Special Scenario, Chance me

shrig94
Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:50:00 +0000

I am a junior in high school applying this year to CalTech. I feel that it would be an environment I would enjoy, and I have exhausted my high school curriculum, so I wish to leave high school early. My scores and the classes aren’t too exciting, as my school doesn’t offer much to love. Only a handful (like 6 or 7) kids pass their IB/AP Science tests which is depressing as there isn’t much of a standard in my school. An example of the poor educational standards in my area is that I was the first math olympiad qualifier in a 50 mile radius. None of my teachers could help me achieve this; I was forced to just self-study. I am into mathematics though, so it wasn’t too difficult. In a year, I went from an AIME avg of about 2 or 3 to 12+. Though, I ended up scoring a low 8 on the actual test due to some careless mistakes. -.-

Anyways, scores and such:
SAT: not sure exactly, but should be about 2100+: 800 M, 650+ CR, 650+ Wr
SAT II: 800 Math II, took a practice physics test w/o studying today, scored a 720, once I learn heat, waves, and optics, this should easily be 750+

Courses taken: I took university courses in Computer Science and Statistics, received As.
I have taken Physics IB SL, since we do not have HL. I am taking it again this year just to build my base more. I couldn’t fit IB Chemistry SL in my schedule this year, though I goto school early and work with my chem teacher 45 minutes a day, so I am sure I am learning it and more. As for math, I am in Calc SL currently, but I have alternate assignments to do in there. I took Calc on AOPS last year, and I have knowledge of abstract algebra and number theory to a level beyond the olympiad.

ECs:
first USA(J)MO qualifier in my area (I did JMO)
AIME score 8
CS Team captain and coach
math and science team
Key Club President
Class President
Stuco Parliamentarian
Newspaper Chief Editor
Assistant Teacher at MetroplexMathCircle in Dallas (I drive 100 miles to get there)

So, yeah, do you guys think I stand a chance for admission this year?