<p>I am considering applying to Caltech of Harvey Mudd in Engineering (Mechanical). Since I am trying to apply to a variety of schools, I want to narrow down on the schools that are similar. I have heard that these are some of the best engineering schools on the west coast, so what is your take on it?
I am concerned with quality of life. Going by the Princetonreview, it seems as though HMC students are very happy to study there.
And as for the academics, does Caltech expect you to know everything before you go there? How is undergraduate education?
And my final question is on financial aid. Generally (for the same student), which school will give more grant money (merit of need)?</p>
<p>I appreciate any insight you guys may have, thank you.</p>
<p>Both are excellent engineering schools. Caltech is perhaps stronger in pure science (strong graduate programs, Nobel Prize winners, etc). My impression is that Harvey Mudd is striving to become what Caltech already is. </p>
<p>If I had this choice I would choose Caltech, mostly because I like Pasadena better than I like Claremont. Although I must say that Harvey Mudd has the advantage of the other Claremont schools being right there, which perhaps relieves some of the culture of relentless math/science nerdiness 24/7 that is the norm at Caltech.</p>
<p>Olin College of Engineering in Boston area is similar in size and focus to Harvey Mudd. All admitted students receive full tution scholarship. You might want to look at their website.</p>
<p>Olin College of Engineering also already on my list, lol. I am trying to get a more diverse amount of colleges to apply to. What about the outright difficulty of Caltech v. Harvey Mudd? Which school would an above-average (though not exceptional) student do better at? Any more opinions of this?</p>
<p>And Coureur, why do you like Pasadena better than Claremont? Is it in a better part of town? I am not too familiar with the area, thanks!</p>
<p>Yes, Pasadena is a better part of town. Claremont is fine, it's not like it's a slum or something, but Pasadena is better. Unfortunately, both are in eastern LA county which means they can get smoggy on certain days.</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd is a top rated engineering school with LAC qualities. It does have the prestige of being within the Claremont Colleges. So while HM is small, the Claremont Colleges bring the population to 5,000 iirc. (Olin is much tinier!) The workload is reputed to be very tough. I do not think they have extensive financial aid resources. I know someone who would have had to pay $17k per year, opposed to $0 at USC and $2.5k at an ivy league (top 3).</p>
<p>Claremont is an LA suburb with a small cute downtown village, and close to malls and movie theaters. Mount Baldy is straight uphill for a super short trip for skiing, Disneyland is 30-40 minutes, downtown LA 30-40 minutes. Beaches 40-50 minutes. 20-30 minutes to Ontario airport, 30-40 minutes to LAX. I think it would be hard without a car to get out.</p>
<p>I don't know much about Caltech except the reputation, and you can cross register at Occidental College in Eagle Rock, which is very close to Pasedena. I think all dorm houses are co-ed, but the guys outnumber the girls by 75% or something. So if your a guy you may want to look at HM;if you're a girl same, otherwise your choice of dork at Caltech.</p>
<p>Pasadena is a pretty cute town in someways still, but they let the development get entirely out of control and it is like a big mall. There are many really good restaurants, but you prolly can't afford them as a student. But you can walk around at night and act like a yahoo for free. A little more accessible to the westside of LA, where most real LA stuff is happening. 20 to 30 min from Claremont.</p>
<p>I know both schools pretty good. They are both very boring, very hard (b/c they are tech schools), but both good. Caltech probably provides a more "fun" lifestyle because you can take classes at nearby Pasadena City College which has much more "normal" people. Besides, Claremont doesnt really have anything to do that is really close. Old Town Pasadena has an incredible night life for people in their 20s. This is just my opinion and everyone is entitled to one.</p>
<p>I would go for Harvey Mudd, just because I imagine that HM has a better social life, and well that chances of anyone getting into Cal Tech are not great. I think if your like the typical Cal Tech students regarding social life, then go for Cal Tech but if you want a more traditional clean college life go for HM.</p>
<p>PS if your looking for name Cal Tech is your choice without a doubt, but it would be different if you were asking between Cal Tech and Pomona College</p>
<p>I agree that Caltech has the name, but I think Shyboy is wrong in that HM is the more rounded. It is one of 5 Claremont colleges and you can take classes at any. They are all good schools.</p>
<p>brady, I appreciate your opinion but taking classes at the other Claremont Colleges doesnt necessarily make it more well-rounded. The entire Claremont consortium is about the size of a small back yard. There are 7 schools crammed in a tiny place and each school has about 5 students each. Not only that, each student looks exactly alike! Now, you know I am stretching the truth a little but hopefully you get my point. Both Caltech and Mudd students are pretty bright so when I said normal I meant those students that dont necessarily spend every waking hour studying. That is why I mentioned the luxury of taking classes at nearby Pasadena City Collegebecause those students are more normal. Caltech students can also take classes at 2 other colleges nearby. I also said that Pasadena is more exciting for a college age student than Claremont. Of course, I understand that there are people that dont necessarily enjoy the night life and for them I would say that Claremont is better. It all depends on what you like.</p>
<p>The 3-2 engineering program allows qualified students the opportunity to study at Occidental for three years, completing their undergraduate experience with an additional two years at either the California Institute of Technology or Columbia University. At the end of the five years, the student receives two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in the Combined Plan from Occidental and a Bachelor of Science in the selected field of engineering from the engineering school. In essence, it's the best of both worlds: an undergraduate experience which covers both the liberal arts and sciences as well as engineering. </p>
<p>Of those accepted into the 3-2 program, what percentage go on to complete the two-degree program? </p>
<p>So far, 100% </p>
<p>How do I enroll in the program? </p>
<p>Sometime during the junior year -- typically mid-fall semester for Columbia, early spring semester for Caltech -- prospective engineering students are contacted by the 3-2 Liaison Officer to discuss their academic records and obtain copies of all the required forms. </p>
<p>When a student enters the two year program at Caltech or Columbia, does his or her Oxy scholarship transfer too? </p>
<p>Alas, no, Oxy financial aid does not generally travel with the student. Financial aid for 3-2 students once they matriculate to Caltech or Columbia is completely determined by the engineering school. Having said that, we have not had a single case in which a 3-2 student was unable to attend Caltech or Columbia due to financial constraints.</p>
<p>Also FYI other schools have a 3/2 program too with CalTech. Many of the top LAC schools do infact. However it is only LAC schools that do it with CalTech, I wonder why. These are the LAC schools that participate in the 3-2 program with Caltech. </p>
<pre><code>* Bowdoin College (ME)
* Bryn Mawr College (PA)
* Grinnell College (IA)
* Haverford College (PA)
* Mt. Holyoke College (MA)
* Oberlin College (OH)
* Occidental College (CA)
* Ohio Wesleyan University (OH)
* Pomona College (CA)
* Reed College (OR)
* Spelman College (GA)
* Wesleyan University (CT)
* Whitman College (WA)
</code></pre>
<p>One thing to note though, Caltech is a really really busy school, its workload is tough, and the worst is that the pressure of the environment is great, that is, the caliber of the average students at tech is unsuprisingly higher by a large margin than HMC, hence the environment at tech may look depressing if you are unprepared.</p>
<p>Also 3+2 at Caltech may not be a great idea because, you would hardly catch up the pace with the other tech students. Bottomline is that, if you want to have more free time, exploration at non-tech subjects, better social life, you should choose HMC. Otherwise, tech is a better option.</p>