Seeing Advice

<p>I am a male asian junior in a High School from New Jersey. This is my first year studying in the States - I have been studying in Hong Kong.</p>

<p>I am shooting for Caltech Computer Hardware Engineering, here are my stats…</p>

<p>Tri-lingual (in the order of proficiency):

  • Chinese(madarin and cantonese)
  • English
  • Japanese</p>

<p>HS Current Courses:

  • US History I
  • English 3
  • AP Calculus BC
  • AP Computer Science A
  • Honors Physics
  • Philosophy (required for graduation)</p>

<p>Planned Senior Courses:

  • US History II, possibly AP since my English is improving rapidly
  • English 4, possibly AP too
  • AP Statistics
  • AP Physics B (C not offered in my school)
  • Multivariable Calculus
  • Photography (required for graduation)</p>

<ul>
<li>The school doesn’t allow phy/chem to be taken concurrently</li>
<li>Also we can only take 7 course at max…</li>
<li>Physics C, CompSci AB not offered</li>
<li>I am taking honors instead of ap physics this year because electricity is not covered in Hong Kong</li>
<li>Pretty confident all AP Exams will be 5’s</li>
<li>Also confident that my maths and science courses will score in the 98%-100% range</li>
</ul>

<p>ECA’s:

  • '05 Stanford EPGY Robotics Course… Instructor ranked me as the best student
  • Planning for Engineering in EPGY this summer
  • JV Crosscoutry
  • Varsity Swimming
  • Varsity Crew
  • School Community Service Group
  • Model UN in my senior year
  • Starting a Computer Club soon
  • Worked for my father’s company back in Hong Kong. Participated in a few projects, including cams on cell phones. Knows the basics of the boards.</p>

<p>Standardized Tests:

  • SAT kaplan prep dianostic test 1500 (640 math, 400ish CR/W, essay 8)
    Too lazy to get up early to take other practice tests, skipped.
    Expected to have 800 in math, and a significant jump in English in my Janurary SAT
  • TOEFL CBT 253, essay 5.5, expected to have 300 and 6 in June</p>

<p>These are pretty much… I seriously need advice on how to make my application look better. Thank you.
UM will be my safety U, planning on applying to Brown too; won’t apply to MIT since they do not offer Comp Hardware Engineering</p>

<p>I believe no one was accepted last year with a cr or wr score of anywhere near 400. Since you are trilingual, this may be not as horrible, but I’d definitklly say improve it. And the 640 math is either on teh veeeeeeeeery low end of scores accepted or no one that low was accepted. I would not give you good chances unless they improve.</p>

<p>Thank you for your help. SAT should not be a problem, I took that practice test early in my sophomore year in Hong Kong, not caring/studying for it. My CR and W scores now should be near 700’s. Also, math 800 is guaranteed in my real SAT’s. Since I will be taking the real SAT on Janurary, my English scores will further improve.</p>

<p>Aside from SAT’s, what areas should I work on?</p>

<p>If you are new to english as a language, as your SAT scores suggest, you should submit TOEFL scores so they can see the SAT stuff in the correct light. I don’t know how the TOEFL is scored so I can’t give you advice there. However a 640 math is absolutely horrible, and really does need to be up near an 800.</p>

<p>I think the SAT really isn’t a big problem. I am pretty confident that I can get a 800 in math. What I really worry about is other parts of the application. I don’t know if my highschool record is “rigorous” enough; as suggested by Caltech, rigor of secondary school record is a very important, if not the most, factor of admission.</p>

<p>Oh ok. With the good SAT type stuff, here’s my thoughts.</p>

<p>The EPGYbest student thing is a big deal. That’ll help. The sports, community service, model UN aren’t exciting or anything, but they’re nice.</p>

<p>I’d say your classes are pretty normal. Not exciting, but I get the impression that no amount of 5’s and A’s in AP’s is exciting enough to on its own get anyone accepted. Classes at nearby colleges and independent studies seem to help a lot.</p>

<p>The work you did for your dad, especially if “worked on a few projects”=R&D, sounds like it could really help. Especially in giving you good essays. I think we good essays and reqs (which I bet will be good from your mention of EPGY robotics), I’d say you definitly have a shot. From what I hear, Caltech will cut you some slack for not having courses if its because your school didn’t offer them.</p>

<p>I’m taking Theory of Knowledge and Photography in order to graduate as well. Funny thing is they’ve become my most interesting classes. Wish I could ditch english and history.</p>

<p>Thank you.
I know my classes aren’t standing out, partially because my school gives out LOTS of homework, that even the smartest alumni who went to Harvard spends 4 hours at least, everyday, on his homework.
I thought my sports are pretty good, but it turns out two varsities is still “nice”, not “exciting”…
By far my best part is the EPGY Robotics, how should I improve on other parts of my application?</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>