<p>
[quote]
but, doesn't caltech not have 1st year grades (just pass/no pass?)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, that helps. But what happens in the 2nd year and beyond? I think we can all agree that, if nothing else, Caltech is a very tough school. What if you're just not good enough to handle it? Then you'd end up with no degree. Like said, at Stanford, in the worst case scenario, you can always just retreat to one of those creampuff majors and still get a degree. That's a whole lot better than getting nothing at all. </p>
<p>
[quote]
besides, caltech has such small class enrollment that I can't believe they try to weed people out
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't think they * try * to weed people out either. But it doesn't matter whether they * try * or not, if it happens anyway. </p>
<p>Go on over to the Caltech section of CC and you will see even Caltech boosters like Ben Golub conceding that Caltech is a highly unpleasant experience for those students who don't do well (and there are indeed some students who don't do well). These students would have been better off if they had gone to a different school, like Stanford. </p>
<p>
[quote]
go to stanford. caltech doesn't even seem like a "normal" college.</p>
<p>theres more to life than just going to a very more prestigious better college.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You seem to be talking as if Stanford is somehow less prestigious than Caltech. If anything, the reverse is true.</p>