Gahhh! Decision is impossible!

mathwiz · April 29, 2007, 4:38pm

Excuse me for making yet another thread. I'm an East Coaster who's also seriously considering Olin College of Engineering. Last weekend I was 100% sure on Olin. In the past week I've been flip-flopping every few hours between Caltech and Olin. I'll study ECE at Olin, or CS (maybe EE) at Caltech. I love hardcore math and science, which is big plus for Caltech. If I go to Pasadena, I'll hang out a lot with Ph/Ay people. But I love the way Olin does engineering. Blarg..... this is hard.... time to make a list:

Olin:
Engineering = awesome
Tuition = free
Social Life = cool
Location = nearby
Math/Science = not as hardcore as I'd like it to be, but I'll live

Caltech:
Math/Science = awesome
Social Life = I'm a geek and love to sing nerdy math/science songs...
Location = California
Engineering = pretty cool (maybe a bit too theoretical? maybe? I know it IS theoretical, just not sure how I'll like it.)
Tuition = !free, but certainly affordable

Other schools:
I've turned down HMC, RPI, CMU, UCB (not actually, just in my head). Waitlisted at MIT (I'm staying on, not sure if I'll go).
(Actually, now I don't see why this is important)

So that's sorta what's going on in my mind.....
Help! (I'm gonna need somebody.... ;) )

pundit · April 29, 2007, 4:43pm

Ask your parents what they think, especially since Caltech is !free.

Also, would you be able to tolerate living so far away from home?

If so, Caltech is for you!

fizix · April 29, 2007, 4:44pm

Keep in mind that Olin = new, experimental, etc...not as "entrenched" as Caltech.

Olin's first graduating class was (I think) this year, so we haven't seen how well their alumni do in grad school/real world. There's an element of uncertainty there.

mathwiz · April 29, 2007, 4:55pm

The most I've been away from home (read: parents) was for about three days. I think I could do it, but then again, I've never done it for too long before.

Mom wants me to go to Olin, but only because it's close. Dad, when asked, only says that they're both great schools.

momofchris · April 29, 2007, 5:11pm

Did you visit both schools? If so, which felt like it could be "home for the next 4 years"?

If money is an issue, it's tough to beat free tuition at Olin!

mathwiz · April 29, 2007, 5:24pm

I saw Olin, but didn't visit Caltech. I certainly enjoyed Olin, but from what I've heard of Caltech I think I'd like it too.

I don't believe money is an issue. Both price tags are affordable without taking out loans.

Joe_Caltech_04 · April 29, 2007, 6:09pm

It sounds ironic for a Caltech guy to say this (the people at the Ivies would say the same to us!) but I appreciated the breadth of math/science stuff--as well as the humanities--that Caltech offered and I think I would have found Olin too narrow for me. (I really enjoyed being a history double-major at Caltech and the fact that the size of the place allowed for a full orchestra and concert band, among other typical features of a college.)

It should be said that I agree that the school's approach to teaching engineering specifically is very, very cool, particularly for those interested in working as practical engineers in industry right out of school. But for me, being unsure as to exactly what I wanted to do, I felt (rightly or wrongly) that I wanted something more conventional.

For what it's worth, it's very possible to do extremely hands-on things at Caltech. Building stuff is definitely part of the culture (anyone who has ever seen a Ditch Day can attest to that!) and there are generally big engineering projects like the DARPA Grand Challenge to work on as well.

momofchris · April 29, 2007, 6:38pm

We visited Olin last summer. The tour guide mentioned that you get to know other students by their shadows, it's that small. Would this be too small for you? Have you looked at both school's catalogs? Olin does not have the variety of courses that Caltech does. Tough decision - good luck!

mathwiz · April 29, 2007, 7:09pm

Olin's engineering is more than enough for me, but the sciences are a bit lacking. I can xreg at Wellesley though. The size doesn't bother me either.

inverse · April 29, 2007, 7:30pm

I think this is something you need to decide by yourself. I wish you the best whatever you choose.

mathwiz · April 29, 2007, 7:40pm

[Quote]

I think this is something you need to decide by yourself.

