Hi!
The question is basically in the title. MIT is my first choice school and I’m not sure if Caltech is worth applying to. I figure this because Caltech is far more selective, so I figure if I do manage to get in I will probably also get into MIT, and if I don’t get into MIT I won’t get into Caltech.
What do you think? Thanks!
I do not agree that “Caltech is far more selective”.
Both schools are very difficult to get into. I am more familiar with MIT, but from what I have heard Caltech focuses more on GPA and SAT (or ACT) and MIT puts emphasis on these and other factors. It is possible that you might get into either while being rejected by the other, and it is also quite likely that you will be rejected by both regardless of your stats (which would have to be superb to get into either).
A lot of students apply to 7-8 colleges. Two reaches does not seem unreasonable as long as you have matches and safeties you like.
But you shouldn’t be ‘figuring,’ you should be learning what any targets want, overall, and how you truly match. At any college with a huge number of top kids applying, it’s much more than stats and a few hs activities.
My son got into Caltech but not MIT. You can’t predict one based on the other. Both are reaches for everyone. (He applied to 18 schools overall, not just 2.)
Two school can focus on different attributes and two admissions officers can be struck differently by the same application. Assuming you have academic stats in the appropriate range, there is no reason you shouldn’t apply to CalTech if you have the stats even if you don’t get into MIT.
Recognize that those schools are longshots for any unhooked applicant so be sure to come up with a list that includes match and safety schools that appear affordable and that you would be happy to attend.
Caltech also has differences from MIT in terms of academic and non-academic environment.