<p>I got into both CalTech and Stanford, and I want to know which school is better for
someone like me who will major in either Computer Engineering/Computer Science OR
electrical engineering? Besides being a small school vs a big school type of thing, which
school has the better program? Outside of California in other states, more people tend to recognize the Stanford 'name' than Caltech, so, they all assume Stanford is better. What
I want to know is for companies hiring engineering graduates, which school do they look more favorably on? A graduate from Cal Tech or a graduate from Stanford? Is one
engineering school better than the other?</p>
<p>CalTech is usually said to be MIT’s west coast rival… Stanford, well everyone knows about them. If you’re trying to differentiate between prestige, you’re just doin’ it wrong.</p>
<p>A smarter choice I think would be to look at costs and environment. I think that both are insanely good colleges to get into for engineering, so it won’t matter either way which you pick as far as the name goes.</p>
<p>Personally, I’d see who offered the most money.</p>
<p>Give up on the quest for the One True School.</p>
<p>Caltech and Stanford are so amazingly different in their personalities of the school that I think it shouldn’t be too hard to make a decision between the two school.</p>
<p>You also might want to consider that Stanford is nicely located in Silicon Valley.</p>
<p>Who are you socially? Are you awkward, and someone for whom school is everything?? If so, then CALTECH is the place for you.</p>
<p>If you are value life outside of the classroom–sports, cultural events, schmoozing in the dorm corridors–then go to Stanford.</p>
<p>They are both excellent schools, academically, so the choosing between the two institutions should be based on more personal criteria/needs/desires.</p>
<p>Case in point: have a good family friend, who is a total delight–Renaissance, funny, intellectual, into collaborative learning, and social–and is so desperate to leave MIT and its socially-awkward, zealous, and unintellectual (which is different than academic) student population that he is applying for transfer. He even highlights the lack of dining commons in each dorm, at MIT, as evidence of how socially hostile MIT is. I think of Cal Tech as very similar, only smoggier and smaller, so for the social kid who wants more than top-flight academics and research, then a more liberal arts type of college/university would seem a more satisfying choice.</p>
<p>I would certainly choose Stanford over Cal Tech, but, then, again, I would choose Cal over Stanford. LOL. </p>
<p>Figure out who you are and what you want when your not engaged in your studies, the resources and peers you want, and you will make the right (informed) decision.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice all of you gave to me. First off, cost is not a factor. My parents
said I can go to either, its my choice. Does anyone know anything about how the
learning environment is at each of these schools? Since I know a lot of students coming
into these two schools are super bright, intensive and ‘gung-ho’ about grades etc…, is
it pretty much the same at these schools? Will students help each other out if you dont
understand concepts? Or is everyone out for themselves? I dont want to end up studying
all the time just to try to keep up with the intense people that throw the grade curve high.
I had enough of this sort of competition in my high school as it is, and really want to be in a
college environment thats less intense. People are telling me that you have to study harder
at CalTech, and homework is ridiculous there compared to Stanford. Is that true?</p>
<p>They are so equal in prestige that I would go to Stanford just for all the “other” factors.</p>
<p>As a Stanford engineering student I have yet to have someone refuse to help me with something. I don’t know anything about caltech. Also, we might not have as much work as caltech (I have heard this from as well, but it is just hear-say for both of us), but we really don’t have any shortage of work to do. In fact I need to get off this time wasting website and get back to studying for finals.</p>
<p>I don’t know of anyone here at Caltech that isn’t willing to help a fellow student. Often times the best way to learn is to get someone to teach it to you.</p>
<p>Caltech will most likely be more work.</p>
<p>can’t imagine how much more work you guys can get at caltech. stanford already overwhelmed me with all the projects and hw which are all conveniently due in the last week of quarter. argh
but as a matter of fact, students here are very willing to help even though all the classes are graded on curve and hw takes up a big portion of the grade (20%+)</p>
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<p>i would argue the opposite. a nerdy awkward person should force themselves into a less nerdy/awkward environment or they will be more of the same. a person getting by on their charisma should go to the “nerd” school to develop some actual skills :)</p>
<p>Go to Prefrosh Weekend at Caltech and Admit Weekend at Stanford. The campuses and vibes are so different from each other that your choice will be abundantly clear.</p>
<p>Caltech and Stanford are opposite schools with opposite personas. Just decide which one you like better and go.</p>
<p>Prestige isn’t really a big deal, both are excellent (both are tied at number 2 at the USNWR report, I believe).</p>
<p>There is one more thing that has not been mentioned by any of the posters. As you grow and mature what if you want to major in English or philosophy etc? At Caltech you are stuck, at Stanford any number of majors is open to you. Even if you are certain you want to study engineering, the presence of students majoring in other disciplines enhances the hidden curriculum, those dorm conversations, the talk after summer about someone going on a dig in Turkey or working for a micro-finance outfit in India or social development in Nepal, etc.</p>
<p>Simply by being larger Stanford forces you to be with diverse types. Unless you are sure you are Paul Dirac Caltech will be too limiting.</p>
<p>stanford has very reputable ee and cs programs w/ tons of connections. it kinda started silicon valley after all.</p>
<p>It would be important to visit both schools.</p>
<p>We visited Cal Tech last year. My son seemed to like it OK, but then we visited Mudd and he liked it better. Cal Tech had a different (could be good, could be bad) method of housing than most schools. I think of it as a Hogwart-like living. A student is associated with the same big “house” all four years. The evening meal is done all together in the dining hall on a schedule. Other meals you make in the kitchen of buy on campus. No weekend meals.</p>