<p>For my Undergraduate program I really want to go to Harvey Mudd. Until a few days ago, I was planning to ED to HMC (and hopefully gain admission).</p>
<p>Unfortunately, a few days ago, my college counselor told me that I might be able to make Caltech. However, I'm not a resident of California and my chances for Caltech are 15-20%.</p>
<p>It's known that it tends to be easier to get admission for an ED and I don't want to jeopardise my admission to Harvey Mudd. My principle question is whether Caltech is significantly better than Harvey Mudd (especially for an undergrad program) and if it's worth risking a 70% ED at HMC for a small chance at Caltech?</p>
<p>Additional information:
SAT I: 2300 (CR 800, M 790, W 710)
SAT II: Maths I: 750, Maths II: 800, Chemistry: 800
IBDP Student, currently getting 40/42 with 7s in Maths HL, Physics HL and Chemistry HL
Spent a few months creating literacy in a nearby village
Wrote a program for my school's timetabling
Can cook really well
Half-marathoner, with a full coming up in October
Couple of other things that I don't quite remember</p>
<p>What are you talking about? CalTech is NOT a state school - it’s a private school. So your state residency makes NO difference whatsoever. And both Harvey Mudd and CalTech are ridiculously competitive to get into . . . pick whichever one you prefer for ED, but you’d better have a back-up plan!</p>
<p>Whether CalTech is “better” than Harvey Mudd depends on what you’re looking for - big school/small school, specific areas of interest, etc. We can’t decide that for you.</p>
<p>I am not sure where you’re getting your information, but you will be well-advised to complement the “advice” of your GC with better sources. For starters, you can entirely discount the opinion about “getting in” as the “might be able to get in” means absolutely … nothing. Then, you have to look at Caltech’s early admission. It’s early action. Your post seems to indicate a belief it might be ED.</p>
<p>Fwiw, although “playing the statistics” might be part of the application process, you really should pay more attention to best fit. I would encourage you to become an active participant in the forums of both schools. While you cannot go wrong with either school --were you to be accepted-- there might be subtle differences in curriculum and college life.</p>
<p>Also, remember to apply to a good number of matches and safeties. If you like California, there are plenty of public schools that could be your academic safety, if not financial safety.</p>
<p>PS Check the differences between principal and principle.</p>
<p>Caltech is a small private school, and does have a graduate program (about 1,000 undergraduates and 1,300 graduate students).</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd has about 800 undergraduates and no graduate students, although it is part of a consortium with the other Claremont colleges.</p>
<p>It is possible to major in a limited selection of humanities and social studies subjects at Caltech, but not Harvey Mudd. Few (probably under 3%) do so.</p>
<p>Both are extremely selective and should be considered “reach for everyone” type of schools.</p>
<p>Are you a female student? For the last few years the administration of Harvey Mudd has been trying to address its historical gender imbalance and apparently has instituted some degree of affirmative action for female applicants. If you are a female student then I can see why you believe you may have a much better chance applying ED to Mudd than RD or EA to Caltech, though it would certainly still not be easy to gain admittance.</p>
<p>Yes, it might be true that some schools have higher admit rates in their ED round. Is it because they give preference to ED candidates . . . or because the ED candidates tend to be stronger than the RD candidates? Correlation does not equal causation.</p>