<p>Is Caltech a school that is very into numbers and stats compared to other comparable schools such as MIT and Stanford?</p>
<p>Do they just like to pick the candidates with the highest GPAs and test scores or do other qualities also counts?</p>
<p>I know MIT and Stanford usually like to look at a candidate "in context" and are often pretty "quirky" when it comes to admission.</p>
<p>Is Caltech admission basically a straightforward comparison of numbers?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I don't think they only look at numbers. If they did, why would they ask for essays, The Box, recs, etc.?</p>
<p>If it were a straightforward comparison of numbers, I almost certaintly wouldn't have gotten in. Fortunately for me, they looked at my interests/research/etc.</p>
<p>Caltech doesn't seem to care a ton about GPA compared to other top schools, particularly in non-science or math classes. Same with the reading and writing portions of the SAT. Certainly quality research trumps having a perfect SAT score or GPA.</p>
<p>The difference between the admissions procedures of MIT/Stanford and Caltech is not "in context" vs. "numbers" but probably closer to "diversity" vs. "passion for math/science". Caltech is more of a meritocracy--they focus on your achievements and passion for math and science. MIT and Stanford don't just look for achievement, but also for other things--diversity of personalities, hobbies, races, and sexes.</p>