<p>Right now, I'm having a very difficult time deciding where to go between these schools. I received similar financial aid. </p>
<p>Here are some things to take into consideration:
a) student life
b) level of difficulty (basically, stress level)
c) job offers after graduation
d) research opportunity</p>
<p>Currently, I think my major will be physics or math. I'm unsure wheather applied or theoretical. Where would you go and why?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>They’re such opposites that I don’t know if this is that hard a decision. What do you want in college?</p>
<p>They’re probably about equal in research opps, though.</p>
<p>I personally didn’t like the undergraduate social life at Stanford at all, whereas I liked it a lot at Caltech. Have you visited the schools? I think that this is essential.</p>
<p>a) very different. Each one is better for different people.
b) Stress level will probably be higher at Caltech from what I’ve heard. But Stanford won’t be a walk in the park, either.
c) Stanford will have more companies at career fairs, because it’s bigger, but I don’t think Caltech grads have trouble finding jobs (although I hear most Caltech students go straight to grad school, so maybe lack of job offers is a reason why)
d) Caltech has that whole Surf thing, so I’d give the edge to them, but Stanford has great research opps too.</p>
<p>Yeah, I visited Caltech during PFW, and I’m going to Stanford Admit Weekend.</p>
<p>Stanford, I think, clearly has a more diverse student body. However, I don’t know if this is good or bad.</p>
<p>On one hand, being surrounded by other math/science types at Caltech will give me support through some tough classes. At Stanford, kids will cruise through humanities classes while I stay up all night with a challenging math class. Maybe its good to be with similar people. Also, I take comfort in knowing that everyone at Caltech was admitted through merit alone.</p>
<p>At the same time, though, I think having a bigger, more diverse student group may have benefits also. Stanford can offer more connections, and the name brand (largely because of size) may provide better options.</p>
<p>But what did you find bad about the Stanford undergraduate life, lizzardfire? Tom Gwinn, right?</p>
<p>well i know nothing about stanford, but i really, really like caltech,
as in i have never felt more connected to a place in my entire life,
so i think you should come here :)</p>
<p>Two years ago, I was in the same situation you’re in. When I visited, Tech seemed a lot smaller and cozier, much more welcoming and like a family. I didn’t get that feeling at Stanford (I felt kind of lonely and bored, actually). </p>
<p>All my friends going to Stanford are having the time of their lives, not really studying too hard. Stress is pretty high here, although that has a lot to do with how involved you are with other activities. But I’d still choose Tech again.</p>
<p>I’d prefer it if you didn’t use my real name on the forums, but yes, that is me. (I’d rather avoid the first hit on google that is actually me to be my posts on this forum). </p>
<p>I don’t think that the name brand is really much of a difference in fields like math, science, and engineering. Stanford only carries much more weight than Caltech outside of these fields / when speaking to people who aren’t in these fields. I personally think that the research opportunities I’ve had here are better than the comparable ones at Stanford, and since the school is relatively small networking has been very easy.</p>
<p>When I visited Stanford, I felt that the “techy” and “fuzzy” groups (math/science people and everyone else) were very separated. It seemed to me that the nerds were still the nerds, and the cool kids were still the cool kids. I’d rather not discuss it further because it’s highly subjective and I really have no intention of justifying my now over three-year old impressions. I think that if you visit you will notice it if it’s a problem and you won’t if it’s not, so my opinion is kind of irrelevant.</p>
<p>f9x9,
I’m also a prefrosh.
This decision was also driving me crazy…literally driving me crazy. I would think I had my mind set on say, Caltech, and then I would get something from Stanford and change my mind. I got into Stanford in February, so I had been deliberating for quite some time. It got to a point where I would change my mind every day. After PFW, I thought, for sure, that I would be going to Caltech. But lo and behold, I began to contemplate my decision. I, then, finally realized that Caltech was going the best for me since it’s so easy to become involved with research. And Caltech’s obviously as good as or better than Stanford academically.
Soooo…
As of two days ago, I am now enrolled at Caltech. :)</p>
<p>Caltech>HYPS</p>
<p>Good choice.</p>
<p>WHOOT! Caltech! I have accepted the offer too. Hope to meet you there!</p>
<p>stanford has schoen</p>
<p>I visited Caltech a couple of weeks ago with a relative and the place totally blew me away. I’ve attended UChicago and Columbia U and have to say that the academic and collegial atmosphere at Caltech is unmatched.</p>
<p>From the quirky dorm system to the small classes to the gorgeous campus, Caltech is pretty much in a class of its own, I’d say. The students were brilliant and fun and friendly, the food was terrific and the place felt so warm and friendly from the get-go.</p>
<p>If I had a chance to go to college again, Caltech would be my top choice (of course, I’d never get in with my lousy math scores, but one could always hope…).</p>