What kind of students does Caltech look for?

module9 · 03-27-2008, 10:53 PM

I'm just wondering what kind of school Caltech is, from the student perspective and not the historical/other perspective you find online at their website and in the news etc. Also, what kind of students does the university look for, and what should one do if he or she wants to get into Caltech? Thank you guys!

Do I have a chance at Caltech?
I'm currently a sophomore with a 3.67 unweighted GPA. This will be 3.83 by senior year. I scored 2000 on the PSAT (600 reading 600 writing 800 math) and expect to receive 2250-2300 on the SAT. I took the SAT Math IIC and got an 800 on my first try. I plan on majoring in either engineering (possibly mechanical) or mathematics (to become an actuary? truthfully not sure yet). I'm playing no sports this year, but will next year. I ran xc, track, played tennis, and wrestled last year. I will most likely attend Harvard's SSP Summer Program this summer and Oxford's Summer Program next summer. I'm attending the HOBY leadership conference this summer and plan on attending West Point's Leadership Seminar and Boys State next summer.

This year's classes: Chem Honors, World History Honors, Precalc Honors, English 2, Leadership, Korean 4, Leadership
Next year's classes: Physics AP, Calc AB AP, English 3 Honors, US History AP, Korean 5, XC/Track, Leadership

Who I Am: Vice-President of Sophomore Class, Vice-President of church Student Council, Secretary of District's Youth & Government [state-wide club that is recognized by the government (the governor of CA comes to our last convention)], Short-term missionary (I went to Kenya for a month for missions), Music Volunteer for Kaiser Permanente (200+ hours), Snowboarder (started when I was 7 years old)

I don't have a ton of leadership positions yet, but in the next two years I plan on being...
Junior Year: Junior Class President, CSF Secretary, Youth & Government Secretary/President
Senior Year: Student Council President, Youth & Government President, Officer in Civil Air Patrol, CSF President/Vice-President

Please tell me what I need to work on. I'm not yet sure which college I want to go to so I'm trying to be as well rounded as possible.

Hriundeli · 03-27-2008, 11:10 PM

Caltech is a school where [ideally] hard work, social experience, research opportunities, weather and picturesque setting combine to give you perhaps the best four years of your life.

sf49rox · 03-27-2008, 11:35 PM

Is there a career summary out there that says where everyone goes after Caltech?

zoogies · 03-28-2008, 12:04 AM

Career summary: Hobo
Description: ask ppl for monies
Location: cities vary

adrianphanny · 03-28-2008, 01:26 AM

caltech is looking for the nerdiest people who will continue to have no social life in college

snowcapk · 03-28-2008, 02:19 AM

Dumb question: What is a leadership class? Why did you choose to take it twice this year and again next year, and attend two different leadership conferences? I don't have a clue what that entails. Maybe you could take AP Bio, AP Chem, AP English, or even community college courses instead? If leadership is required, then I recommend explaining the curriculum in your essay - there are probably admissions officers who won't know what it means academically and you have put an awful lot of effort into it.

Also, is there an option to not spend an entire class period, all year long, on track? I dig that you are into sports but this will not help you the way that an advanced academic course would...well, at least not at Caltech. To be honest, your GPA is low-ish at the moment and it would help to demonstrate, in as many difficult courses as possible, that you are capable of "A" work.

I think that the advice above applies no matter which schools interest you. For Caltech in particular, I recommend demonstrating your interest in science, math and engineering. Your schedule is full now, but your ECs and most of your courseload are not math/science-oriented. That's cool, you are well-rounded and not 100% sure that math/engineering is your future. But maybe it would help you confirm that one of those careers is right for you if you were involved in math/engineering activities and took courses in math/engineering, say at a local college, during the summers, evenings, or weekends. This would allow you to get through the basic math and physics courses much faster. For example, you could take calculus over the summer, then linear algebra in the fall and multivariable calc in the spring, and you would end up (a) far ahead of your peers and (b) with a better understanding of your interest in math. Likewise, being Junior Class President is a noble enterprise, but it doesn't help you explore your potential career interests in the same way that joining a robotics team or participating in a Math Olympiad would.

module9 · 03-28-2008, 02:25 PM

snowcapk: Haha don't worry it's not a dumb question. I'm the Vice-President of the Sophomore Class right now. All officers in student coucil except class historians are required to have Leadership as their 4th period class. Because our student council has to make posters, organize events, and work together, having the same 4th period class helps us work as a team and support each other. Also, I am in fact taking community college classes. I have completed English 101, English 102, Sociology, Speech 102, and am currently taking Psychology. I will be taking Physics and a robotics course this summer at Harvard.

Do you recommend taking the Physics/Calculus classes at a community college or at my high school's summerschool? I'm a bit worried that I won't learn as much as I would in a year-long class though.

Could you clarify what you were saying about taking track? I will take cross-country and track during 7th period (afterschool when no other academic classes are taking place).

