<p>
[quote]
id rather keep my decision based purely on the engineering programs of the two if possible.
[/quote]
Keeping it simple, go with Caltech. Caltech has a more difficult admissions selection process (may be the most difficult in the world) than Stanford and that reputation carries over. Even from Sakky's comments about it being easier to get a degree from Stanford, looking at it from a different angle, it just means a caltech degree is more solid. Again, splitting hairs here.</p>
<p>Stanford would be good if you were interested in taking intro classes in a variety of subjects that aren't offered at Caltech, like business, law, or liberal arts.</p>
<p>Of course, you can't go wrong with either as differentiating among the engineering is splitting hairs.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think I would rather work on high-level engineering projects than on simple stuff like youtube.
[/quote]
Youtube, Myspace, and Facebook may have gotten the owners richer than "high-level" engineers but it's mostly luck. The creators, just did something for fun that turned out to be great for advertising revenue. They won the lottery beyond their wildest imaginations, let alone any type of business "planning".</p>