<p>Thanks... It's still kinda annoying considering if I do get in, I'm going to have to cross the Pacific just to visit. And not being able to see both does bother me. How would you characterize Caltech compared to Stanford? All I've heard are: "More smart people than you can shake a stick at" and "but not enough (attractive?) girls". That's probably not accurate.</p>
<p>I might be able to answer that, since I live about 15 minutes away from Stanford, and attend Caltech.</p>
<p>Stanford is far more of a party school; parties several times a week, students going out on a nightly basis, and, in general, a lot more alcohol, drugs, and sex. There's a lot less work there than at Caltech, even for math/science majors, and the tests are easier. They have a really amazing biology and CS department, but in subjects like physics, chemistry, math, etc. they're much weaker than Caltech. </p>
<p>Obviously, the humanities offerings at Stanford are more broad and deep than at Caltech. </p>
<p>There are pluses and minuses relative to the student body at either school. Students at Caltech are generally more intellectual and study-oriented, even those that party a lot. Stanford has a lot more attractive girls, and some legitimately academically stupid students. (Virtue of athletics and admissions criteria) </p>
<p>Basically, if you're a humanities major that likes to get wasted every day of the week, you would definitely prefer Stanford. If you study 12 hours every day of the week, never, ever leave your room, and hate socializing with others, you would definitely prefer Caltech. </p>
<p>Anywhere in between that is a little harder to categorize.</p>
<p>that's a pretty rough definition haha</p>
<p>Hey GracieLegend, thanks. It was quite helpful. I never thought about Stanford that way, but maybe we're all biased somewhat. I don't know where I stand (probably in the middle). The attractiveness thing was just a joke, and in no way am I insulting any of the girls from Caltech (in fact, I find intelligence and sexual appeal go together). But despite all the conceptions about Stanford being a top-class school where everyone studies, it's really not true, I guess...</p>
<p>Now I need to break the fact that there is indeed sex, drugs and alcohol to my starry-eyed parents (who seem to have that red S in their eyes every time I look at them, which quickly turns into a dollar sign). They think Stanford is a place for innocent people who always work hard. I doubt it's like that in any school; if it was, I don't wanna go! So Caltechers do spend 10 hours studying? I hate studying... But I don't want to get left behind if I don't.</p>
<p>So I hear about Stanford's humanities requirements. After a bunch of bad humanities teachers in high school, I can't wait to get out of those classes and into the things I enjoy (math, science, engineering). What are the requirements like for Caltech? I hear there isn't much undergrad techie work at Stanford. Is it better at Caltech? If I want to build robots and design circuits, how long do I have to wait through boring theory classes before the teachers will let me loose in my natural environment - the lab/machine-shop.</p>
<p>And um, this thread is going tangentially quite far off from the pre-frosh weekend. But I'm really appreciating your time. Thanks, people.</p>
<p>cryptopath or anyone else traveling far, you could visit one school on Wed. & Thur, and the other on Fri. & Sat., or something like that. </p>
<p>I know, neither Stanford nor Caltech would like that, but it seems a shame not to visit both schools while you are in California, even if it means missing some of the official festivities.</p>
<p>No, that would be too difficult and expensive. It'll probably end up like me not going to either... It's too expensive and too close to my IB exams. Thanks for all the help, though. I look forwards to hearing about Caltech's decision on me...</p>
<p>April 22 is also Cal Day, UC Berkeley's open house for the community (not an admit/prefrosh weekend), so that weekend will be very busy!</p>
<p>So, go to Disneyland on April 17, Caltech on April 18-19, Stanford on April 20-21 and Cal Day on April 22. </p>
<p>This week is spring break for many hs students (the week after Easter Sunday), so some of you may be out of school for the whole week anyway.</p>
<p>Arrive in California via LAX/ONT/BUR and leave via SFO/OAK/SJC.</p>
<p>If I were super smart like all of you guys and gals, that's what I would do !!!</p>
<p>
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If I want to build robots and design circuits, how long do I have to wait through boring theory classes before the teachers will let me loose in my natural environment - the lab/machine-shop.
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</p>
<p>You can take the lab-intensive EE classes starting your first term, and physics involves labs starting the winter of your freshman year. Undergraduate research in the lab and machine shop is available soon after you get here. You will, however, have to sit through five trimesters of "boring theory classes" concurrently -- a hard sequence of math is required of all undergrads. If you think that stuff is boring and pointless, you probably won't be happy here. Also, if you hate work, you'll really hate it here.</p>
<p>Hey thanks. I like work. I just dislike rote memorization for the sole purpose of my grades. That sounds contradictory. But I love the math (<em>who</em> takes IB Further Mathematics anyways), and I love the science. I just don't think I'll be able to contain my excitement of being in the US if they don't let me do some work in the shop. I might like it there at Caltech if things are as they seem.</p>
<p>Glad to hear it : ) Good luck with your application.</p>
<p>(I agree about the pointless memorizing for grades. Blech.)</p>
<p>cryptopath:</p>
<p>I probably wasn't being clear in my last post. Stanford is definitely a top university, and everything I said about either school dealt with generalities. </p>
<p>There are people who study 12 hours a day at Stanford and eschew partying. There are Caltech students who largely ignore work and study in favor of other pursuits. However, in general, Stanford students study and work less than Caltech ones.</p>
<p>Regardless of what type of person you are, you can find a niche at either school, because of the vast spectrum of students at Caltech or Stanford.</p>
<p>However, you'll find more of a certain type of student at one university than the other.</p>
<p>Hmm, now, would you WANT to visit both pre-froshes anyway? You should probably visit both schools on a weekend when they´re not catering to prospective freshman, otherwise you´ll get a view of each school that conveniently overlooks the negatives. If you have to make that choice (and I hope you do!) then I say, visit both in February/March/April, and use the prefrosh of the school you choose as a time to meet and have fun with your future classmates :)</p>
<p>im so lucky. i live 30 minutes away from caltech, and it only costs me $5 in gas money. nebody need a ride?</p>
<p>Who will be reading the Interest Form for matching students with hosts on PFW? Students or administrators?</p>
<p>Students typically do the matching. Write what you want : )</p>
<p>the questions are funny; they insinuate quite a lot :P</p>
<p>I'm not a student at Caltech nor will I ever be (unless Caltech decides to send pity admits to senior citizens who have long since forgotten most of calculus, which I deem quite unlikely). However, I'm guessing that, like classes elsewhere, if you strive for understanding theory, you won't have to do much pointless memorizing. Furthermore, if you take this approach, you may find those beginning classes interesting. </p>
<p>Understanding theory will also lay a solid foundation for understanding material in higher level courses. If you memorize in lower level courses, you'll find yourself doing the same in your junior and senior year courses. What a horrible fate to contemplate!</p>
<p>The only memorization I've had to do at Tech (4.8 terms and counting...slowly), was in the core biology requirement class and for introduction to political science. Besides that, I believe all of my exams have been open book or open notes to some extent.</p>
<p>Exams (usually) come together really well at Caltech. The honor system allows for reasonably long exams (4 hours is perfect). Long exams allow for thought-provoking questions, which don't rely on memorization to assess knowledge. The general philosophy is to make an exam setting that will best simulate how students will need to apply their knowledge later in life - i.e. the proper use of resources is a crucial skill. </p>
<p>Of course this is dependant on your option, but for what you're interested in, memorization isnot often required.</p>
<p>As for escaping theory classes, I'm pretty sure EE's and Mech-E's get a nice, consistent dosage of theory classes (in addition to labwork) for most of their time here. But who knows, maybe contour integration (and particularly the winding number) will help you design and prototype better robots :-).</p>