Who Am I? Where Am I Going? What are My Chances?

<p>I'm planning on applying to Caltech and was wondering if I could get some of your perspectives on where I stand with respect to admission. I know its a crapshoot, but any feedback at all is always good.</p>

<p>I'm a male, a senior, a mutt (Pakistani/Caucasian), and attend a fairly well-regarded public school in the Cleveland area (Solon, if you're wondering)</p>

<p>Schools I'm applying to (all RD)
Case Western
Carnegie Mellon
Cornell
Wash U.
Michigan
Illinois
MIT
Caltech
Harvey Mudd
Rice</p>

<p>SAT: 1530 (740M, 790 V)
Rank: 3/417 (but my high school doesn't release ranks, they give quintile GPA distributions)
GPA: 4.41 W, 3.9 UW</p>

<p>9th
Honors Chem: B
Choir: A
Honors English: A
World History: A
Honors Geometry: A
Spanish 3 (skipped a level in Spanish): A</p>

<p>10th
Honors English: B
Honors Biology: A
Precalculus: A
Honors Physics: A
Spanish 4: A
AP US History: A, 5
AP Computer Science AB (last year of C++): A, 5</p>

<p>11th
AP English Language: A, 5
AP Calculus BC: A, 4 (5 AB subscore)
AP Spanish Language: A, 5
AP European History: A, 5
AP Biology: A, 5
AP Chemistry: A, 5</p>

<p>12th
AP Statistics:
AP Physics (C):
Spanish 5 (culture course):
AP Economics:
AP English Literature:
AP US Government</p>

<p>I plan to retake AP Calc BC as well as to take AP Spanish Language self-study</p>

<p>I took Calc III (multivariable) at the local community college, got a B, but the highest grade in the class</p>

<p>I speak Urdu/Hindi fluently (Pakistani language, as well as English), can get by in Spanish, and understand some Arabic</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Academic Challenge - As captain, I led the team to nationals, three years in a row, and to victory on the local televised tournament (and $10 K for the school). I also run our school's own tournament</p>

<p>Science Olympiad - starting team member 10-12 (did it in middle school as well). Our team has been to nationals for the last 10 years, and I've medalled nationally in several events (Qualitative Analysis, Disease Detectives, Remote Sensing)</p>

<p>Model UN, Speech Team - won awards, etc.</p>

<p>Chemistry Olympiad - "National Qualifier" meaning I passed the regional test</p>

<p>AMC - I scored a 98.5 (just missing AIME)</p>

<p>Jobs/Other Stuff:
I do freelance Web design/programming/database administration. (I know C++, Perl, ASP, SQL, Visual Basic, HTML, etc.) I've worked for a local Web deisng firm, a Realty One branch, and even helped design the national tournament scheduling and results database system for hsquizbowl.org (basically a bulletin board site where all the academic team people get together nationwide on the internet)</p>

<p>I have tutored kids in Spanish for the last few years and help teach Arabic grammar at my mosque</p>

<p>I did engage in some research in the molecular biology labs at Case Western this year (specifically on RNA translation in nutrient-starved cells) I can't say I played a large role (as it wasn't my project) or published a paper, but I did what I could (centrifuged here, PCRed there, etc.) </p>

<p>Does that a) count as a significant research experience if I really didn't have a project of my own? and b) do I need a letter of recommendation, because the person overseeing me didn't have the best English skills. If not, what should I say about it?</p>

<p>I know I can get awesome recommendations from my teachers. Do you guys think I stand a chance for these schools?</p>

<p>Thanks for looking.</p>

<p>ok.. you are a crazy mutt :)</p>

<p>Great chance! Good luck.</p>

<p>slight bump</p>

<p>bump again</p>

<p>bump. match/reach/safeties?</p>

<p>Chances:</p>

<p>Case Western...Safety
Carnegie Mellon...Match
Cornell...Match
Wash U...Reach/Match
Michigan...Match (Get your app in pronto!)
Illinois...Match/Safety
MIT...Reach
Caltech...Reach
Harvey Mudd...Match
Rice...Match</p>

<p>Hope this is of use.</p>

<p>Thanks. I just submitted my Michigan app not five minutes ago.</p>

<p>Then it is a Match/Safety. :)</p>

<p>you've got a great shot. Personally, maybe b/c I'm naive, I don't understand why blainko said you're a reach/match for Wash U. I think you're clear cut for them. Oh well...</p>

<p>WashU has become a little unpredictable in the last few years. Thus the Reach/Match designation rather than just a Match. If it were a couple of years ago, I'd have given him the latter designation, as he looks like a great candidate.</p>

<p>last bump. (for good luck)</p>

<p>Case Western - Safe
Carnegie Mellon - Safe
Cornell - Safe
Wash U. - Safe
Michigan - Safe
Illinois - Safe
MIT - Reach
Caltech - Reach
Harvey Mudd - Safe
Rice - Safe/Reach</p>

<p>dude, I'd say all of them would be safeties except for MIT and Cal Tech, which you already have great chances of getting in. Afterall, your a National AP Scholar, and there were only 90 juniors last year that had that award.</p>

<p>Do you really think all I do wth my time is sit there and study? Far from it.</p>