<p>Just as the title states</p>
<p>for me, I'd say definately! just wondering what others on CC were thinking though</p>
<p>To be honest, no - although it’s a very close second. MIT is my first choice, but I also like the idea of a smaller, closer community - but MIT’s broader range of academics appeals to me slightly more.</p>
<p>hmm, it is my 3rd choice :D</p>
<p>my general perception is that people looking at caltech are looking at mit and occasionally stanford also? is this true for you guys?</p>
<p>My son is still early in the process, but his first choice is Olin.</p>
<p>My first choice is Caltech :D.</p>
<p>And I kinda like both Chicago and Cambridge, so those are tied for second xD…but Caltech is just a whole lot more attractive to me (even though I’m probably not getting in :P). And no, I’m not looking at MIT and Stanford (though I like them, I doubt I’d apply) =).</p>
<p>I definitely really like what I’ve seen about it so far, especially since I have a few friends that go there, but I’d have to visit first.</p>
<p>Mudd is my son’s favorite (and therefore mine). Rice is my “other favorite”. Son wants a small loving community. I think Caltech is in his top 5, but I think that if he can’t get into Mudd, he’d find a better small loving community at Rice/Yale/Chicago/WUStL or some place that actually DOES focus on the undergrads than he would on Caltech. But so many places CLAIM to focus on undergrads, and we don’t know how to know which actually DO. Son refuses to even apply to MIT. He’s applying to Stanford along with other schools with 5000 smart kids, as backups to Mudd.</p>
<p>Like I said, I am looking at MIT, but I’m not all that interested in Stanford.</p>
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<p>As a grad student I think it’s fair enough for me to say this place focuses way more on undergrad than grad students.</p>
<p>Caltech’s my 2nd choice, MIT would be my first choice XD, as you’ve wrote.</p>
<p>GeekMom,</p>
<p>As a parent of a former Caltech student I would recommend additional research on the way Caltech supports its undergraduate student’s needs. As indicated by RacinRiver, the Institute devotes considerable resources (academic and non-academic) to its undergraduate students. I am not sure what exactly is the definition of a “small loving community” but the Houses are certainly small communities and, again from a limited perspective, it seems to me they promote strong and lasting ties among its members.</p>
<p>Based on what I leaned from my son’s experience there are many reasons why Caltech may not be the right choice for many students. However, the lack of focus on undergraduate education is definitely not one of them.</p>
<p>RacinReaver and ArtiesDad - thanks for the info! What a bonus - I was just joining in the poll and I got answers! Cool.</p>
<p>Caltech is my son’s EA choice but it is not his #1 choice. It is his #3.</p>
<p>Caltech is like MIT, but not as prestigious.</p>
<p>Caltech is also tremendously lacking in student body diversity (in terms of interests/skills)</p>
<p>Them sound like trollin’ words.</p>
<p>^^^^ what?</p>
<p>I can’t say enuf good things abt Caltech–how S returned for research tech, how they fund him while he is away in other labs, how labs socially interact, etc.</p>
<p>Yes, though I won’t get in.</p>
<p>Awped,</p>
<p>While I agree Caltech’s diversity could be better. I believe in terms of engineering Caltech and MIT are not too far apart. </p>
<p>On the US World news and report rankings. Caltech is tied with MIT (along with Stanford) for 4th in the Nation</p>