Anyone You Know Did The YESS Program?

[davidthefat]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

YESS essentially exists at a lot of different universities. A three week program where you take an intensive class for credit / get a "pre college" experience is at a lot of places. I would recommend you look into more than just Caltech's program.

In particular, the YESS program is targeted toward "high school sophomores or juniors who are traditionally underrepresented in science and engineering fields (Native Americans, Latinos, and African-Americans)". If I recall correctly you're not a 'traditionally underrepresented' type of person so you will have a lot more trouble getting in. My junior year, I applied to the program and didn't get in with a few very kind recommendation letters and great grades and awards over my high school career.

However, I had no trouble getting into numerous other programs at different universities that didn't have this focus. Then again, I had no trouble getting a recommendation from my teachers and had achieved great success academically. It sounds like you have a bit of trouble with both, so I would seriously consider whether or not whatever program you look at is designed for you / of benefit to you (most are designed to be engaging to "gifted / talented" students in order to contrast with normal school, though once you get to high school they broaden quite a bit).

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I do have to take a sidebar and point out something. If none of my teachers would be willing to give me a letter of recommendation, I would take that as a huge wake up call. Many teachers are willing to write letters for most of their students, even if they aren't able to write something particularly complimentary. That not one of your teachers felt comfortable recommending you to an academic program really should be a huge red flag in regards to your academic performance, classroom attitude, and schoolwork as a whole.

Oh yea, gifted and talented program... I got kicked out of it right before entering highschool since I was a terrible student in middle school. Well the application said that they would not discriminate or anything based on race. I didn't do so well in school, only got B's by not studying and wasn't very consistent with homework. I would call B's mediocre grades. Well I am changing that this year. I am ready to get A's...

Well Caltech is also the closest non junior college to my house.