Caltech MechE Grad For Physics, Calculus, and Math Test Prep

Kaylor C.

I am a recent alumnus of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), receiving a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. While at Caltech, I also volunteered with FIRST Robotics Competition, as an event volunteer and as a mentor of FRC Team 4201 in El Segundo, CA. In this role I worked with and taught high school age students on topics ranging from CAD to physics to project management. This included an emphasis on statics and understanding how physics concepts interacted with mechanical design.

I believe that building a solid understanding of the fundamentals and directly connecting those fundamentals to test-style problems is critical to success in topics that can otherwise seem daunting. This approach also allows students to make real progress at any level. Rather than requiring intuition as a prerequisite, it builds intuition in these subjects.

This served me well in high school, where I scored highly on standardized tests, scoring a 35 on the ACT, being a National Merit Finalist on the SAT, and receiving AP Exam scores of 5 in Calculus, Physics, History, and English, and did so in a sustainable manner that also allowed me to pursue rewarding extracurriculars and graduate at the top of my class. It also gave me an excellent foundation across multiple subjects areas as I headed into Caltech.