Caltech a good fit for me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>So I posted a question under the general forum describing myself, listing out many colleges, and asking which one/ones were the best fit. After doing that, I realized that it's probably not the best way to get the specific feedback I want about each of the colleges on my list. Therefore, I'm posting under each individual college that I'm looking at and am asking for people affiliated with that college to assess my fit for that particular college.</p>

<p>Firstly, here is some information about myself:</p>

<p>I'm a current Junior who has begun the college search and would like some advice with regards to each college's fit for me. I'm a student who is looking for a top college which excels at math or science. I'm looking at colleges within both the US and England (which is where I'm from originally) and want small to medium sized college (preferably under 20,000 students). Also, the area I want to specialize most in is theoretical math (the sub-area I think I might want to specialize in is real/complex analysis). Therefore, I want a university with great theoretical mathematics options and a theoretical emphasis. Preferably I'd like to have some good humanities offerings (possibly getting a minor in philosophy), but I want my main focus to be in the math and science areas (maybe spending around 2/3 of my time in math & science and 1/3 in everything else). My eventual goal is to go to graduate school, get a PhD in mathematics and become a math professor. Therefore, I'd like a college which gives lots of research opportunities to undergrads and has a great math grad. program, so that I can begin research and graduate level courses as an undergrad.</p>

<p>While I've researched Caltech fairly extensively, I haven't been able to visit yet (and am not sure whether I will be able to visit or not prior to applying to college); therefore, I would really, really appreciate an honest assessment of Caltech's fit for me. </p>

<p>Just to give some context I wanted to give you some things that I like with regards to Caltech from my research and some things which I'm slightly concerned about:</p>

<p>I like that Caltech seems to be more theoretically oriented than somewhere like MIT (in terms of requiring students to take more theoretical math/physics tracks). Therefore, I really like this theoretical emphasis as I feel like it aligns well with my goals. Also, I like the house system and small size of Caltech as I feel like I would fit in well with that system. I have just a couple of concerns with Caltech.</p>

<p>My concerns: </p>

<p>I have 3 main concerns about Caltech:</p>

<p>1) While I really like the small size, I am slightly concerned that it will mean that there will be fewer courses offered, so I may not have as much choice. </p>

<p>2) I've read in a lot of places that people aren't that impressed with Caltech's humanities offerings. While it's not where I want to specialize, I do really enjoy the humanities so would like somewhere which does have humanities courses of good caliber. </p>

<p>3) Caltech's location is not ideal for me as I currently have family on the East Coast and in England, so it's quite far away from them.</p>

<p>I'd really appreciate it if people could respond to my concerns and assess whether Caltech might be a good fit for me. I'm also very happy to provide more information if it would help to give a better assessment. </p>

<p>Thank you so much in advance!</p>

2

<p>Caltech is big on seeing how individuals will fit with the current class and they want to see what you will bring to it. So far, I see a lot of your needs, and not how you will contribute to the school. In the class of 2018, they accepted 235 students from a worldwide pool. That is not a big number. They mold their incoming class acceptances based on the other students who have applied and been accepted, that’s why it is so tough to get in.</p>

3

<p>Hi, </p>

<p>@"aunt bea"‌ ; thank you so much for your prompt response. I’m very cognizant of how competitive Caltech is and that there’s a good chance that I won’t get in. The reason I’m listing many of my needs out is that at the moment I’m in the process of deciding where I want to apply and where would be a good fit for me. Once I’m actually in the process of applying, I’m going to talk a lot more about what I can contribute to the college in my essays for that college. I’m going about it this way as I believe to really contribute to a college, my personal goals to align with theirs, so if I fit in, then, I’ll be able to contribute a lot, and if I don’t fit in, then, it will be more difficult to make as many contributions. With that being said, do you have an opinion with regards to how good of a fit Caltech is for me? </p>

<p>Thank you very much!</p>

4

<p>You won’t know until you visit. It does make a difference. Son is at Caltech now going through rotation activities.
If you are not into Southern California weather and geography, and “culture” it won’t fit.</p>

5

<p>Hi, </p>

<p>I would absolutely love to be able to visit Caltech but am not sure whether or not it’s an option for me yet (as I live on the East Coast, so it may not be logistically possible). Therefore, I’m posting on this forum to try to get a better sense of the university from people who know it well in case I don’t get the chance to visit. I’ve read about it online, but that’s not the same as having contact with people who actually know the university really well. </p>

<p>Just out of interest, I know it’s extremely early to say, but what are your sons opinions of Caltech so far? </p>

<p>Thanks so much for your responses. </p>

6

<p>@Mathinduction‌, He’s been too busy to contact us since they just finished Frosh camp in Ventura and have a slew of activities for the next week. Classes start on Monday, while still involved in rotation activities. (He did text that he’s out of clothes. It has to do with not having his permanent housing yet since they are still in rotation of the houses.) </p>

<p>I think he’s nervous and intimidated because it’s new and his classmates are so incredibly talented.
The orientation for us parents was very well-organized as well as the access to the professors-extremely impressive all around. They reiterated more than once about the intensity of coursework and the need to work with their classmates. The university has a strict honor code. Tests are take home and no one can cheat-that’s only a small part of the honor code. </p>

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<p>Thank you so much @"aunt bea"‌ for that information; it helps to give me some insight. Please repost on this forum if you can when your son has been there are few more weeks and knows more about Caltech. I really, really appreciate getting information from people who are actually affiliated with Caltech as it gives insight which one can’t get just from looking at Caltech’s website. </p>

<p>Thanks once again!</p>

8

<p>Forgot to mention that weekend meals are limited and you’re on your own. No bookstore onsite, everything is done online.
Carnival is on tomorrow. They do a lot of acclimation types of activities before the YEAR starts, ex: Wed night they had dance lessons and then they had a “dance”, too funny! Then campfire on the beach with s’mores. </p>

9

<p>OP, son didn’t visit Caltech until April. He spent 2 days hanging out in classes, the coffee shop. I’m sure he would have fit in other places, but this was his choice. </p>

<p>In terms of weekends not having the meal plan, my son liked that part. The houses were usually having barbecues. There are MANY restaurants in the area, so it became a bonding thing to go out with Housemates. My son learned to use chop sticks like a pro, got into Indian, Mexican, Thai, etc. There is also food available on campus, and each House has kitchens. </p>

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<p>We were also concerned initially about weekends not having the meal plan, but this gives an opportunity for the students to get out of the campus. My son liked going out on weekends for lunch/dinner with his buddies.</p>