<p>My daughter has been accepted in Caltech as well as Princeton for class of 2014. She wants to pursue her career in Aerospace Engineering. Does anyone have opinion on which one will be a good choice for her?</p>
<p>These are two extremely different schools. Cal Tech is ranked higher in aerospace engineering but Princeton has a good program and is also highly ranked. I think that it should come down to other factors. Cal Tech is a much smaller school (approximately 950 students vs. Princeton’s 5000 undergrads) that is obviously devoted to engineering, math and sciences. Princeton offers a much broader based well-rounded education with some of the top professors in the world in numerous fields. If for some reason, your daughter decides that aerospace engineering is not for her, Princeton would offer more academic options. Obviously, there’s the California–East Coast decision as well.</p>
<p>If she can visit both, I think that she will probably find that one of the schools appeals to her more.</p>
<p>Caltech is a very special kind of place–it’s for people who are passionately devoted to math and science. The curriculum is incredibly difficult (five quarters of physics, yuck) but, for those who are willing to stick it out, it’s hard to find a better education. Some people love it. Some people wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. Your daughter could fall into either camp.</p>
<p>Princeton is not so intense, although it is famed for its grade deflation. It’s also a much more well-rounded school.</p>
<p>If she does undergrad in aerospace from Princeton then how hard it is to get admission in Caltech for grad?</p>