<p>Thanks for the suggestions, Marite. It gives us something to start with. Glad to hear Brown is still okay in the appl. math dept. Also, I'm happy to have a few not-exclusively-technical schools on the list as my son is somewhat bipolar in his abilities, although math seems to be his dominant love. Any more suggestions for safeties out there, particularly for schools with good humanities as well as math/CS?</p>
<p>Pesto,</p>
<p>Great that your S has such broad interests. Marite's run down is quite comprehensive; don't have much to add. Caltech is likely the most intense place on this continent, but will not meet your S's need for a broader education. In that sense, MIT is better. UCB (since you asked) is certainly excellent in CS and math and much else. However, (a) it's darn tough (not a safety) to get in unless you are in state; (b) competitive culture is notorious to the point of cut-throat, notably in EECS; (c) it prepares the kid well technically, but imo that's not the most important thing...</p>
<p>Certainly in math and in CS where things change so fast, for that matter in just about any subject, the key imo is to learn how to think. Don't learn just the equations. Instead, learn why so-and-so great mathematician/scientist ask that question, learn how they then set up the problem, made the key simplifying assumptions in order to gain that key insight. Learn what is the KEY thinking that went into the solution. That will be the key to long term success. The nitty gritty specifics of all those classes you take I guarantee you will forget in no time flat anyways.</p>
<p>In that context, imo the best thing to do is to go visit each school and try to sense if the kids are learning, and the profs are teaching, how to do, or to think!</p>
<p>mitalum, you sound just like my husband (an engineer) concerning the ability to think! He has said many times that when he is interviewing prospective employees, he scarcely looks at where they got their degrees and instead wants to see whether they know how to think. A good point for all prospective engineering students (and their parents) to keep in mind when agonizing over which school will look better on a resume.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the input.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the support!!!</p>
<p>I'm still so surprised (0_0) in a good way that so many people replied :). I turly appreciate it. </p>
<p>I do have a question about how grades work at MIT as two of the posters had mentioned. So essentially, everything is on a curve? (ex. hypothetically say you recieve an 85 in a class. An 85 in high school speak would be a B but the class average is an 85, so does that mean you earn the ''average'' grade (a C or a B?)). Also, I know that a lot of grading depends solely on the class/teacher, but in general tests/big projects take up a big chunk of the grade and psets/''homework'' (if at all looked at) is a minor part of the grade? I should perhaps pose this in the MIT section of CC, but seeing that this thread already has really good info/very knowledgable posters and MIT alumni, I was just wondering...</p>
<p>Also, any "must bring" items that are less thought of to bring to MIT/any "must know" advice/tips (the sort you wish you had known about before attending)? </p>
<p>Thanks again!! :)</p>
<p>janeeyre, I'd recommend asking on the MIT forum about both current grading practices and what weird things not to forget to pack. You'll get at least a few answers, as I think you already know: there are, I think, 5 or 6 current students who have been very active recently in offering up-to-the-minute info direct from campus.</p>
<p>I thought it was funny that when I read the thread, the time on dmd77's time travel post came up as "Yesterday".</p>
<p>janeeyre, </p>
<p>mootmom has the right idea.</p>
<p>Voila! In just 45 min., you already have three response to your query from current students. :)</p>