<p>Ultra-procrastinator here--the day of the decision deadline has arrived and I still don't know which school to attend. My prospective major is Physics. Caltech and Harvey Mudd both seem to provide ample opportunities for research and one-to-one interaction with professors. Caltech has the name, but I'm a bit intimidated by the level of the student body there, and the difficulty of the curriculum. A large number of my friends are going to Berkeley and have urged me choose it too. Berkeley does seem to have a strong Physics department, but here my main worry is that I'll get lost in the anonymous hugeness this school is famous for....I really don't know what to do.</p>
<p>Well, I’d go to Berkeley. Top of the line physics dept & also you’ll get well-balanced education. Berkeley will educate you with the right mix of heavy-stuffs (math-intensive problem sets) and non-math yet very thought-provoking stuffs from its legendary Liberal Art Departments. The world-class “Berkeley” brand name is also a huge plus. Yes, Berkeley is huge, but you can take advantage of its virtually unlimited resourses and get a fantastique education if youre motivated</p>
<p>So for you big big procrastinator, my advice is just go with the flow ==> Go to Berkeley</p>
<p>Although I cannot say this from experience, unless you're extremely devoted to school and purely academics, don't even consider it. That school is probably one of the most geeky schools and unless you want to be in a scene where everyone is studying all the time, then I wouldn't consider them. At the same time, if you are truly devoted and want that one-on-one with professors and also be in a small environment, then go for Harvey Mudd. It's different from everyone, but personally I would not like that scene at all.</p>
<p>Go to Mudd, their attention to undergrad physics/math/engineering students is unparalleled anywhere (except maybe Olin). Also, you'll have the benefit of being across the street from a women's college (big plus at a tech school) and you'll be a part of the claremont colleges. Go to Mudd.</p>
<p>
[quote]
That school is probably one of the most geeky schools and unless you want to be in a scene where everyone is studying all the time, then I wouldn't consider them.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Extremely gross misconception of Harvey Mudd. Mudd has a THRIVING social life for those who want it. Sure, it might not be that of a party state school, but we hold our own ground for a tech school. </p>
<p>I assure you that we are not "one of the most geeky schools." While around 40% of people here are geeky, the rest are very normal. </p>
<p>I would say that your post, somewhereonearth, describes Caltech, not Mudd. We are focused on academics and it is hard here. But, Caltech is harder than Mudd and the average student there is geekier than the average student here (seriously if Caltech people start to argue about this... wow). </p>
<p>To the OP, if you are an "ultra-procrastinator", you will be right at home at Mudd. I would not go to Berkeley, but choose either Caltech or Mudd.</p>
<p>If you are interested in a more personal expereince in the first two years I would drop Berkley off the list. I have e friend in the Engineering school up there (where many of the phyics course are taught) and they loss a really high number of students in the first two eyars because they are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers. I have never heard that about Caltech (where my dh works) or Harvey Mudd. Caltech does have much more of a "Geek" factor and very, very, very few girls. Mudd has the advantage of being part of the Claremont colleges where there are slightly more girls then boys. </p>
<p>I would definitely say that it's all about the personality of the OP when choosing between Mudd and Caltech. If he is not geeky at all, then I would be very wary about him going to Caltech. I've heard several stories from Mudd students who have been to Caltech (and even some Caltech parties in some cases) and ex-Caltech professors. They all say Mudd is way more well-rounded and Caltech is extremely geeky. This is not bad at all for people who like it, and I'm sure almost all of the Caltech students do. But, if you're not very geeky at all then I'd recommend Harvey Mudd because you definitely will fit in here more than Caltech. You can also hang out with people from the other schools here who aren't geeky at all and possibly date Scrippsies who tend to be very attractive. </p>
<p>And BTW the amazing Mudd parties that people from all the other Cs come to, if you're into that.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Choose the five qualities most important to you in a school (i.e. good physics, social life, attention to undergrads, prestige, campus atmosphere, quality of food...whatever strikes you). Rank these 1-5 in terms of importance to you.</p></li>
<li><p>Make a 3 by 5 matrix. Label one side Berkeley/HMC/CalTech and label the other with your 5 qualities.</p></li>
<li><p>Score each school absolutely 1-5 with regards to each quality (i.e. all three could legitimately receive a score of "5" in "has good physics"...you don't need to score them against each other).</p></li>
<li><p>For each school, multiply each of its scores by the 'opposite' (5 if the score is 1, 4 if the score is 2, 3 if the score is 3, etc.) of that quality's importance to you (e.g. if Berkeley has a "5" in "has good physics" and good physics are #1 in terms of importance to you, then multiply the score times 5, so you'll get 25. If Mudd has a "3" in "campus atmosphere" and that's #4 in terms of importance to you, then multiply the score times 2, so you'll get 8). Add these up.</p></li>
<li><p>If you're like me, then an answer will pop out. And if not, then, well...five minutes of your life.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>When I made my own decision, I was caught up by where I thought I should go, which blinded me to where I really knew I would be happy. When I broke everything down, I was finally able to see the obviousness of my question.</p>
<p>You're choosing between 3 excellent, excellent schools. Despite a thread of "go to Berkeley, don't go to Berkeley, don't go to Mudd, go to Mudd, don't go to CalTech, go to CalTech," you'll find amazing opportunities at any one of these. Hopefully you've been able to visit all 3 and get a rough idea for personal fit. Good luck :)</p>
<p>If the academics are you're main driving force, you should go to Caltech for physics. Caltech has the advantages of both having a grad school (like Berkeley does) but also personal faculty attention (like Harvey Mudd does). Both aspects, in my opinion, are very important for the best undergraduate education possible. </p>
<p>I don't think you should be intimidated by the level of the student body at Caltech; it's a very collaborative place, and being around amazing students will only help you learn the material better. Also, if you were admitted to Caltech, there's no question that you'll be able to handle the material (with some effort!).</p>
<p>Caltech has a unique culture (and I don't think that the 'geeky' label does justice to it), so you should definitely try to feel if it's somewhere you'd enjoy being. </p>
<p>Also, if you're not sure you want to do something in math/science/engineering, you should go to Berkeley.</p>
<p>Berkeley is overrated on these boards. Caltech and Mudd are not.</p>
<p>Anyway, I feel that Caltech and Mudd pay more attention to their undergrads (well Mudd anyway), so choose from those two, I would leave Berkely out.</p>