<p>Everyone I talked to said that if I really love science then I should go to caltech, but to what degree does that Love have to be? I mean I love science classes at my school, esp. Chem physics, and computer science, I would rather read three chapters of the physics book than reading one page out of the U.S. history book..but when I really think about it, I don't really want to voluntarily spend 12 hours a day working on math/physics. During my free time, I won't choose to do math problems, instead i like to play basketball and hang out with firends. Would I fit in at the Tech community? I mean I love science and would work under pressure if needed but Im not insanely crazed over math problems..to me, science is a hobby more than a burden and I don't want to lose that feeling.</p>
<p>btw I just came off the waitinglist and Im currently enrolled at cal under EECS..</p>
<p>Caltech is intense. EE? :-P Yay. Soon you will know the meaning of "spending 12 hours a day" in the Place of Eternal Darkness. And you will forget what weekends are.</p>
<p>So, there's a <em>lot</em> of work involved, but Caltech is still really cool. ^^ I don't know many people here who don't like hanging out with friends. Still, prepare for some suffering, because it won't be easy or anything..</p>
<p>Yes, people at Caltech really love science. But I think people at Caltech are much more normal than you imagine them to be. Yes, there will be some people who love doing physics in their spare time and love experimenting with circuits and chemistry on their own, but a lot of people at Caltech are just like you and me. Personally, although I would much rather read several chapters out of my physics book than a page of my school's history textbook just like you, I do not like studying all the time, and I (like many other people) don't intend on doing so. There will be a lot of work, but time management is an important skill that you will develop at Caltech.</p>
<p>Obviously you have the "stuff" or you wouldn't have gotten in. Can you see the movie "College Hoops"? Its about the amazingly bright Caltech BB team from last year, and how the players combine love of sports with academics.</p>
<p>You'll be working hard as an EE major at either college, but classes won't be as crowded and lots of interaction with profs at Caltech. IMHO</p>
<p>Also you may want to look up EECS professors' research at Caltech vs Berkeley. This is something I never did in my college search, but it probably mattered more than I gave it credit for. I know Berkeley is ranked higher in EE, but I'd like to think we're at least as good :-P</p>
<p>Definitely people at Caltech are more normal than you imagine. Although also consider that core will be an intense burden you <em>probably</em> can't skip out of. But IMO, it has a lot of good points...having 3rd term frosh year on grades is not one of them...er, excuse me :P</p>
<p>I think almost as important as academics is the atmosphere...Berkeley is a huge place. Well, I've never been or seen it, so I guess I'll stop there. Caltech is a small (and pretty, although again I've never been to Berkeley so I'm biased) campus, a fairly tight-knit community, and with the House system having a big impact on student life. Also having a big impact on life is the subbasement of Moore. I mean...excuse me. I'll stop now. </p>
<p>Anyway, you're pretty lucky...both are amazing places.</p>
<p>They say you have to love science here because Caltech kicks your ass.
Most people "love" science because they're good at them in high school. But when they get here, they are nothing more than average (Most likely, it will happen to you also) . Once they are average, they realize they don't actually like the subject, they just liked being good at something. You can't change to a liberal arts major when you find out you don't like science. Thats what makes some people very unhappy here - most are forced to stick it out for four years.</p>
<p>If you want to come here, make sure you ask yourself "Will I still be interested in [intended major] if I'm not good at it compared to my classmates?" If the answer is no, this place is wrong for you.</p>
<p>Another thing about this place is homework is rarely done alone in your room. Most of the time it's done in a room of seven, eight friends. A couple of jokes and some banter makes the entire set much more bearable. That is also what breeds a sense of community: surviving horrible, difficult sets together and making light of it later.</p>
<p>Hanging out definitely happens. People hate long hours of work just like you. They want to forget about that last math set just like you. It happens less often than you like, but you can always make time.</p>
<p>Edit: I answered this question before I saw it posted here on facebook. Here was my reply from there...</p>
<p>I would rather not read either textbook. I don't like reading textbooks :D</p>
<p>So, no one here spends 12 hours a day working on math and physics unless they want to. I'm a EE major. I spend probably 8 hours a week working on math and 8 hours on physics, including when I go to class. I spend a much larger amount of time per week on my EE courses (mainly because this term has a very time consuming project course).</p>
<p>I don't like to do schoolwork in my free time, and I don't think most techers do either. I hang with my friends, play guitar hero, run around campus, watch TV, etc. SLEEP! That too.</p>
<p>So although you've kinda over-exaggerated life here, the question still remains. You can go to another top school and work half as much or a quarter as much as you will at Caltech, graduate with a better GPA, and get the same job. If learning science / math / engineering is only a means to an end for you, then you'll find Caltech a waste of your time. So, why come to Caltech? Because you find out where your limits are--because you learn what it's like to really struggle on your own to the point where collaboration becomes almost necessary--because you have amazing opportunities here in your work and research that you might not at other places. Because there is no community like Caltech's.</p>
<p>If you want to go to college to have fun and prepare yourself for the working world, don't come here. If you really want to stretch yourself... you might consider it.</p>
<p>Wow, Thank you guys for the feedback...
yang-- you are so right. I kinda guessed that's why I first love chem and computer science. The class was so easy, especially when you don't have to take re-re-re-tests. But programming is hecka fun and blowing up gummy bears in chem labs is a life changing event. okie..maybe NOt. haha, Im suffering in physics class becuase most of my classmates had already taken physics H before AP physics and I was clueless on what's going on in that class until last month. But I actually liked Physics despite the painful experiences..X(.....I guess working with smarter people motivate me to study harder..and BEAT them..haha...J/K...but if a class is full of people who never challenge themselves..I slack off also..:(
Bookworm: Basketball!!!..I LOVE BAsketball..haha..I'll definitely watch that movie.
I think Im probably going with my DREAM school..XD..CALTECH!!! I take you on ONE / ONE and show you my Φing basketball skills..!!!!...^.^</p>
<p>I am sorry that your mom's friend's son is chronically depressed, but the implication you make based on that isolated sample is simply not accurate. Yes, Caltech is harder than most schools, but last time I checked difficulty of schoolwork isn't the prime factor in causing depression. That's not really important, though... the important thing is that there are many people here who love Caltech.</p>
<p>For the record, bumping posts this old doesn’t really do a lot for discussion except confuse people, many of whom don’t think to check the date before responding. </p>
<p>I bet that if you took the information from these threads and synthesized it into a new one you would be able to create a much more interesting and useful thread for the people that currently use the forums. After all, it’s hard to continue a discussion from two years ago, especially considering many of the people posting are long gone.</p>