<p>Ok, I got off the Caltech waitlist, and after INTENSE contemplation and family meetings, I thought I'd go to Duke.</p>
<p>But I ended up submitting my SIR to Caltech. I think I'll give Caltech a try. Anyways, I feel somewhat scared.
My friends tell me that Caltech = antisocial. They'd have picked an actual university to enjoy their lives.
But I love math and science. I love girls and social events too. So I'm wondering if I'll find the right university experience at Caltech and not die of overwork...</p>
<p>I’m sure that the OP could position himself well for graduate study coming from either school; his stats indicate that he is profoundly academically talented. Considering that, I would probably recommend Duke as well, unless he happened to want to study a science that Duke is relatively weak in.</p>
<p>I suppose so…it’s really his choice in the end…as long as he’s happy with his choice I suppose that’s what really matters. And maybe his parents put more weight on Caltech (like how one of my cousins was “forced” to go to Princeton by her parents–she wanted to go to Duke, Penn, Brown etc…but her mom put more weight on the prestige) since it’s stronger academically in whatever math or science oriented he’s looking for.</p>
<p>If the OP has accepted CalTech, he is expected to have sent Duke a note telling them he is not coming and is withdrawing his acceptance. So the die is cast.</p>
<p>Welcome I haven’t found Caltech = antisocial at all. I have more friends here than I’ve ever had before. People leave their doors open all the time and we work together on almost everything. There are house activities on the weekends as well as things like sports and orchestra if you’re into that sort of thing. The social scene is a little bit different from most other colleges, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. And contrary to popular belief, we do have both parties and girls here.</p>
<p>Duke is heavily geared to partying. I spent a week there with a former alumni from my high school who is now a sophomore there. He says he gets wasted 3-4 times a week.</p>
<p>Haha well, I’m interested in biomedical engineering/bioengineering. But I find computer science interesting too (maybe comp engineering?).</p>
<p>The comp sci program at Duke is really solid (top 20) and its biomed program is very prestigious, obviously.</p>
<p>But I picked Caltech mainly because its close by to where I live. My decisions are final as mazewanderer said.
I really really did love Duke. And yes, I was thinking exactly like eastafrobeauty:
Go to Caltech for grad school (I DO plan on going for grad school!). But I think its better this way, and I can’t do anything to change it.</p>
<p>@JNT: I’m glad you’ve found the social life great,</p>
<p>Why didn’t you just choose Duke John? Call up the admissions office at Duke and see if you can change your mind. I think you got just a little too excited about getting off the Caltech waitlist and let your excitement cloud your judgment regarding what school is a better fit for you.</p>
<p>Duke is a much more well-rounded school and unless you want to pursue a PhD, Caltech doesn’t seem like the best fit for you.</p>
<p>^Its all good. Maybe Duke for grad school =)
I think I’ll be happy at Caltech too. I like the culture here. I was just scared that I’ll be destroying my brain cells from strenuous academic activities.
I talked to some Caltech '14ers and they feel the same. I’m not alone, so that’s a good thing.</p>
<p>I suppose what matters is that you’re happy with your choice…and at Caltech you’re going to have an easier time making friends since it’s a smaller school & most of the ppl there are probably will have similar interests to yours.</p>
<p>While you’re there tell Josh Tollefson that I said hi (:</p>
<p>Eh, I think we are all scared that the work will be too intense, but I’m not really scared about lack of a social life. My social life will simply most likely revolve around work, not partying. Sure, the work is notoriously crazy, but I think I’ll find more awesome people at Caltech than most other places. And when Techers decide to party… the construction for the parties looks like a ton of fun!</p>
I haven’t found Caltech = antisocial at all. I have more friends here than I’ve ever had before. People leave their doors open all the time and we work together on almost everything. There are house activities on the weekends as well as things like sports and orchestra if you’re into that sort of thing. The social scene is a little bit different from most other colleges, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. And contrary to popular belief, we do have both parties and girls here.</p>