<p>Oh my god this is going to have like 120 replies. whatever.
So. What is better for (undergrad of course):
Math:
Biological Sciences:
Physics: (i already know the answer)
CS:
Humanities:
Is More Fun:
Overall Undergrad:</p>
<p>I'm prepared to see the Mudd-Caltech rivalry come alive.</p>
<p>Why must you do this? Use the search function, your questions have been fought over a countless number of times.</p>
<p>^^ agreed. We don't need more debate over the two. atomicfusion'll be here soon.</p>
<p>yeah. i'm done with this debate. i've spent many hours on the computer debating between these two. you know which i think is better. but whatever.</p>
<p>meh i tend to like this debate more than other, not just because I like both schools.</p>
<p>its like a UCLA vs USC thread with smart people.</p>
<p>I think a good answer to a lot of the questions can be given by a post made on a thread in the HMC forum a while back by Mudder's_Mudder, who as you may guess is the mother of a current HMC student. A student inquired with regards to Harvey Mudd and MIT/Caltech, and she gave an eloquent response which I think explains it pretty well. So I am going to post it:</p>
<p>"Qwertz82, the answer to that will depend entirely on the individual student. The question is a little like asking why someone chose a kumquat instead of an apple or an orange. The nature and structure of the institutions are not the same, nor are the missions. Caltech and MIT are research unis. HMC is a LAC. Therein lies the essential difference. </p>
<p>My S is a rising senior at HMC. He knows a number of Mudders who faced the choices you outlined in your question. The three schools have surface differences that matter to some people: climate, social scene, geographic location (East vs. West, urban vs. suburban), gender balance, ECs like performing arts or music or sports. He knows kids who made the choice based on one or more of all those factors. Some kids got exceptional merit aid. I can think of one young man, accepted at all three, who picked Mudd because he thought it would be the easiest (to the everlasting detriment of his GPA, alas). Some chose HMC for the LAC environment, knowing they would apply to Caltech and/or MIT again for grad school. I can think of a couple who just didn't like something about the feel of the other two schools.</p>
<p>Some people know, the minute they step on a campus the first time, they've found a good fit; it's a feeling that's difficult to quantify. Kind of like Justice Stewart's famous dictum about pornography: you know it when you see it. </p>
<p>Now these superficial and sometimes indefinable qualities are all fine and good and worthy of consideration, but we are talking about education here, aren't we? Your post begs the question: Is there a discernible difference in the quality of education at the three institutions? My informed answer is... that depends. For certain programs and certain majors, I could build a case that any one of the three is the best (e.g., all else being equal, econ/management majors and future linguists should go to MIT) or, conversely, all three are comparatively equal. My S is a science major, and I can state without hesitation that he has received at HMC as fine an undergraduate education in his discipline as he would have gotten anywhere, in line with his goals. (He is planning to apply to one of the other two for grad school.) </p>
<p>If you're a prospective college student trying to figure out where to apply, try to start by doing an honest self-assessment. Are you the big-city type who wants to get lost in a crowd? If so, then Caltech and HMC are probably not for you. Is widespread name recognition of utmost importance to you? If so, then HMC is probably not for you. Are you intimidated at the prospect of long, gray winters in the Northeast? Then MIT is probably not for you. Recognize also that every school has its pros and cons, its own quirks and personality that will never be posted in public on these boards (although you will undoubtedly find plenty of shills who will praise their own institutions to the high heavens for their own reasons). Check out lots of places. Visit as many as you can, and try falling in love with at least a few. Then you can start sweating the big stuff, like whether or not your parents can afford to pay for the courtship."</p>
<p>CalTech has more international prestige and visibility.
It has more internaitonal reknowned researchers. Very few foreigners know of HMC. With the globalization, you may need to consider the international prestige as a factor!</p>
<p>The answer is straightforward. Caltech is known all over the world. It is affiliated with at least 17 Nobel prize winners (not counting alumni who were not working at Caltech when they were awarded the Nobel). It is also one of the most produtive schools in the world in terms of publications per faculty. By contrast, nobody outside the US (or, perhaps, outside California) knows Harvey Mudd.</p>
<p>Math: caltech
Biological Sciences:caltech
Physics: caltech
CS: harvey mudd
Humanities: harvey mudd
Is More Fun: harvey mudd
Overall Undergrad: caltech</p>
<p>ok then, lets allow this post to be buried....</p>
<p>Is More Fun: HARVEY MUDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>If you have to ask this question, I recommend not going to Caltech. Only go there if you hate fun.</p>
<p>you forgot engineering.
i'd say mudd but that's just because i'm in the program...</p>