Another Difficult Choice To Make

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello All,</p>

<p>The majors I'm aspiring for are:</p>

<p>Mathematics
Physics
Electrical Engineering</p>

<p>(not very diverse, am I?)</p>

<p>The Colleges to choose from are:</p>

<p>University of Chicago
Harvey Mudd
Columbia University
Stanford University
Caltech</p>

<p>I know in rank the list for my majors would be Caltech, Stanford,...</p>

<p>but I'd like to know if any of you think differently. I'm not simply considering academics (otherwise I would just go to Caltech), I want to know that there is going to be a stimulating social atmosphere for 4 years, that the weather will be glorious (I dont think I shall be too afraid of snow, although where I am it never snows). I'm right next to California. The main problem is that I have never visited any of the schools and so I am currently basing everything on hearsay; because of financial difficulty I will probably end up visiting only 1 before May come. I'd like to enjoy all of my classes (not just the science ones) and all of my friends as well.</p>

<p>Stanford is where I'm leaning right now, although I admit yesterday it was Caltech.. Can't say much about the other schools since I don't know much from firsthand.</p>

<p>Right now I know that Stanford and Caltech are offering me full while Harvey Mudd is offering me next to full. Not sure what the others plan for me.</p>

<p>I need people who know FIRSTHAND what they are talking about (maybe they are in the school or were faced with a similar choice) to give me some reasons to go either way.</p>

<p>P.S. I WANT to be challenged intellectually, but not to the detriment of other qualities..</p>

2

<p>i am sorta in the same situation iversion!!! i can't really visit my schools either, but from what i've heard, Columbia has a pretty nice social atmosphere.</p>

3

<p>i say its wrong to not go for the greatest challenge.</p>

<p>things grow from dirt and water....</p>

4

<p>Caltech is a great school for your majors.</p>

5

<p>i think mudd wants you...</p>

<p>i hope the feeling is mutual.</p>

6

<p>stanford should have good social lives.</p>

7

<p>I would go to Stanford over Caltech...but both over Mudd and Chicago.</p>

8

<p>stanford wants me too; from their calls, id say more than mudd.</p>

<p>what about columbia though?</p>

<p>I'm trying to make this not based on mere 'name-prestige' or how much they seem to 'want' me.</p>

9

<p>Stanford is definitely the total package when compared to the other schools, and it's not that hard to get good grades from what I hear.</p>

10

<p>I don't know any of the schools firsthand. I would choose Stanford for the overall quality of the college experience. Caltech is quite narrowly focused on the sciences and engineering. You can't go wrong either place.</p>