<p>For the second year in a row, Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine has ranked Caltech as the best value among private universities in the United States. According to the April issue, Caltech "boasts an impressive three-to-one student-faculty ratio, the lowest among all major universities. Students work side-by-side with Nobel laureates and enjoy occasional lectures by physicist Stephen Hawking." The Institute was also commended for its "generous" financial-aid policies. Read the story at kiplingers.com</p>
<p>Stephen Hawkings is a lousy lecturer.</p>
<p>Caltech is a bargain at any price ;) but I am guessing Kiplinger did not get
to see the aid some of us were sent after EA. The need-based-aid
(at least as indicated after EA) may be less generous than equivalent
institutions as I am beginning to find out. (of course, I have not received a
final version of the aid after the merit-aid letter was sent)</p>
<p><em>---:)---</em></p>
<p>LOL lecture by Stephen Hawkings? As in lecture by a computer?</p>
<p>
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LOL lecture by Stephen Hawkings? As in lecture by a computer?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah, he basically "pre-records" the lecture and then hits play a bunch of times for all the tracks.</p>
<p>Arwen, that's true, I had a lousy package too. The financial aid office will often times give you a better one if you talk to them.</p>
<p>Kamikazewave:), Is talk == commit to attend if they come through ?</p>
<p>curious?</p>
<p>Also why is Caltech a "best buy" any comments on Kiplingers
methodology?</p>
<p>probably because it takes into account the fact that Caltech is one of few top private universities that give out merit aid like full rides.</p>
<p>arwen, I think it's a "best buy" because:
* Caltech doesn't "absorb" your outside aid - it reduces your loans or family contribution if you bring external scholarship money
* Caltech doesn't decrease your aid after the first few years - surprisingly common at other schools (what are you going to do, transfer?)
* Caltech's work study pays incredibly well and is retardedly easy (e.g., $20/hr. to tutor local high school kids in math through a federal work study program)
* Caltech awards its own merit scholarships to a relatively high percentage of students as has been said
* Caltech will organize external merit scholarship funding for you from certain charitable organizations, so you don't have to apply yourself for each individual scholarship
* Expected contributions seem to be lower than at other schools in general
* Better education = better bang for your buck</p>
<p>Also, I totally agree about Stephen Hawking. Not only does he have to press a play button after every sentence or two, he deliberately introduces pauses between audio segments - I was told that this is done to give you time to absorb and ponder his words of wisdom. Maybe that was a joke, but still, it is annoying as heck to move so slowly through a lecture.</p>