<p>anti-nerd train of thought? What exactly is the question?</p>
<p>
It's disgusting how CalTech doesn't utilize AA...and I'm not saying that just because I'm black
Common mistake, it's Caltech.</p>
<p>regarding 'Anti-nerd' philosophies:</p>
<p>The idea that Caltech has an 'anti-nerd' philosophy is somewhat silly. Really? It's Caltech. We're all nerds. For us to be 'anti-nerd' is nuts. However, I think what you're referring to with the title 'anti-nerd' philosophy is actually a result of the social environment at Caltech.</p>
<p>Before Caltech, when we were all the nerds in our high schools, that alone was enough to make us different, to make us standout, and to define our social niche. At Caltech, everyone was <em>that nerd</em>. So being a nerd simply isn't different anymore. At Caltech, the social niche that people inhabit begins to be defined by other things--by their love of music, by their passion for sports, by the crazy jokes they tell, or by the intricate things they enjoy building. At Caltech, people don't act as 'nerdy' as they did in high school, because that is no longer what defines them in a social context. It's at Caltech where the high school nerds are separated into musicians, artists, athletes, jokers, diplomats, and cooks. I think that the 'anti-nerd' philosophy you mention is really just a second-order effect, generated by the social dynamics I've discussed above.</p>
<p>So all this committee is doing is increasing name recognition? <em>Sigh of relief</em> You guys had me scared for a second that you were gonna sell out.</p>
<p>gnrfan: Well, we're not <em>only</em> increasing name recognition, but I used that example to show how Caltech's admissions process can be improved without comprimising the academic integrity of the institute. Nobody, anywhere, or anytime was suggesting that we accept lowered standards or that we sell out.</p>