Chances/Questions

Colleges & Universities California Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hi, Im a junior looking at colleges right now, and Calctech is one of my top choices. I was interested in knowing if you thought I was realistic in my goal. Also, any advice for what I can do from now until the EA application to help my chances would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>4.00 GPA
12/520 Rank
3 APs this year (Calc I+II(AB), USH, English 11(Language))
6 APs next year (CALC III(BC), Stat, Chem, Physics B, English 12(Lit.), Economics)</p>

<p>Tests:</p>

<p>SAT- 2310
Critical Reading- 720
Math- 800
writing- 790</p>

<p>SAT IIs
Math Level 2- 800
USH- ~770 (predicted)
Physics~750 (predicted)</p>

<p>PSAT- 226</p>

<p>Extracurriculars, current and predicted</p>

<p>4 Years Cross Country, Captain next year
3 Years Indoor Track,
3 Years Outdoor Track
4 Years Marching Band
2 Years Academic Team, T.V. Team, Captain
4 Years Maryland Math League, Class of 2007 Champion as a Freshman, Sophmore, and Hopefully Junior and Senior</p>

<p>Awards</p>

<p>Hopefully NMSF, with a 226 in MD
Hopefully AP Scholar
School Champion, Maryland Math League, Junior Year
Lots of Varsity Letters
Various running awards
Various miniature Painting awards</p>

<p>I also have a few questions for current student:</p>

<p>How hard is it to juggle sports with academics? Does it leave you with any down time?</p>

<p>I want to major in math, but I haven’t taken any AMc tests; my school doesn’t have them, and my teachers haven’t heard of them. Will this hurt my chances if I apply as a math major?</p>

<p>How much does applying EA help? Also, is the in-state admission rate different from out-of-state? Im in Maryland if it matters.</p>

<p>Thanks for any help!</p>

2

<p>Eeeeer…wheren’t you asking the same thing on </p>

<p>02-23-2006, 02:03 PM</p>

<p>??</p>

3

<p>I don’t know too much about admissions so I can’t help you with your chances. Check out the acceptance/rejection thread or wait for someone who knows what he/she is talking about. </p>

<p>

I don’t play sports, but generally it’s doable depending on your ability/major/schedule etc. It does take quite a bit of time, but you’d certainly still have ‘some’ downtime if you only did classes and sports. From what I’ve heard, the coaches are reasonably flexible if you’re in a work crunch, so that’s nice. </p>

<p>

I didn’t do physics olympiad and applied as a physics major - worked out okay. </p>

<p>Admissions doesn’t have a checklist of activities/unlisted requirements they want from students; they are just looking for passion and ability in math and/or science. Of course high scores on the AIME are very useful to that end, but are no means required. Suffice to say, they look at what you have done and not what you’re missing (assuming you have all of the obvious, formal requirements).</p>

<p>

I think the acceptance rate is higher for EA, but that doesn’t necessarily say anything besides more qualified applicants applying early. So i guess I have no idea.</p>

<p>I don’t know anything about out of state vs. in state acceptance rate, though I’d venture that they’re not extremely different.</p>

4

<p>So, first off, since you’re x-country, you’d be here for preseason, which is an awesome month to get used to the school.</p>

<p>Sports are a great mental relief for most of us that participate, though sometimes you miss classes to get to meets or whatnot (though they are scheduled during non-class bits of the day, drive times are never taken into account). Generally, you have time for sports, though as there’s only 24 hours in the day, sometimes sacrifices are made here and there.</p>

<p>As to the stats, I probably can’t give much useful advice. Maybe some more leadership or science independent study/research items (I never did research until coming here). Something studious sounding or a decent job for the summer (though I didn’t have one).</p>

<p>Though coaches can’t do much in influencing admissions (if anything), it’s probably worth talking to the x-country and track/field coach about your interest.</p>