<p>I am a high school senior who is considering going to Caltech for undergraduate mechanical engineering but I'm a little worried about GPA. It seems that GPA is a big factor in graduate admissions and I've heard that it's hard to keep a strong GPA at Caltech. However, I want to go there to challenge myself at the highest level. Should I be concerned? I plan on applying to Stanford and MIT along with other top schools for an MS in mechanical engineering. I also have the option to go to Stanford for undergraduate. Would graduating from Stanford make it easier to get into Stanford grad school?</p>
<p>GPA is considered in the context of the institution - particularly those known for grade deflation.</p>
<p>In short, don’t worry about it, because if you graduate from Caltech with a good-for-Caltech GPA, professors considering your application will know how to judge it in context.</p>