<p>I don't care about prestige or admissions ratings, I just need help making a decision. All input is welcome</p>
<p>go with MIT</p>
<p>But why? I need self justification like a reason to pick one over the other. Any insight?</p>
<p>CAltech is much smaller than MIT, is not next to Harvard where you can cross register for classes, and is not in a big vibrant city that doesn’t require a car to get around in. Classes at CT have the reputation of being so fast paced and tough that keeping up as a freshman can be like “trying to drink water from a fire hose”. That said, if Science is your passion in life and you CAN’T WAIT TO DO RESEARCH at the grad school level, then CT is the school for you.</p>
<p>I hadn’t thought about the actual city. While I am crazy for research, can’t I get that at both schools? I want to go into eng and double with bussines. They invited me to visit 300 and 600 for the tix respectively. Is it worth it? They are campus preview weekends and my parents are literally bankrupt, I would have to take out a loan</p>
<p>There are many reasons why I would recommend MIT over Caltech:</p>
<p>1) MIT is more well rounded
- Just as strong if not stronger in Engineering and the sciences
- Unbeatable research opportunities
- Top ranked Econ, Linguistics, Philosophy, Political Science and Psychology departments
- Top ranked Business school while Caltech has no business school
- You can take classes in the humanities at Harvard
- A better balance of academics and social life
- Healthier male:female ratio (55% M, 45% F at MIT vs 62% M, 38% F at Caltech)</p>
<p>2) MIT has a better overall reputation. Outside of the Tech and Science world, Caltech is not nearly as well recognized as MIT.</p>
<p>It’s actually not that uncommon for CC members to be deciding between two schools like Caltech and MIT. Do a search and you will probably find similar threads in the past comparing the two ad nauseam.</p>
<p>Were you offered financial aid by both schools? If your family is literally bankrupt, the answer better be “yes”, or else you better have other options. Taking out a loan may not be realistic if we’re talking more than a few thousand per year.</p>
<p>In any case, have you compared the total costs of attendance, including travel?</p>
<p>As for financial aid, my parents make under 40k so I know I’m guaranteed full tuition at both with no loans, eventhough I haven’t received the actual letter yet</p>
<p>@Laximer how did you get admission in MIT or Caltech any advise…</p>
<p>^ how do you mean?</p>
<p>He wants to know how you got in to both schools</p>
<p>You want to do business–go to MIT.</p>
<p>I want to go into eng and double with bussines.
then definitely go to MIT!</p>
<p>Outside of the Tech and Science world, Caltech is not nearly as well recognized as MIT. </p>
<p>this is correct</p>
<p>It’s on the East Coast. It’s close to Harvard and Boston–and Wellesley.
It has strong departments in the humanities.</p>
<p>Where would I have a good shot at grad school? I’m looking to Princeton, Stanford and the opposite to the one I choose for undergrad( MIT, tech) .</p>
<p>come back 3 years from now with your college GPA, GRE scores, types of research you’ve done in college, what areas you want to study in grad school, publications, etc, etc, and then ask that question. Meanwhile, make a choice, relax and congratulations!</p>
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</p>
<p>LOL, it’s actually an MIT joke. Geez Cal Tech tries to steal everything from MIT!</p>
<p>[IHTFP</a> Hack Gallery: Fire Hose Drinking Fountain](<a href=“http://hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/by_year/1991/fire_hydrant/]IHTFP”>IHTFP Hack Gallery: Fire Hose Drinking Fountain)</p>