what do you really think?

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>Do you think I'll get in? I really appreciate your opinion!</p>

<p>Me:</p>

<p>Demographic:[ul]</p>

<p>State: Massachusetts
[<em>]School Type: Small Public (156 students in graduating class)
[</em>]Ethnicity: Asian American
[<em>]Gender: Male
[</em>]Income Bracket: Upper Middle</p>

<p>[/ul]Objective:[ul]</p>

<p>SAT I: 2300, 2nd Time (M: 800, CR: 740, W: 760); 2030, 1st Time (M: 720, CR: 610, W: 700)
[<em>]SAT II: Math 2c: 800, Physics: 740, Chemistry: 710, Latin: 670 (1st Time: 590)
[</em>]Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9
[<em>]Rank: "Top 2%" of 156 students (how the school academic report phrases it)
[</em>]Senior Year Course Load: Honors Humanities, Honors Psychology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics C, EPGY Multivariable Calculus with Stanford, Honors Latin Prose (fourth year of Latin), Programming in C elective, Peer Leadership elective (a course that fulfills the physical education requirement). The EPGY course is a distance-learning course outside of my high school curriculum, taken with CD-ROM lectures and mailed exams. I've taken the toughest possible course load (in terms of offered Honors and AP classes) all four years.
[li]Awards: Rensselaer Medal, Department Honor Award: Mathematics (Top Junior in Mathematics), Department Honor Award: Latin (Top Junior in Latin), Tufts Citizenship and Public Service Award, National Merit Commendation, National History Day: Senior Group Documentary Finalist (Results: 10th Place Nation, 1st Place State, 2nd Place Region)</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: Philosophy Club (Founder), Percussion Study (Marching Band, New England Conservatory Orchestras, Musical Pit Orchestras, Percussion Ensemble, Private Lessons), Math/Science Teams (Leading Scorer in Math), Literary Magazine (Editor), Newspaper (Business Manager, Columnist), School Council (Student Representative), National Honor Society (President), Latin Club (President)
[<em>]Work Experience: Research Data Coder (at Harvard Medical School), Hired Concert Percussionist (at New England Conservatory)
[</em>]Community Service: Math Tutoring
[<em>]Summer Activities: Worked the aforementioned jobs, Took Calculus I at Harvard Summer School (Grade: A), Took C Programming at University of Massachusetts - Lowell (Grade: A) - I sent these transcripts to all of the schools I applied to.
[</em>]Essay: About my love for, and history of, songwriting. Explains how I never practiced piano when I was much younger, gave up on lessons, but then, when I was 13, came upon a used, acoustic guitar. Transitions into a passionate retelling about how I've been writing songs, selling CDs, and performing in front of crowds ever since. Emphasizes creativity, independence, spontaneity, imaginative thinking, humor, and originality. And how these facets of my music making translate to facets that I embrace in my academics and extracurricular activities.
Overall, It has a very lighthearted tone and I throw in many tongue-in-cheek/self-deprecating jokes about the childhood appeal of Donkey Kong, my "musical genius" as a five-year-old, the crappiness of that first guitar, etc.
And in the additional info sections, I included a Guitar and Voice Performance Resume, which lists all the clubs and venues I've performed at - about 15 in total all in the Boston area.[/ul]</p>

2

<p>Based on your essay topic, along with many of your other activities, it sounds like you would be better suited for an Ivy League school. (or something similar, like Stanford perhaps.) At least, that's the impression I got. Which essay topic are you referring to?</p>

3

<p>Wasn't the essay topic supposed to be about your passion for math, science, and/or engineering?</p>

4

<p>you'll get in</p>

5

<p>I don't know how Naomi2491 is so confident! I posted on the Stanford thread saying you'd likely get in. Not so sure about Caltech. Caltech is a school for people who want to immerse themselves in really theoretical math, science, and/or engineering. No part of what you've posted indicates that you'd especially enjoy or be a good fit for this (OK, not to say that you necessarily won't be, just that it's certainly not evident given the application).</p>

<p>I'd agree with the poster who says you're better off at an Ivy League from the looks of it, actually. I'm not a Caltech student, but looking back on it, it might've been a great fit.</p>

6

<p>Oh and the point of the last line -- well, my profile probably contained all the academics you did, several forms of evidence that I'm into math well beyond just a well scoring high schooler, etc.</p>

<p>Also, generally SAT II averages for Caltech in the sciences are higher.</p>

7

<p>I don't know about Caltech. They care a LOT about your love for math and science and engineering. Stanford, in my opinion, cares more about personality.</p>

8

<p>have you ever, by chance, heard of a "MIT" around your neighborhood? ;P
it's too late to apply now (or did you apply?) but I think you would have been great for it (though with schools like these, you can never tell.)</p>

9

<p>Your credentials are very good indeed, and you might have some chance. The only worry is somewhat lower scores in physics and chemistry. The other thing I want to ask you is that what is the actual reason that you want to go to caltech? If you are really passionate about hard core math and science then you can go there. If not, a place like Stanford, or Harvard, or Cornell, etc might be more suitable for you.
Hope this helps.</p>

10

<p>"The other thing I want to ask you is that what is the actual reason that you want to go to caltech? If you are really passionate about hard core math and science then you can go there."</p>

<p>Yeah this is exactly what I asked some students applying to Harvey Mudd, obviously same thing applies to Caltech applicants. He seems like a good student, but I think Caltech scores tend to be higher...and what's more, where is the love for the stuff Caltech is really noted for?</p>