Thomas_

Hey there,

First of all, let me apologize that this post has become so super long.

I'm an international student from Germany and I'm currently attending a California Community College (just finished my 1st semester). My goal is to transfer to Caltech as a EE/CS major, it's definitely my top choice. I know it's probably too early but I want to ask you for advice on what I should do to maximize my chances. I want to start as early as possible, because after visiting, Caltech has become my dream school.

Here's something about me:
- Worked my whole life with Computers, Programming since I was 12, first programming job with 15/16 (Webdesign Company), 1-2 year part-time programming job in addition to high school. Then I went to the US and started College.
- Some Networking Certifications (CCNA/CCDA/ (got them when I was 16) almost CCNP, plan to be CCIE when I transfer)
- Computer Science Tutoring since 1st semester for all CS classes at my College, even though I haven't taken any CS classes there. I plan to it until I transfer, because I need the money.
- Working with CS Professors at my CC on different projects right from the beginning.
- I plan to have a 3.8-3.9 GPA when I transfer.
- I won't take summer classes but I will take a full course load (18 units) and work simultaneously during fall/spring. I want to do something else during summer because I want to demonstrate a rigorous course load.
- Right now (summer) I'm volunteering at a big university (CS research) and I'm also tutoring summer classes at my CC and doing some (very easy) work for a CS prof.

Now my questions:
- How important is the GPA? Is there a big difference between 3.8 and 4.0 or doesn't it really matter?

- What kind of recommendations should I aim for? I mean, how important is it from WHOM I get the recommendation(s)? Does admissions actually do research on the people who wrote them? I want to take my Physics series (3 classes) with a professor who worked as a postdoc at Caltech and got his PhD from Yale. I might sacrifice other things to get an outstanding rec. from him. Does it even matter where he went to school or would the same rec. from a random Prof. just be as good?

- Do you think it's even a good idea to get these Networking Certifications (CCIE)? It may not only take a lot of my time, but also a lot of my money (more than $1500 for the CCIE exam/lab as far as I know). I want to specialize in Networking/Security and I know I want to get them eventually, I'm just not sure if NOW is the right time for it (because I only have limited time and I want to do the most effective things to improve my transfer chances). How are these certifications seen by admissions (do they even know them?)?

- I'm volunteering to do research right now, but I know Caltech probably wants to se my OWN research/developments/algorithms/whatever. I have no idea how to get started with that, so this one is not really a question, but if someone has some tips/recommendations/advice how to get into these things, I would really appreciate that.

- How does starting my own small business look? I have a small business plan and an (almost) finished website for a German internet company (could possible be extended to other countries). I haven't continued working on it for over 6 months now. It is totally unrelated to my major EE/CS, except that I designed and programmed it myself. It will be a small company, only a part-time project. I just wonder if finishing it is worth my time or not.

- Any recommendations on what else to do during summer/break? Research volunteering? Tutoring at CC? Go back to Germany and work there for summer (maybe I can an go back to my old company, they are looking for people to give seminars and bootcamps for certain topics)? IT Certifications?

- Will being international hurt me or benefit me in some way?

Thomas_

Since I can't edit the post anymore, one more thing:

What are typical extracurricular activities and how important are they? Frankly, I don't do much besides school and work. No music instruments and no outstanding athletic activities. I just go jogging a few times a week and I want starting running marathons now, but that's about it. Is that a big disadantage or do ECs play only a minor role?

I also wanted to add: I know people are going to tell me: Do whatever you feel passionate about, that's best. I know, but actually I'm passionate about all these things listed above.

ganiyen

Which CC are you from?

Thomas_

Santa Monica College.

Brendank

All I can say is that transferring into Caltech is very tough. I thought I was an extremely competitive transfer applicant (high GPA, lots of academic activities, varsity athlete ect.) when I submitted my application last winter but I was rejected. The transfer exams are brutal. Good luck!

Thomas_

Thank you!

Where did you try to transfer from? CC oder 4-year?
What do you mean by "tough"? Are there a lot of topics covered so that you need to memorize/understand a lot of things or were the problems itself much harder than you expected?

ganiyen

As far as I know Pasadena City College(PCC) send 1-3 transfer students to Caltech each year for consecutive ten years. But there is no official agreement between PCC and Caltech.

fxzero

this is the Requriement for PCC to Cal Tech

http://www.pasadena.edu/studentservi...s/cal-tech.pdf

mazewanderer

OK, I think you are mistaking the regular application process with the transfer application process.

If you are already in a CC, you need to follow the transfer process which is based on passing a very tough exam

Transfer Applicants - Caltech Caltech Undergraduate Admissions

The chances of admission are very low:

Four-year Totals Applicants Admits
Total 431 35
U.S. 2-year institution 208 15
U.S. 4-year institution 165 16
Non-U.S. institution 58 4

In the last 4 years about 35 students out 431 (less than 8%) students got in.

So all the stuff you are talking about reserach/volunteer/getting certification is not really going to help if you cannot get through the exam. Starting an internet business falls in the same criteria. SAT scores do not matter here. Please look at the link and then decide if you want to try this. The exam tests the basics, not the applied stuff like certification.

LHC

another five-year-old revived thread! It looks like Thomas_ ended up at Berkeley and graduated last year. This is still probably all useful info for anyone else looking at a cc to caltech transfer (I think that one or two of the transfer students at Caltech each year came from CCs).

RacinReaver

Even through the thread's old, if anyone in the future reads this I'll add this little bit.

I knew a guy that came to Caltech from community college. The main difference is it's because he dropped out of high school in something like ninth grade, got his GED, and started taking CC courses for the next year or two before going to Caltech.