[/Quote]

I've been trying to do this for the past 1.5 months, although I know what you're saying.

If Caltech = A and Olin = B, then my choice is C(t) = (A-B)/2 * sin(kt+psi) + (A+B)/2

So my choice depends on k and psi. Now only if I know what k and psi are.... I know k = ~2/pi radians/hour, and I can find an experimental value for psi, but both are only correct to within an order of magnitude.

anotherparent · April 29, 2007, 7:54pm

At some point you are going to have to realize there is no right/wrong answer and you are probably going to be happy and successful at either school.

I agree with the poster who says to discuss it with your parents.

If all else fails, flip a coin. Did you feel a slight disappointment with the result? go with the other option.

lizzardfire · April 29, 2007, 8:03pm

Talk to people in your intended major at both schools.

<--EE at Caltech :)

I can also refer you to some CS guys.

mathwiz · April 29, 2007, 8:06pm

EE ... CS... eh... same thing ;)

So lizzardfire, how do you like Caltech EE, and how would you compare it to Olin's ECE (if you're familiar with it)?

lizzardfire · April 29, 2007, 8:17pm

Sorry, I didn't apply to Olin so I couldn't really compare the departments. I love Caltech EE! It does tend to be somewhat theoretical, but even a practically minded person can appreciate it depending on what he or she is going to do with it. I'd say if you're 100% sure you intend to go straight into engineering industry right after college, Olin would be a good choice. If you want to do research at all or go to grad school, I'd recommend Caltech. Of course, those are somewhat arbitrary recommendations--come where you like the best!

One of the things that makes Caltech EE really awesome is the ridiculous amount of research going on here that you'll be able to participate in as an undergrad. I'm a freshman, and I have a SURF this summer in Axel Scherer's lab working on cooling for SOI (silicon on insulator). It's going to be really, really cool!

Feel free to IM me if you want to chat some more. SN on AIM same as here on College Confidential.

mathwiz · April 29, 2007, 9:32pm

[Quote]

    int c = 0, o = 0, t = 0;
    System.out.println("Blarg");&lt;/p&gt;

<pre><code> while(true)
{
double Caltech = 0, Olin = 0;

    for(int i = 0; i &lt; 1000000000; i++)
        if(Math.random() &lt; .5)
            Olin++;
        else
            Caltech++;

    System.out.println("Olin: " + Olin);
    System.out.println("Caltech: " + Caltech);
    if(Olin &gt; Caltech)
        o++;
    else if(Caltech &gt; Olin)
        c++;
    else
        t++;
    System.out.println("Olin Total: " + o);
    System.out.println("Caltech Total: " + c);
    System.out.println("Ties: " + t);
}

</code></pre>

[/Quote]

[Quote]

