Official Caltech Class of 2016 RD Decisions Thread

<p>Accepted
ACT Scores: 34 composite (36 in English, 33 in math, science, and reading. 8 in writing.)
SAT II: 780 Physics, 760 Math IIC
GPA: 3.91 (unweighted)
Class Rank: Top 10%, but barely
Essays: Strong. I’m a reasonably good writer and my common application essay was about how I’ve tried to go above and beyond the usual curriculum and activities available at my small school.
Teacher Recommendations: Out of the three recommendations, I would guess that two were good and one was great.
Counselor Recommendation: Presumably very good.
Hook: Don’t really qualify for any of the typical “hooks,” but I completed the science curriculum at my school when I was a junior, and now am taking several independent studies in science and mathematics (mostly focused on AP Calc BC, AP Physics B, and Linear Algebra.)
Location: Midwest
High School Type: Quite small. Good school, but I don’t think anyone has gone to an Ivy or other prestigious university in several years.
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Female
Extracurriculars: Did some graduate level research at a university in China last summer through an internship. Other than that, my activities are pretty standard: Knowledge Bowl, mock trial, cross-country, track, physics activities, percussion, piano, etc.
Awards: National Merit Commended Student
Advice/Commiserations/Feel like bragging: Well, I’m incredibly excited! I guess my application is proof that you don’t necessarily have to have a 36 on the ACT, multiple AP classes, or be ranked first in your class… it’s enough to just have reasonably good scores if you can show that you have strong motivation and have tried to make the most of the academic opportunities available to you.</p>