...)</p>
<p>If you go to summer school, you should study math and science to get strong at these subjects and get into your school's most advanced and rigorous courses. You have to get straight A's or close in your school's hardest math and science classes to have a chance at Caltech.</p>
<p>Join or start clubs that show passion for math and/or science. A club that meets 4 times a semester is pretty much worthless. The major extracurriculars that people do to get into Caltech meet closer to four times a week.</p>
<p>Don't mean to scare ya, but you should get cracking. Caltech is for the very best and the brightest, so you should aim accordingly.</p>
<p>mtf612, shoot for the stars - but remember that even astounding students aren't guaranteed spots by any means. If you can get even close to the caliber of Caltech students (and it sounds as if you do have some time in high school to do so if you work hard at it), you'll be in an excellent position to get into many great universities. That's essentially my guiding principle. However, be careful about which star to shoot for - if you don't really want to go to Caltech, it will be that much harder to shoot for Caltech. (I've found this forum, Caltech's website, and Caltech alumni can be helped me decide that Caltech was my first choice.) I say, find a great "reach" that you really, really love and go for it, forgetting about chances, SAT scores, etc.</p>
<p>ya my school does only allows us to take history over the summer pretty much. at least so far it does. 5 ap courses?!? are you serious? well over the summer I may be taking european history ap and in my senior year I might take spanish 4 ap , but a math ap class.....omg . Maybe a science ap class as I am very good at science (minus last year) . Anyone have any good club ideas for a techno geek ?</p>
<p>Well, you must realize that you take a number of courses (I think ~5 - Ben?) in 10 weeks at Caltech, and those courses are very intense. Before deciding to apply, it might be a good idea to take an advanced math class over the summer.</p>
<p>mtf, can you give me a general idea of what clubs/courses your high school has to offer? I took 8 AP classes from my high school and was on math and science team, but I don't know if those options are available to you.</p>
<p>mtf -- If your response to an AP math course is "omg" then you should think carefully about why you want to go to Caltech. Pretty much everyone has AP Calculus of some kind or the equivalent coming in, so if you won't have that by your senior year, then your chances would be in trouble.</p>
<p>(In other words, AP Calc is a de facto requirement... if you didn't take it in high school, eyebrows are going to be raised.)</p>
<p>well ill be in calculus in my senior year , but AP .... Im well .......afraid lol.</p>
<p>i took the toughest courses in high school and although i didn't 'top out', my teachers admitted that i was far more intelligent and far more of an independent student than anyone else in their career. thats because most of the work i did, research in cognitive science and reading Calculus Vol. 1 by Apostol was because I wanted to and not because some teacher made me.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I was about as eager to do all the busy-work like 'bring papertowels to school for points' and 'do this crossword puzzle as part of your final exam' as Caltechers are to watch the Superbowl. ;)</p>
<p>So I guess in the end it worked out because I challenged myself. </p>
<p>Note though that my case was extraordinary because I am quite poor and I come from a poor country with maybe not as stellar academics at the university level, have only recently been in the country, bla bla.</p>
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I was about as eager to do all the busy-work like 'bring papertowels to school for points' and 'do this crossword puzzle as part of your final exam'
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<p>such a personality is a significant plus in applying to Caltech. obviously we think this stuff is ridiculous too, and if you have the appropriate disdain for nonsense, then you are likely to be a Techer at heart.</p>