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I'm a junior, but I'd like to get a sense of what goes into good applications. What did you guys put in the box on the Caltech application (something like - "Fill this space with something interesting")

By caltech07 on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 03:09 pm: Edit

Hi. I don't think you'll get a lot of straight-up responses to what was put in that box. It's supposed to be very interesting though and a lot of admissions decisions that seem "random" are based on the creativity of the contents of that box. Think outside the box and knock their socks off.

By Im a retard on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 01:53 am: Edit

but you have to write inside the box!!! hehehe

All this think outside write inside is confusing me, will someone please explain?

By MARIA on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 02:07 am: Edit

What I did was a sort of a pop-up photo album. I put 4 pictures of things I considered interesting and then explained why.

It looked really cool but I know I won't get in, my sat's are horrible compared to their averages

By Imabovegod (Imabovegod) on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 02:22 am: Edit

i put a picture of one of dean's wife...NAKED. i also wrote that i made a billion copies.

By Omkar on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 06:45 am: Edit

Does your text have to be in the box?

By quarky on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 01:16 pm: Edit

Riiiiiight.

Well, on the online application, there is a text field AND an option of uploading an image. I followed the directions, which said "you may include text withing the same image." WITHIN is the key word, so I edited the image and wrote text in the picture, then uploaded it. I left the text field blank.

My image was kinda like Maria's -- 4-in-1
I used some 3D animation software to create a very simple model and took 4 screenshots. To describe the images, I mailed a 27-page long research paper...

By Adam G. on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 09:47 pm: Edit

Are you joking about the dean's wife?
I wrote a short one scene screenplay for the box essay. I sent in my Intel STS research paper which is 20 pages. I also included a CD with my PowerPoint presentations from my science fair projects.

By Quarky on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 11:23 pm: Edit

Great job, Adam! Sounds really cool! What are your stats?

By gr8hello on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 11:32 pm: Edit

um my friend got into caltech and he put a epic metaphore poem there about evil computers

By Adam G. on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 09:59 pm: Edit

Quarky, I really don't have good test scores (for Caltech) but I applied anyway just because all my teachers wanted me to and I would really like to go there for graduate school. I want to major in EE and either minor or get a second major in biochemistry. I have been accepted to Rose Hulman, Georgia Tech, and Rensselaer. I'll probably go to one of those depending on how much money they give me. Currently I'm a Presidential Scholar Semifinalist at Georgia Tech and a Rensselaer medal winner. So it would be nice to be accepted to Caltech, but from what I hear from my ISEF harem ;-) who have siblings or know people who go there, you can do only 2 of the following things at Caltech: eat, sleep, study.

GPA: ~99 weighted, ~96 unweighted at the end of last year.
SAT: 730M 670V
SATII: 710 IIC, 650 Writing, 730 Bio-M, 710 Chem
ACT: 36S, 34R, 32M, 28E
AP: 5 Biology, 4 English Composition
Current APs: Calculus AB, Chemistry, Physics C, US Govt, Microecon
ECs:
Science Fair--various local, regional, state, government, and international (ISEF 2001) awards on a project having to do with computer aided diagnosis. State and government awards having to do with a team project about modeling carbohydrates and hydrocarbons in real time. We were the first team project to go to ISEF (2002) from Alabama.
Science Olympiad--team captain for 2 years. Over 20 medals from state and regional competition.
Key Club (I have volunteered about 400 hours over the past 4 years with key club and at the hospital)
Class treasurer for 2 years
Youth Judicial we went to state competition 2 years
Computer Club
Work experience: worked at school's computer department fixing and setting up computers.
Cum Laude
Mu Alpha Theta
NHS

By Adam G. on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 10:06 pm: Edit

Forgot to say that I do Physics team and have won some awards and scholarships around the southeast for that. Probably forgot to mention it because I hate fysics hehehehe. I also do some bowling and have taken up ballroom dancing for fun.

By quarky on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 03:15 pm: Edit

Very good, Adam! You certainly have a great chance. My accomplishments are nothing compared to yours.

By Caltechaspirant on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 08:15 pm: Edit

Hey guys, what chances do you think I have for Caltech?

GPA: 97.1 (my school doesn't "weigh" or rank)
SAT: 1560 (800M. 760V)
SAT II's: 800 in Math IIC, Chemistry and Physics. 760 in American History and 780 in Writing
APs: Got 5 in Physics B, Calculus BC, Psychology, American History.
I am currently taking Multi-Variable Calculus and Physical Chemistry at a local college, Physics C, Macroeconomics AP, English AP, US Government AP

ECs:

Member of ARISTA
Member of Key Club
Volunteer for Red Cross
100 Hours in Community Service at Local Hospital
150 hours of other Community Service
Worked as an unpaid intern at a law office for 1.5 years
Got a 132 on the AMC, gave the AIME
Member of Science Olmypiad Physics & Chemistry (won a couple of awards)
Member of Model UN Club (also hold position, won a few awards)
Did an INTEL Project on Quantum Mechanics
Editor for School Newspaper
Writer for School Science Publication
Writer for School Math Publication
Strong recommendations

Did an advanced course in Calculus - II and Applied Mathematics at Baruch College.
Did an advanced course in Applied Physics at Columbia University over the summer.
Currently taking a Math/Physics Honours course at Columbia University

I got to a VERY, VERY competitive Public High School that has a very good reputation nationwide. We seed hundreds of kids to Ivy Leagues and beyond every year.

By quarky on Wednesday, January 08, 2003 - 12:06 am: Edit

very good. what quantum mechanics stuff?

By your local mayor on Wednesday, January 08, 2003 - 01:13 am: Edit

you're in with no problem and I bet you'll get a full-ride.

By dude on Wednesday, January 08, 2003 - 02:23 am: Edit

err no... heh

Nothing's guaranteed at Caltech. At this point, a 1500/800/800/790/4.0 and 11 AP's (including calc3 and linear algebra & took physC e&m test via self-study last year)/AZ state science fair and Intel award winner (me) has been deferred, a 1590/800/800/800 has been deferred (a friend), and a 1570/800/800/750 has been deferred (another friend). Nothing's for certain with Caltech, and unless you win Westinghouse and have a 1600 or something, I don't think you have a snowball's chance in hell of getting a full scholarship. Good luck though.

By quarky on Wednesday, January 08, 2003 - 08:57 am: Edit

Deferral doesn't mean rejection.

By dude on Wednesday, January 08, 2003 - 12:36 pm: Edit

It means no scholarship, which to me equals rejection.

By Chigetai on Wednesday, January 08, 2003 - 07:55 pm: Edit

A 1600 doesn't help much, either.

I talked to an admissions officer. Early Action admits were mostly the candidates that had HARVARD/MIT/CALTECH TRIPLE EARLY ACTION APPLICANT written all over them. From what she insinuated, Caltech's offering scholarships to those applicants who were obviously going to be accepted to either MIT or Harvard early in a bid to "steal" them. Or something...

Which didn't bode well for any of us mere mortals.

By Caltech Freshman on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 01:37 am: Edit

Every year, Caltech aims to have an incoming freshman class of 215. This year, the freshman class (class of 2006) came in at (I think) 253 strong. So I wouldn't be surprised if getting into Caltech is more difficult this year than than last year. Well, anyway, good luck...