<p>Okay so I guess as far as comparison to Caltech, MIT has a very well-known and strong computer science department. Caltech's CS department is a bit newer, but I understand it's also growing stronger. I can't say one is necessarily better than the other. </p>
<p>At MIT, EE and CS are one huge department. This is good because you have tons of resources: you can ask many for help, you have labs at your disposal, and there are many job opportunities in course 6 through the UROP program. However, because 6 is a large department, you will be one of many. If you don't make an effort, you can get lost very easily and just feel like a number.</p>
<p>How has MIT been so far? Everything I've hoped for. I've met so many really nice people here, and I've had some amazing professors. I guess the only thing I haven't liked are the GIRs (general institute requirements). I can't stand chemistry for whatever reason, but I had to take it anyways. That's just me whining though. (: </p>
<p>I suppose the only other bad thing so far has been the weather. With windchill it was 17 degrees below for a couple days. I'm from Tennessee, so I wasn't expecting that kind of weather at all and was not pleased. A lot of people also get burned out from so much schoolwork after a while. So far I'm still going strong, and I think it depends on your personality. I mean, there were plenty of people that burned out during high school. It just depends on who you are and what you want out of college. You can certainly party here and have a successful academic life, but you have to know how to balance everything. I was surprised at how social everyone is, I must admit. For the most part MIT has been pretty laid-back and friendly (at least the students have been). I like the atmosphere. </p>
<p>MIT itself is not crazy-hard. You can choose to take easy classes if you want. There are many very difficult majors though, and within all the majors, many hard classes. If you want to challenge yourself, I'd say you'll have no problem at MIT. That being said, many of the classes considered crazy-hard are hard, time-consuming, and considered the best classes! Freshman clases on the whole though are not unmanageable. Don't be terribly worried. If you try hard, you'll be fine. The first term of pass/no record gives you a great chance to get to know MIT and test your ability to take more than four classes et cetera.</p>
<p>Why were students accepted at Caltech EA and not MIT? You know, no one (except the admissions people) really knows how the admissions process works. Different schools have a different strategy. They're looking for people to make a certain kind of class. Don't try to understand the mystery of admissions. Just be happy for those that got in EA! And even if you don't get in EA, if you're deferred you still have a solid chance during regular admissions.</p>
<p>I think somewhere there is a posting (old...last year) about the system MIT uses during the admissions process. I seem to remember athletics adding a plus. I don't think they really care whether you're going to make their team or not. They care more about whether you will continue your sport in college giving more variety to the type of student they are accepting if that makes sense. Don't concentrate on what MIT wants from you, concentrate on what you can offer MIT. At this point, there's nothing you can do about the person you are! Believe in yourself. You'll end up at a school you'll love no matter what happens if you do that.</p>