<p>It is very NORMAL to be feeling daunted by Caltech, but if you get in, you can hack it! The kids who have to work hard in High School to get the grades have learned how to study, and the kids who coast through high school have never really learned how to study and may actually have a harder time. It is true of most all top schools that getting accepted is the hardest part, and while Caltech is rigorous, it is manageable. I was the kid in high school who had to work to understand things, and had to memorize material to get it rather than read something once. Yet, I am keeping up quite nicely with my peers here. There are some super-bright types, and some regular but motivated types like me.</p>