kaekae

I really like all that I know/have read about Caltech, but a lot of things, the enrollment info for example, really discourages me. Do I have a chance? Should I bother applying? I'll just put everything...

Basics:

Male
White (Polish descent)
I attend a less-than-stellar Catholic school (fml) in a relatively small city in South Texas.

Objective:

* SAT I (breakdown): 2270 (CR: 740, M: 760, W: 770)
* ACT: 33 superscored (SAT better obviously)
* PSAT: 214
* SAT II: Spanish with Listening, Math II, Chemistry (good scores expected on all, 800 on Spanish and probably Math also)
* GPA (3 years, not on 4.0 scale): 100.651 weighted; 97.659 unweighted
* Rank: 5 of about 120
* AP (scores in parentheses): Spanish Language (self-study 5), Calculus AB (5), English Langauge (4)
- Senior year: Calculus BC, Biology, English Literature
* Course load: Hardest possible; I’m one math class ahead of every one else in my grade (they basically made a new one (Calc BC) for me)
* Major Awards: no siemens, intel, etc.

Subjective:

* Extracurriculars (leadership):
-Boy Scouts (Eagle Scout): very active, work at camps, many positions of leadership in my Troop.
-Cross country for several years, varsity.
-Science club (not school-based): taught at a local hospital by a surgeon, meet weekly, study advanced organic chemistry, anatomy, biochemistry, etc.
-Participate in city Knowledge Bowl, 1st place this year.
-Boys State this past Summer
-Speaking competitions: 1st at school, 2nd citywide, same for 2 years.
-Participate in school theatrical productions, both significant acting roles and technical support.
-Peer tutoring (mainly of Freshmen), after school around 2 times a week, mainly in Spanish.
-Research involving plants and gene expression that has implications in human diseases (about 100 hours)
-Statewide academic competitions, place in district and qualify for state
-Math club, 3 years
-NHS, of course
-many “academic excellence awards” from teachers
-AP scholar
I speak Spanish fluently as a second language, where does this go?
* Summer stuff: I attended the Duke TIP program, studying Algebra II (which I subsequently skipped in school) and computer science (programming), the Summers and Freshman and Sophomore years. This past Summer, internship at a local computer company helping with computer repairs, website upkeep, etc.
* Research: submitted to siemens but no win.
* Essays: not really started, but assumed to be great
* Volunteer/Community service: around 200 hours; activities include church fundraisers, school fundraisers and events, nursing homes, tutoring, and Boy Scouts, which includes teaching young kids, constructing certain structures such as fences, etc.
* Teacher Recommendations: 2 from “AP savants,” also supplemental one from said Science Club teacher

Etc.:
Yes financial aid
major in biochem

IMSAgeek

Definitely apply if you are interested in attending Caltech.

kdmom

Yes, you have a chance. Admission to Cal Tech is very competitive, but you are certainly in the running.

kaekae

Thanks. Anyone else?

mamarama

Go for it. Caltech loves personality, so let yours shine.

kaekae

I have heard Caltech has mostly stat-based admission, is this true? For example I fear I might make as low as ~700 on math 2 and chem on the 7th. Will this kill me? Also, I don't have any science/math competitions, mainly because they are basically unavailable here. I do have science club and research, both of which I put a lot of time into. Feedback?

IMSAgeek

~700 on MathII might hurt you, unless you have a 5 on a calc AP or As in high-level (calc or above) math courses to balance it. That said, I wouldn't worry until you actually have the score. A 700+ in Chemistry is fine. Science club and research more than make up for no math/science competitions, IMO. I didn't have any science/math competitions either.

Edit: Caltech admissions isn't really score based. Granted, to be admitted your scores should be within range for Caltech, since everyone here will have to make it through CORE and scores are the easiest way for admissions to tell if you'd be able to, academically. That said, if your scores are in range (which yours seem to be) there are a lot of other factors that are as important or more important than your scores.

kaekae

So, after taking them yesterday, I would say 800 in spanish, about the same in math, and definitely above 700 in chemistry (hopefully >700).