<p>I think that what vinnyli wrote can be very helpful to the many students struggling to answer such questions. Vinnyli didn’t post so others could copy his/her words, but so others could see how to craft their own answers.</p>
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<p>I was exaggerating, but I think Deep Springs has a 1:4.</p>
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<p>I find that very untrue. Happiness has a positive correlation with performance. The fact is people will perform better and more willingly when they are happy. And no one can be happy at any college. Would someone who cares about prestige, like many people on CC, be happy attending some unknown community college? Would someone who likes the urban life and a wide variety of classes be truly happy at Deep Springs? Would someone interested in a well-rounded education be happy at Olin? Would a shy and timid person be happy at US Naval Academy? Would someone who is not interested in Japanese be happy at the University of Tokyo? The schools I listed are tops at what they do, yet they don’t seem to fit everyone.</p>
<p>No, vinnyli, that’s why SOME students will be happy wherever they go, but not ALL students.</p>
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<p>I’ll be shocked if you find a student who will be happy wherever he goes.</p>
<p>Re student/faculty ratios, Caltech is 1:3.</p>
<p>Answering “why ___?” is not just about “fit” in the warm-and-fuzzy sense of clubs. Academics is about more than a student/faculty ratio. Did you read about some of the research done by the biology department in Discover and want to get involved? Write that. Have you read a paper by one of their economics professors and been convinced that you could learn from them? Write that. Does their computational math department perform cryptographic research for the NSA that has you fascinated? Write that.</p>
<p>If you can’t think of anything along the lines of the above, maybe you should do some more research.</p>
<p>I agree with NSM – vinny’s example may be a good springboard for other applicants trying to come up with ideas.</p>
<p>And noimagination’s definitely on a good track.</p>