Yup! Hehe. I had an extremely poor high school record until my "awakening" lol. I became extremely interested in the sciences and math but I was a pathetic student, with regards to competing for admissions, when I had applied to Caltech. I'm sure my application was dumped in the trash bin in only a second, but I guess we all have to have our dreams.
I had spoken to a person (a student) on the admissions committee at Caltech and he told me that they usually get a few students (top-notch students) from Pasadena City College each year. I decided that I had to give it another shot and be thankful for having the opportunity to do so. There was no question about it and I just went straight from registering for classes at Cal Poly Pomona to applying to PCC and registering for classes there. After a while, I found out that they have a special agreement (the only one!) with PCC because they are so close to each other. So now I am trying to follow that class schedule and am trying to get a strong college record so that when I apply I will have at least some chance, unlike how it was for me straight out of high school. It's too bad I have to spend two years here at PCC, due to its horrible academic quality...but it would have been the same at any community college. Oh well...
However, I may try as much as I want but I don't think that I would ever fit the traits and characteristics of a strong Caltech applicant, obviously not even a student either - "just not that smart." I guess I was just not meant for it. It's going to be another disappointment for me once I get my rejection letter, but at least I will have optimal chances that I would make for my self because I will be pursuing a major that is not impacted (which has meant the difference of being admitted and rejected for quite a number of people at many schools), I will be doing the Scholars program, I will be working hard on the essays with the guidance of my recent English teacher so that they are outstanding, and I will have followed, for the most part, the agreement that they have with PCC. Oh well...I will also be applying to a few other schools, which I believe I will be admitted to, so that I am not left without a great school to attend, and perhaps another that I won't..