<p>Hi! An international applicant from Indonesia here. I got into Caltech and Carnegie Mellon(SCS), but cant seem to decide which one should I prefer over the other.. What do you think?</p>
<p>One on hand CMU's CS program has its reputation and on the other there's Caltech which is..well....Caltech.</p>
<p>Im fairly certain I would opt for the Computer Science program even at Caltech. Please help me weigh every pro n con of these two universities(in context of their CS program). Any and every helpful opinion would be much appreciated...</p>
<p>Cal Tech is more of a math/science school, very intense with many requirements. The advantage of Cal Tech is the weather is very nice in California. SCS at CMU is the best for computer science, but Pittsburgh is not the same as Pasadena. Look at Cal Tech's requirements and compare with SCS at CMU.</p>
<p>Caltech's computer science program is relatively new. Carnegie Mellon's program in SCS is the best in the country. However, there are other factors to consider like the previous post said. However, just strictly Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon's SCS definitely has the upper hand.</p>
<p>CMU's got a pretty huge department with a ton of different classes offered, so I think it would be an easy choice if money's not an issue. It's really easy to find research at both schools, but since CMU's got a much larger faculty, you're more likely to find research that you really like than at Caltech where I imagine you could just doing research just so you have some experience.</p>
<p>I thought SCS enrolled 140 students last year at CMU. Do you only want to study SCS? If you are CS oriented, probably go for CMU. If you also want to study math and or science, consider Cal Tech. Cal Tech is smaller than CMU and is in a nice neighborhood with great weather.</p>
<p>Caltech is very, very small and quite quirky. My kids both loved it, but it is unique. Be aware that there are some serious science requirements for everyone no matter what their major is. They take their honor code very seriously. Most exams are take home. They have a number of charming traditions. Pranks (and esp. pranks aimed at MIT,) are a big one. Read about senior ditch day. They are allowed to paint and decorate their halls and rooms with wild murals. <a href="http://pr.caltech.edu/periodicals/caltechnews/articles/v41/walls.html%5B/url%5D">http://pr.caltech.edu/periodicals/caltechnews/articles/v41/walls.html</a> Each residence hall has its own personality - there's a process a bit like rushing for a fraternity that determines where you will end up. Caltech has about 250 freshman all together. While CMU has 140 just doing computer science. If you are sure you want to do comp sci, I'd choose CMU. If you love all the sciences, and aren't scared of being overwhelmed by really difficult courses go to Caltech. </p>
<p>Caltech's campus is gorgeous, Pasadena is a nice town (gotten a bit upperclass though). I like Pittsburgh, but the weather can't compare.</p>
<p>You can chose Carnegie Mellon University for these two reasons over Caltech:
1) Andrew Carnegie and his foundations are found at Caltech. There are 1910 references listed . Do a search of "Carnegie" on Caltech's website. 2) Andrew Mellon saved the American economic system and by extension capitalism.</p>
<p>mdcissp - Yes, I am pretty sure that I will opt for a CS major. It just that I was finding it difficult to ignore Caltech even though CMU's CS program is better...but am not sure if it is "better enough" to choose over Caltech.</p>
<p>So I wanted to know if CS at CMU is valued enough to outweigh giving up Caltech. </p>
<p>Does anyone know of the career options for CS majors from these two universities? Are they comparable? Because Iv heard Software firms recruit like crazy from CMU's SCS...but will the same apply if I choose Caltech?</p>
<p>i doubt it just because caltech compsci just isn't mature enough to have that reputation...obviously the thing with computer science is if you are really really good nothing can really stop you from getting the job...but then again, cmu definitely has the upper hand in getting jobs based on reputation.</p>
<p>I went from CMU undergrad to Caltech for grad school, and I have to say I get just as many recruitment e-mails from companies here as I did back at CMU.</p>
<p>However, being a CMU alum, I'd have to say to go there over Caltech. :p</p>
<p>When we were looking at schools last year, the impression I got from Caltech was that because there were fewer comp sci profs there was less variety in the research options and fewer course offerings. But I don't think any Caltech grad would have trouble finding a job. The top comp sci programs in the US (admittedly in a grad school listing) are Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley, MIT and Stanford. Caltech is way down the list. But Caltech is full of brilliant people, you'd do fine there.</p>
<p>My husband who did his Ph.D. at Caltech, like RacinReaver, also thinks Caltech is better for grad school than undergrad.</p>
<p>I think there's roughly one and a half to two times as many grad students at Caltech as undergrads (though the administration seems to cater to undergrads a bit more). It's a pretty weird school, doesn't have nearly the college feel that CMU did.</p>