<p>I've gotten some great replies to this post - and feel better now about Caltech vs MIT or Princeton. The reassurance about Caltech's quality and match with MIT was good. Incidentally, I discovered a website with description of the Caltech prank at MIT's 2005 frosh weekend! Friendly (fun) rivarly indeed! Does anyone know if it really happened ?</p>
<p>definitely overnight at CalTech and/or MIT if you can. Years ago, a good friend also got a free ride to CalTech, but quit after the first semester....it wasn't the work (grades were straight A's), but the social life, or lack thereof.</p>
<p>rocketman, I was there while my son took part in CPW, and yes, it all really happened.</p>
<p>Now, you know that next weekend is the Caltech pre-freshman weekend, right? Let's see.....</p>
<p>My son goes to MIT. My impression of one difference between the schools is that both have the quirky, crazy, mad genius types, but that in addition MIT has the more normal frat types who do sports in their spare time (some of these are into engineering and mangement where the pressure is a little less). I think your son will figure out if he's a fit at Caltech at their pre-frosh weekend. </p>
<p>There's a link to pics of the hacks the Caltech students did at MIT during the preview weekend. The banner on the dome, the balloons, and the 400 free T-shirts handed out: "MIT--because not everyone can go to Caltech." Funny! Good luck to your talented son!</p>
<p>Caltech. Definitely. Because: 1) Full tuition and 2) excellent school.</p>
<p>Good problem to have! Hopefully after this week-end your son will have stronger feelings about what he wants to do. I certainly would not make this decision based on perceived work requirements. I agree that they are probably comparable at MIT and Caltech for the majors your son is interested in, and that your son should be totally up to whatever is required of him if he was outstanding enough to earn the merit awards you describe.</p>
<p>Let me offer a possible compromise position - if your son was able to get an Axline offer at Caltech, he probably has enough advanced courses that he could graduate from MIT in 3 years if he chose to go there. You could give him the choice of 4 years at Caltech vs. only 3 at MIT. That would knock at least $40,000 off the total cost to you.</p>
<p>I'm surprised that no one has mentioned yet that top math students who go on to graduate school should never have to pay out of pocket for their Ph.D. program. They will get NSF fellowships or other top fellowship awards and be able to go where they desire. It certainly looks like the OP's son is deemed to have the right stuff to be that kind of graduate student once he finishes his undergraduate degree. </p>
<p>Since the OP's son is eager to study math, he should read A</a> Mathematician's Survival Guide: Graduate School and Early Career Development by Steven G. Krantz (who, by the way, is math department chair at Wash. U.) as soon as possible. That will provide perspective on these choices.</p>
<p>I am still in favor of Caltech but did want to ask whether your son has checked into advanced standing at Princeton. There are students who graduate in 3 years, so if that's what he wants to do...My d was offered the option but has no interest; few students seem eager to leave early!</p>
<p>Yes, I wouldn't leave early if I went to Princeton or Swarthmore! :)</p>
<p>(I know stupid generalization to make).. </p>
<p>My son was talking about going abroad for a year and I talked him out of it and suggested he go for 6 months. You stay in college for just 4 years and the work world and travel abroad can wait! (It seems endless anyway, I don't see why young people are so eager to enter it).</p>
<p>I would not bank on a student wanting to graduate in 3 years. Some years ago, Harvard did a study which showed that about nearly hafl its students qualified for Advanced Standing but that less than 1/3 used that option; furthermore, some used it to spend a year abroad or to do a combined degree.</p>
<p>Re study abroad, there is also the reality that you are usually paying U.S. prices to study in universities where the tuition is much lower for citizens there. It's sort of like being on a flight when the person next to you bought his ticket on Expedia and you paid full fare. ;) We are encouraging summer study...and taking advantage of the wealth of university funding available. </p>
<p>Marite, I certainly agree re not banking on 3 years. I thought I was responding to the OP's suggestion that s do one of his schools in only 3 years and so I wanted to point out that the same thing is possible at Princeton; however, after reading over the thread, I realize that I confused the OP with another poster. Never mind!</p>
<p>I had to make a similar decision a few years ago. I realized I didn't want to be at a purely engineering school for four years. The lack of an academically diverse student body, lack of social scene, and being with something like 90/10 male/female didn't appeal to me. I also didn't want to be 3000 miles from home. </p>
<p>If he didn't visit all the schools, he should definitely do so ASAP. I'm sure he'll narrow down his decision afterwards.</p>
<p>I agree that people who are happy at their undergraduate schools will probably not want to graduate in 3 years. But if the alternative is 4 years at a school chosen for financial reasons versus settling for 3 years at a more expensive school that the student feels passionately about, then I think there are students who would prefer the 3 year option.</p>
<p>Token has a good point about grad school being funded. That means you get another good shot at your first choice school if you choose your second choice school for financial reasons. It also means that if you choose the 3 year option, you might be able to seague into funded graduate studies at the same place during that 4th year.</p>
<p>I would like to send you a private message. Could you either turn it on or send me one with your email address? (click on my screen name)</p>
<p>Rocketman,</p>
<p>We went though the same problem two years ago (a nice problem to have.) </p>
<p>Our son made up his mind after pre-frosh weekend. In the end the decision to attend Caltech was half rational (read $$$) half gut-call. Something happened during that visit that convinced him that Caltech was the place for him. Two years latter he wouldn't trade places with anybody. We are tremendously grateful and very proud that he has the opportunity to study there.</p>
<p>Having said this, and with only second hand knowledge, it seems to me that Caltech is not a place for everybody. For some, like my son, so far it appears to be a perfect match. For others it is not. I am not sure there is the middle ground you may find in otehr schools, perhaps including MIT.</p>
<p>I can't imagine that a single visit will make all things clear but going to Pre-Frosh weekend is a must.</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>Rocketman,</p>
<p>We went though the same problem two years ago (a nice problem to have.) </p>
<p>Our son made up his mind after pre-frosh weekend. In the end the decision to attend Caltech was half rational (read $$$) half gut-call. Something happened during that visit that convinced him that Caltech was the place for him. Two years latter he wouldn't trade places with anybody. The housing system and the honor code are a lot more important than we originally anticipated. We are tremendously grateful (and very proud) that he has the opportunity to study there.</p>
<p>Having said this, and with only second hand knowledge, it seems to me that Caltech is not a place for everybody. For some, like my son, so far it appears to be a perfect match. For others it is not. I am not sure there is the middle ground you may find in other schools, perhaps including MIT.</p>
<p>I can't imagine that a single visit will make all things clear but going to Pre-Frosh Weekend is a must.</p>
<p>Good luck</p>