What is my chance with Caltech and UC Berkeley? [Singaporean, 88.75 RP, 1540 SAT, Shotput Athlete]

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Guidelines

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Demographics

  • International student
  • State/Location of residency: Singapore
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Public
  • Other special factors: Recruitable athlete for Shotput (Got in contact with Clatech Coach)

Cost Constraints / Budget
About 70-80K per year

Intended Major(s): Physics

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: NIL (Took Singapore A-Levels and obtained 88.75 rp (4As, 1B) and a distinction in H3 Math (Basically more advanced math)
  • Weighted HS GPA: NIL
  • College GPA: (for transfer applicants)
  • Class Rank:NIL
  • ACT/SAT Scores:1540

List your HS coursework

(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

  • English: H1 general paper in A-level
  • Math: H3 Mathematics
  • Science: H2 Physics and H2 Chemistry
  • History and social studies:NIL
  • Language other than English: (NIL
  • Visual or performing arts:NIL
  • Other academic courses:NIL

College Coursework (Transfer Applicants)
(Include college courses taken while in high school if not included above.)

  • General education course work:
  • Major preparation course work:

Awards

Extracurriculars
Track & Field (Captain): Represented the country in ASEAN School Games and got 3rd in Shotput

Singapore Physics Olympiad: Gold (Top 30)

Singapore Youth Physicists Tournament (A team research debate competition): 7th Placing

Singapore Physics League (A team physics olympiad): Gold

Singapore Math Olympiad: Silver

Team trainer for the Olympiad Team in my school

Essays/LORs/Other
Essay is perhaps average

Schools
(List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if unsure, leave them unclassified)

UC, Berkeley, MIT, Stanford,Harvard, Princeton, Caltech

All are a stretch if i admit since i already have offers from my local university NUS which is pretty decent, thus only applying to schools that are better.

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Has the coach responded? Have you had an academic pre-read? Being a recruitable athlete will only help in admissions if you have coach support.

Calling @MYOS1634 to weigh in on the strength of your academics.

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I received a pre read from caltech but the coach told me that the chances of being admitted are still pretty low.

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Caltech athletic boost at best makes you 50/50 if you hit academic standards that are equal to other students. Same for MIT. If you are already in NUS, agree with your strategy. You might consider Yale as there is a push to strengthen STEM presence.

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Unless you qualify for need, none of these will hit your $70- $80K budget.

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What was your math score on the SAT?

How do your grades (both overall and in math and physics) compare with others in your high school and in your country? I have some experience as an international student at two of the universities on your reach list (and was admitted to a third but did not attend), but I do not know anything about typical grades at high schools in Singapore.

Generally in my experience admissions at top universities in the US do have someone on staff who understands the grade scales used in other countries. Thus your grades will be interpreted in the context of the education system where you are studying.

Be aware that the top schools in the US, including the ones on your reach list, might be considered “more academically demanding” rather than “better”. As examples, studying at either MIT or Caltech has been compared to drinking water from a fire hose. You need to work very hard at these schools, and the desire to do this needs to come from inside the student themselves. Personally I was more ready for this when I was in graduate school. Different student react to this in different ways. Some love it, some hate it, and some love it part of the time and hate it part of the time. Again, you need to want to do it.

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Great point.

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Even his backup option NUS is rigorous, so looks like he wants to be in such a demanding environment regardless.

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For results wise, the regular subject results puts me arnd 6-8% but with the h3 mathematics the ranking is way higher since the subject is famous for its low number of distinctions.