what are my chances?

aihara
Fri, 23 Mar 2007 20:23:06 +0000

I qualified for USAMO. SAT is 800 on math, 600 on verbal. 640 on writing. SAT2 physics: 800, math2c: 800, chemistry: 800

I got some state and regional recognition for math and physics. Captain of math team.

Strong recommendation from math and science courses.

Grades are my weakness. I was never a straight A student. Not that I don’t have the brain to get good grades, but I just never was that dedicated to grades. For all those times I could’ve spent doing pointless busywork (for good grades) that wouldn’t help me learn anything, I’d rather spend it solving physics and math problems or tinkered with some inventions. That’s why my grades are less than stellar. My grades are like mostly As junior year and a few Bs. Sophomore year it was like half As and half Bs. But the real killer is my freshman year, in which I got 3 Cs! due to immaturity

But my grades DO show steady improvements. And I’m highly practical person.

So how hard does Caltech looks at grades? Thanks