<p>Thanks for that.
It is very informative.
I do think that I am leaning towards normal universities than LACs.
Even Caltech seems a bit too small, not that I want to go to a huge state university with like 30000 students or something.</p>
<p>I am not very keen on applying to many colleges.
With the exchange rate, it's about $100 per college.
So what do people think about me just applying to HYPSMC?
I am just afraid that I'll get accepted to none of them.
Could you please comment on each school's strengths/weaknesses and just general comments about them, and possibly nominate one or two others that they really think I should look at?
The following are my worries/questions regarding each of them.</p>
<p>Harvard: too uptight, snobby, arrogant, weird people?
Yale: weak in physics and some sort of inferiority complex to Harvard?
Princeton: it offers A.B. and B.S.E., I think. Why does the science thing go with engineering. Obviously, there are close links, but I am more interested in theoretical physics and maths rather than that applied to engineering. How does this affect me?
Stanford: apparently they don't have much money to assist international students, and so applying for fin aid will affect my admission chance. And I need financial aid.
MIT: way too much work? The apparent nerd culture?
Caltech: too small? bad male:female ratio?</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help
Regards
Eric</p>