<p>Where did you go</p>
<p>That question is asked of incoming Caltech freshmen. A significant number of them raise their hands.</p>
<p>CalTech is probably the only acceptable response for a hard science degree in computer (anything) or engineering.</p>
<p>My daughter (a Physics major) turned down MIT for Harvard.</p>
<p>Not common, but WPI. My son knows a few kids who preferred the smaller size, the less intense atmosphere and/or the project-based curriculum. Of course, on paper it doesn’t make sense but these students felt they “fit” at WPI.
Also realize that a student could be lured away to another school that offered merit aid.</p>
<p>Acceptable Answers: Cornell, Stanford, Harvard, UPenn, Princeton, CalTech, UC-Berkeley</p>
<p>Caltech is not even close to MIT. I may be biased though.</p>
<p>I know at least one person who went to Rice and one to Brown. It was for combined programs.</p>
<p>Everyone’s just comparing academics…not all people actually like the feel of Harvard, or Stanford, or whatever.</p>
<p>“Acceptable Answers: Cornell, Stanford, Harvard, UPenn, Princeton, CalTech, UC-Berkeley”</p>
<p>If you are going to include Cornell, Penn and UC-Berkeley, you might as well include Carnegie Mellon, Michigan, Northwestern and UIUC…among others.</p>
<p>Don’t forget Harvey Mudd!</p>
<p>Instead of finishing the sentence with the name of an institution, it might be helpful to fill in the blank with a descriptive phrase:</p>
<p>-a full-ride scholarship
-intense school spirit including nationally recognized sports programs
-a warm weather location
-someplace closer to home
-a suburban/rural/college town campus
-a BS/MD program
-etc.</p>
<p>Pomona, wanted a smaller, nurturing liberal arts college experience.</p>