<p>heh :)
So....which one is better for theoretical science (not engineering)?
(especially astrophysics) ?</p>
<p>I've done a lot of reading on theoretical physics (astrophysics and cosmology in particular) and I'll be attending MIT next fall, so I guess I'm somewhat qualified to answer this question. My suggestion is that if youre interested solely in the theoretical and not applied aspect of astrophysics, go with Caltech. Caltech is generally recognized as the world leader in physical and pure sciences, though MIT's program is similarly well recognized. I believe that Caltech takes a more mathematical approach towards physics, in general ,while MIT focuses more on the conceptual and abstract. All in all, MIT's and Caltech's theoretical physics programs are similarly rigorous, so if it comes down to these two schools, choose the school with the environment in which you feel the most comfortable. :)</p>
<p>piman3141 -- very well said. MIT and Caltech are both amazing schools, and each has areas in which it excels. MIT is unbeatable for its 'mens et manus' approach -- focus on applications and creative new ways for science to enter the mainstream. Caltech is a 'purer' place -- more about theory, and as a result the undergraduates are somewhat stronger theorists. (Profs at both places are amazing, being hired at either place means you've "made it"). It all depends on what sort of personality and focus fits you best. But if you're choosing between them, or have the chance to go to either of them, you win already, and the rest is merely what you think you would enjoy most.</p>
<p>Here's a compromise -- go to one for undergrad and the other for grad school!</p>
<p>This is the approach I'm very seriously considering ;)</p>
<p>mollie : ) always makes me happy to see MIT undergrads go to the West Coast branch for grad school, and vice versa.</p>
<p>Speaking of theoretical physics, one of you needs to figure out how to bend space-time to allow for instantaneous travel between MIT and Caltech. Think of the hac--- um, er, I mean, cross-registration possibilities! Get working on that and let me know when I can expect to start reading applications on the beach in January.</p>
<p>Heheh.. soon!
Caltech is working on it. [Bending space-time isn't necessary]
<a href="http://pr.caltech.edu/media/Press_Releases/PR11935.html%5B/url%5D">http://pr.caltech.edu/media/Press_Releases/PR11935.html</a>
:)</p>
<p>Ben -- since my girlfriend is at MIT, it's hard to convey exactly convenient I would find such a device. I will instruct the physicists to get to work :)</p>
<p>(This question is not exactly on an "undergrad" topic, and I'm sorry for that, but I just finished my junior year and the whole getting into grad school thing is very much on my mind)</p>
<p>So, Ben, do you have any general impressions on how hard it is to get into Caltech for biology? I'm a pretty good candidate -- lots of lab work, some publications... but grades only about high Bish. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Hmm. Good question. You should be warned that while I can occasionally give actually competent advice on undergad admisisons, any of my other comments are just the perceptions I've gotten... but for what it might be worth:</p>
<p>I get the feeling that biology here is pretty strong -- David Baltimore, a former MIT prof and our current president is, of course, a biologist, and there's been a trend during my time here toward biology matching physics as an institutional priority (gasp). The biology grad students I've met seemed like they were quite strong, at least based on their previous preparation. There's a lot of international competition, as in every "hard" field.</p>
<p>But I don't think it's impossible to get in... insofar as you're worried about grades, it's important to know that the whole spirit of Caltech is very research-oriented... your publications would surely make an impact, and might make up a lot of ground. Plus, I think this is one of the few places left, along with MIT, where a high B in science is actually pretty good, as opposed to really mediocre. So I think the process would be more understanding in that respect than at places with more grade inflation.</p>
<p>Plus, being from MIT conveys a quite strong signal in general that you know what it's like at a top tech school and that you can hack it. Anecdotal evidence (like talking to profs with whom I've worked in undergrad admissions) suggests there's a lot of mutual respect from professors at both schools for the level of rigor. So that would play in your favor.</p>
<p>So that's all I have for now. Good luck, and if you'd like me to put you in touch with a biology senior here who just finished the whole grad school thing (including applying to Caltech), send me a private message, and I'll be happy to give you his address and give him a heads up. He'll be able to give much more detailed advice :)</p>
<p>heh.., iiiinteresting.....
let's find out what will Caltech people say....</p>
<p>Ben Golub is a caltech student....</p>
<p>: ) sorry about the confusion. I'm a Caltech student, but I only recently put "Pasadena" in my profile as my location.</p>
<p>Oooops, sorry :)
my bad
Ben, just wondering, how many AP classes did you take in HS?
any awards?</p>
<p>those interested in quickly traversing space (and time, as per the recent ttc) may be saddened to hear of [url=<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4564477.stm%5Dproblems%5B/url">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4564477.stm]problems[/url</a>] with at least one common solution to that question.
[/physics]</p>
<p>AP Calc BC, Phys B, Phys C Mech and E&M, Chem, Eng Lit, French Lit, American History ... that makes seven, maybe one or two more I forgot. 5's everywhere. 1590 on SAT I and 800's on Writing, Math IIc, Physics, and Chemistry SAT II's. Lots of "best student in subject" type awards from school.</p>
<p>I think what made the difference was that I ran out of classes at school and took my senior math, physics, and Russian lit (hehe) classes at Princeton University, thanks to the undeserved fortune of living nearby. I tried to make the most of this, getting the top grade in a 100+ student class on multivariable calculus and getting an excellent recommendatioin from a rather famous mathematician in another course, on advanced linear algebra.</p>
<p>Among the less significant things that may have made a difference, I made semifinals in Siemens Westinghouse, which is only moderately good. I was chosen for Governors' School for the Sciences in New Jersey, a pretty competitive summer research program, though certainly not RSI-level, and got good recs there too.</p>
<p>As you can see, most of the reason I'm here is just luck of the draw -- I lived next to a famous college, made the most of being allowed to study there. Many others, given the opportunity, could have done as well or better, though probably not everyone. Having worked in admissions, I know that a large number of students are probably at the level of the ones we admit, but only the lucky ones have had a chance, like I did, to show some impressive "signal" of exactly how good they are at a level beyond high school.</p>
<p>Hope that's moderately useful.</p>
<p>to Ben
jeeeee, I feel so stupid when I read people's stats....
I came in the US a year ago, not knowing English, and took AP Chem right away this year...as a result, i got only 730 on my SAT II and at most 3-4 on the AP test
Now i feel so depressed :) , and i'm out of options...i wanted to go to MIT or Caltech, but it seems to me, that with such scores i'm not gonna make it...soo..mmmmm....you said you went to college while a HS student? Do you know, by any chance, if there is such opportunity in every college?
:)</p>
<p>wow Ben, that's pretty amazing (especially the Princeton stuff)!</p>
<p>many many colleges have opportunities for you to take their classes even if you're not an enrolled student, often through a "continuing education" program or just by being a non-degree candidate. they don't really care, so long as you pay them.</p>
<p>And the richest ones (Princeton, Harvard) do it for free! They write it off in various ways to make themselves look better.</p>