<p>I have gotten into both for engineering physics. Which one is better for research? More rigorous? Better known?And finally which is better altogether? </p>
<p>Apples and oranges in a lot of ways. Size, weather, diversity, urban/rural, etc. Since most of your concerns focus on academics, the biggest question I’d have for you is whether you care about your classes outside of your field, or whether you view humanities/social science work more as an obligation you have to hurry through to get back to your physics.</p>
<p>First, kudos.
Second, if you’ve got the goods to survive it, Caltech on all counts - more rigorous, more nerd cred, more research dollars per student.</p>
<p>Caltech is Nerd Heaven. Cornell is more like the normal College Experience. Depending on which you prefer, that’s where you should go. You’ll get a great education at either place. Visit both if you can.</p>
<p>You might instead base your decision on something sensible like where YOU will do your best work? There’s no way we could tell you that. You need to determine how you’ll fit in at each school. We can’t help you much with that.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Exactly. These schools are vastly different outside of academics. </p>
<p>Have you really been accepted to both? I thought from your previous posts that you were a junior. Also, I don’t think it’s possible to have a SAT score that ends in a 2.</p>
<p>@rghai1 How did this work? Cornell’s early apps are ED so you couldn’t apply to any other private school (of which Caltech is one) early. And neither school’s decision has come out yet RD. </p>
<p>Also check out the culture. Granted this was years ago, but I had a friend who went to Caltech that said often almost nobody went to classes except to hand in stuff or take tests. Also they are famous for “Ditch Day” where they have elaborate pranks.Caltech has under 1000 undergraduates while Cornell has 14000.
Caltech seems very cooperative in culture…
I would google Caltech culture and see if it fits your needs.</p>
<p>I agree it is a question of culture. Caltech is the better name, the more rigorous place, but its culture isn’t for everyone. </p>
<p>OP: Wake up from your dream. You’re the first one who posts on CC while sleeping.
Or perhaps, you are inebriated.</p>
<p>Cornell’s undergrad Engineering Physics Dept. was ranked 1st by US News in 2013 among PhD granting institutions. They have been ranked 1st on and off for many years. </p>