Blarg
Olin: 5.00017711E8
Caltech: 4.99982289E8
Olin Total: 1
Caltech Total: 0
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00012397E8
Caltech: 4.99987603E8
Olin Total: 2
Caltech Total: 0
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00003476E8
Caltech: 4.99996524E8
Olin Total: 3
Caltech Total: 0
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00003281E8
Caltech: 4.99996719E8
Olin Total: 4
Caltech Total: 0
Ties: 0
Olin: 4.99986838E8
Caltech: 5.00013162E8
Olin Total: 4
Caltech Total: 1
Ties: 0
Olin: 4.99973958E8
Caltech: 5.00026042E8
Olin Total: 4
Caltech Total: 2
Ties: 0
Olin: 4.99994444E8
Caltech: 5.00005556E8
Olin Total: 4
Caltech Total: 3
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00016105E8
Caltech: 4.99983895E8
Olin Total: 5
Caltech Total: 3
Ties: 0
Olin: 4.99984559E8
Caltech: 5.00015441E8
Olin Total: 5
Caltech Total: 4
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00020028E8
Caltech: 4.99979972E8
Olin Total: 6
Caltech Total: 4
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00017851E8
Caltech: 4.99982149E8
Olin Total: 7
Caltech Total: 4
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00011911E8
Caltech: 4.99988089E8
Olin Total: 8
Caltech Total: 4
Ties: 0
Olin: 4.99983901E8
Caltech: 5.00016099E8
Olin Total: 8
Caltech Total: 5
Ties: 0
Olin: 4.9999529E8
Caltech: 5.0000471E8
Olin Total: 8
Caltech Total: 6
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00005475E8
Caltech: 4.99994525E8
Olin Total: 9
Caltech Total: 6
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.0000636E8
Caltech: 4.9999364E8
Olin Total: 10
Caltech Total: 6
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00003989E8
Caltech: 4.99996011E8
Olin Total: 11
Caltech Total: 6
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00004113E8
Caltech: 4.99995887E8
Olin Total: 12
Caltech Total: 6
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00028638E8
Caltech: 4.99971362E8
Olin Total: 13
Caltech Total: 6
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00005737E8
Caltech: 4.99994263E8
Olin Total: 14
Caltech Total: 6
Ties: 0
Olin: 4.99993713E8
Caltech: 5.00006287E8
Olin Total: 14
Caltech Total: 7
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.0000462E8
Caltech: 4.9999538E8
Olin Total: 15
Caltech Total: 7
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.0002716E8
Caltech: 4.9997284E8
Olin Total: 16
Caltech Total: 7
Ties: 0
Olin: 4.99994499E8
Caltech: 5.00005501E8
Olin Total: 16
Caltech Total: 8
Ties: 0
Olin: 4.99986789E8
Caltech: 5.00013211E8
Olin Total: 16
Caltech Total: 9
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00004391E8
Caltech: 4.99995609E8
Olin Total: 17
Caltech Total: 9
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00031665E8
Caltech: 4.99968335E8
Olin Total: 18
Caltech Total: 9
Ties: 0
Olin: 4.99976069E8
Caltech: 5.00023931E8
Olin Total: 18
Caltech Total: 10
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00008941E8
Caltech: 4.99991059E8
Olin Total: 19
Caltech Total: 10
Ties: 0
Olin: 4.9996193E8
Caltech: 5.0003807E8
Olin Total: 19
Caltech Total: 11
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.00001973E8
Caltech: 4.99998027E8
Olin Total: 20
Caltech Total: 11
Ties: 0
Olin: 5.0000218E8
Caltech: 4.9999782E8
Olin Total: 21
Caltech Total: 11
Ties: 0

[/Quote]

That's what my computer says. So far.

bookworm · April 29, 2007, 11:08pm

Mathwiz
I so wish you had been able to fly out to Caltech and feel/see what it is like. There is always something going on; not just within each House, but campus lectures and shows. I don't understand why your parents would not let you visit. Its such an important decision to make, and airfares less than $300

mathwiz · April 29, 2007, 11:32pm

I wish so too... but it's kinda late for that. Oh well... I've got one day to decide about the next four years of my life.

And my program is still running. 43-21 Olin. (I won't post everything again, gosh I didn't realize how long that was...). Java must suck at random num generators, or you kids at Caltech must hate me enough to hack into my comp....

Kamikazewave · April 29, 2007, 11:39pm

I feel so happy knowing that I could actually read that program. I taught myself Java a few years back, but wasn't able to use a Java compiler, so wasn't able to test my own programs out. Still, at least I can read some basic programs.

psb · April 30, 2007, 12:59am

Java is for heathens.

On a slightly less serious note, you seem to be interested in Astrophysics/Astronomy also. I could be wrong, but I don't think Olin really has anything/much in these fields, while Caltech has one of the strongest departments in the world. Even if you don't major in astro, then you can definitely still pursue interests towards astro here. I know a frosh CS major doing a SURF at the Jet Propulsion Lab this summer, for example.

I personally looked at Olin when I was looking at colleges, and I thought that I would really love it, if I were really set on engineering. I still had other interests in the sciences/CS though, so I didn't end up applying. I still don't think Olin would have been great for me, even though I would've like a EE major, there. I love the extremely rigorous approach to math and physics here, and I'm just not sure that you'd get that at Olin.

Note: The reason that Olin is winning in your random counter is Java. Reprogram it in scheme or C/C++.

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