Do I even stand a chance

Colleges & Universities California Institute of Technology
1

<p>I applied EA to Caltech. Do I even stand a chance with these stats?
2.9 GPA UW; 3.2 W
Rank: 200/586
ACT: 29 overall
SAT2: Math 2C: 690
Physics: 760
APs: Physics B and C, Calculus BC and AB, Biology, Stats, Enviromental Science, Computer Science 1 and 2, English 3 and 4, Chemistry.</p>

<p>Course Load: Most Rigorous available</p>

<p>Awards:
5th in National Young Astronomer’s Award
20+ top 5 regional Science and Math competitions (to many to list)
Science Olympiad State:<br>
1st Astronomy
1st Astronomy second year
1st Chemical Analysis
3rd Criminal Investigation </p>

<p>Research:
Asterioid orbital calculations using telescopes at SFA University, Arizona, and personal equipment.
Proof of Blackhole mass to galaxy mass ratio.
Discoverer of one NEO. Co-Discoverer two NEOs (Near Earth Objects)</p>

<p>EC:
math and science competitor
Science Olympiad competitor
President, Astronomical Society of East Texas (100+members) four years
President, school Science Club two years
Member, school Chess club four years
performing Astronomical research
Gave lectures on My Astronomy Research, Astrophotography 1 and 2, Astronomy Basics, Observational Astronomy, Theoretical Astronomy. Lecture at local college
NASA Johnspace Center Internship
Research at the University of Arizona
Worked at hudnall planetarium designing, producing, and presenting shows. Along with maintence of computer systems and projection systems.</p>

<p>Letters, besides teacher and schools:
Director Hudnall PLanetarium and physics professor-
Astronomical Society of East Texas- Secretary
NASA Engineer- did internship with
MIT Astronomy/Physics professor- performed research with.</p>

<p>Four Newspaper articles published in and around East Texas about me.
Guest on three local TV News Stations for an Astronomy Update</p>

<p>What are my chances? Do I even stand a chance?</p>

<p>Thanks for all your help.</p>

2

<p>Your exracurricular research, especially the blackhole stuff and the NEO’s, is good. Unfortunatly your GPA is terrible by the standards of our pool and your standardized test scores are, in general, quite low by the standards of our pool. If not for the research, I would say outright that there is no chance at all. With it, there is a tiny sliver, but I don’t really think it’ll make up for the other flaws. To admit, we have to be sure you can do the work at Caltech, and a 2.9 UW GPA really doesn’t send that message.</p>

<p>Sorry : (</p>