If I knew that I wanted to go into the field of mathematics/engineering I would have gone to CAMS High School (California Academy of Math and Science), but I didn't know what I wanted to major in until a couple of months ago.

Thank you so much snowcapk for all of the information

snowcapk · 03-28-2008, 03:04 PM

Hi module9,
That's great about the community college classes! I also think you will get ahead from taking those courses this summer. I don't think you would learn less in a CC class or summer school than you would in a year-long class, but that's got to be your call based on how you learn. (The content should be the same but you might prefer year-long classes with less work per day to a more intensive semester course that meets more often and has more frequent homework).

I didn't realize that track was in a period after school - it sounded like it was taking up part of the school day. Carry on then

module9 · 03-28-2008, 10:47 PM

Hello snowcapk

Haha well, track is supposed to be during 6th period. I can request that I have it afterschool though. I don't mind the extra work in the summer, but I plan on going to Harvard's summerschool this summer, and am currently taking a community college class. My school really doesn't offer much after calculus. I'll be sure to look into nearby community colleges though. Are there any specific classes that you would recommend me taking?

snowcapk · 03-28-2008, 11:24 PM

Well, if you plan to be a math major, I recommend math courses. Usually the sequence "calc I (equiv. of AP Calc), linear algebra, multivariable calc, differential equations" is offered at community colleges and it wouldn't hurt to get that out of the way. (You will probably take a much more rigorous version of that sequence eventually at whatever university you attend, but it's good to have the background knowledge to build on.) Advanced math courses (topology, real/complex analysis) probably won't be offered at CCs and you won't have time to reach them. The reason I suggest taking math at the CC in the evening instead of AP Calculus is that you could get through multivariable calculus in one year if the CC is on the quarter system, instead of taking all year to do just AP Calculus AB. Then you would be able to use calculus in your AP Physics class and in any other courses you take at the CC during your senior year.

Michael Woods · 03-29-2008, 01:09 AM

You say you would have gone to CAMS, which means you're from socal. Which high school, if I might ask? I went to West High.

module9 · 03-29-2008, 11:17 AM

Michael Woods: Hahah really? We're both warriors then. What year did you graduate?

What a small worldd

Michael Woods · 03-29-2008, 02:03 PM

2004. Now I'm a senior at Caltech.

Have you gotten involved in the science/math clubs at West? They do a lot of competitions that would help you demonstrate an interest and excellence in math and science.

Also, you should consider taking some classes at El Camino over the summer, or at night during the school year. If you can get through some advanced math courses there, it will really help you stand out for college apps *everywhere*. If you're up for it, I'd recommend taking one of their calculus classes either this summer, or next year, so that you can take the Calc BC test next year, and you'll have your senior year free to take multivariable and/or diff eqns at ElCo.

If you're looking for a more general sort of 'well-roundedness' you should consider the Academic Decathlon program at West as well. It's excellent, and if you do well in competition will also really help you stand out.

p.s.- Regarding CAMS... at least when I was there, West offered more & better science/math APs et all than CAMS did.

p.p.s.- You say you're a sophomore in World History Honors? Say hi to Mr Palazzo for me. ;-)

module9 · 03-30-2008, 12:53 AM

snowcapk: I'll be sure to look into some mathematics classes at community colleges. If I go to Harvard for summerschool this summer I'll be sure to take Calculus AB instead of robotics. Thanks snowcapk!

Michael Woods: I haven't really looked into the math/science clubs. There's math club, but not much goes on (as far as I know) (or they just don't publicize?). I'm in student council though! Haha was Miss Yoo around when you were at West? Wow this is a small world

LOL and I have Mr. Palazzo now! He's thinking of retiring in like 2-3 years though (at least thats what he says every week) x]

I'll be sure to take Calculus AB at Harvard this summer (if I get in to the program). I'll know in about 3 weeks whether or not I'm in

Were you in Academic Decathlon? I think our school still has a good team (some people have like 12902 medals). I'm not too sure though. As far as I know, it takes up A LOT of time. I've received like 5 letters asking that I join though o.0

It was nice to meet you Michael! And thanks so much for the reply

[edit]
OH! I have one question. I'm taking as many classes as I can at community colleges right? What do I do with my transcript? Do I give it to my high school counselors or hold on to it until college apps are due? I was talking to my SAT tutor, and she said not to submit the college transcript to my high school but to just hold onto it and list the classes on college apps.

snowcapk · 03-30-2008, 02:10 AM

module9, in the fall of your senior year, after you register for that term's courses, you should order transcripts from the community college from each of those schools. Some schools will want you to have the transcript sent directly from the CC to the admissions office, others will want you to get sealed, signed transcripts and include them with the rest of your application in one giant package. There is no need to bring the transcript to your high school counselor/teachers except maybe to show them how you've excelled. (Give your recommenders as much ammunition as you can.)