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Applying RD to CalTech
What are my chances?

GPA: 3.81/4.0 weighted (top is 4.51)

SAT: 700w 740m (1440 combined)

SAT IIs:
Bio - 680 (taken freshman yr)
Math IC - 720 (sophomore)
Writing - 640 (ugh...can't write essays either)
Taking Math IIC and Physics in Jan (makeup)...should get >700 on both

APs:
AP Comp Sci AB (C++): 4
AP Physics B: 3 (teacher had no teaching credentials - fired at end of year)


ECs
1. Civil Air Patrol, USAF Auxiliary for 6+ yrs, cadet commander of local squadron, chairman of advisory council, senior ground team member
2. Captain of Cross County, Winter/Spring Track
3. Future Business Leader of America
4. Captain (president) of Varsity Athletes Against Substance Abuse
5. Rockland County Math League (9th-12th) - 2nd pl team and 2nd in computer contest
6. Mu Alpha Theta (Math Hnr Society)
7. National Honor Society Member
8. Science Olympiad - Physics Team Member

Work:
-Videographer (cameraperson) - local school district sports tv network
-Computer Analyst - statistical arbitrage (stock trading) company

Honors:
1. Natn'l Merit Commended Student
2. Who's Who... (9th-12th)
3. Excellence in AP Physics B
4. Outstanding performance in AP Comp Sci AB
5. Southern Lights Community Service Award
6. American Math Comp Outstanding Achievement

5 activities in past two summers:
1. National Flight Academy (Civil Air Patrol)
2. Hawk Mountain Ranger School (high angle rescue - CAP)
3. National Emergency Services Academy - returning for third and forth yr (CAP)
4. National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine

Sorry it's a lil long....what do you all think? Should I bother?

Thx.

-Terry

By Pantyho (Pantyho) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 02:55 pm: Edit

no dont bother

By Tvh2k (Tvh2k) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 03:36 pm: Edit

k...thx

By Culovv (Culovv) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 03:38 pm: Edit

i disagree. do well on the sat ii's and you have a good chance.

By Foreignboy (Foreignboy) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 04:10 pm: Edit

CalTech seems to be very stat-oriented in its admissions. That's why they have such a high score average, even though many high scorers don't apply there.
I'd say, unless you bring your SAT2s up to almost 800, you're gone.

Then again, I'm a kid.. my opinion isn't God.

By Vsage3 (Vsage3) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 06:26 pm: Edit

Yeah I'm sorry but you will have a very hard time getting into caltech. Foreignboy is right: Caltech looks at stats and their middle 50% sat scores are like 1500-1580.

By Tvh2k (Tvh2k) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 06:47 pm: Edit

Alright well thx...I have too many other apps to do by Jan 1 anyway.

By Benzinspeicher (Benzinspeicher) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 06:17 pm: Edit

Think I might get in? Class rank is 43 out of 185. I take 5 APs (Calculus, Physics, Biology, Hist, Span). SAT IIs avg at 675 (770 math IC, 700 math IIC, 620 writ, 610 chem). Three season athlete with black belt in karate, and varsity letter winner. SATs are 1390 (800 math, 590 verbal). Please do note that Caltech probably won't care too much about english and humanities-all my math and physical sciences are A's and B's in AP, and my 800 math does prove ability. What do you think?

By Youpunchedme (Youpunchedme) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 06:59 pm: Edit

What is the "Who's Who" award.. just curious

By Tvh2k (Tvh2k) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 07:23 pm: Edit

So I now discover it's a bunch of crap....
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000097.htm

By Mulan (Mulan) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 07:25 pm: Edit

my friend got in last year, her sat score was 1420.

however her SAT IIs were higher, and she was valedictorian, and she took like, 20000000000 APs and got 5s on all

so in the end, it depends.

and who's who... doesn't really matter. you pay for it, you get it. some colleges even ask you to "please do not list Who's who or National Honor Roll"

By Benzinspeicher (Benzinspeicher) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 08:03 pm: Edit

WILL I GET IN????????? PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!! NOBODY ANSWERS ANYTHING I EVER WRITE!!!!!!!!!! I SO TOTALLY WANT TO GO THERE!!!

By Mulan (Mulan) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 08:07 pm: Edit

nobody can accurately answer because no one knows for sure. it's a crapshoot. you don't believe me? worm your way over to the ivy and top 25 boards. no one can truly predict. if you want to go there, try for it. it's always part luck. so don't blame others for not answering directly: nobody really knows.

By Benzinspeicher (Benzinspeicher) on Thursday, January 01, 2004 - 12:20 am: Edit

Thank you. Finally, somebody responds by saying something!!!