<p>I have admission to Caltech, Stanford, Berkeley(EECS), Cornell, CMU and UIUC. I am interested in EECS. I am International(India) and so shall be paying full fee. After exploring, I feel ultimately its between Caltech & Stanford. Pl give advice. I shall be writing IIT in April. Though nobody can be sure of IIT, I shall include IIT in comparison list.</p>
<p>An addition in the above. I am told that access to hardcore research in critical areas in US is open, after 9/11, only to US citizens. So if I am interested in NASA and so join Caltech and do succeed at Caltech, the opening to NASA may still not be as forthcoming as I am an Indian and NOT US citizen. Is it true? If it's even remotely true I better go to Stanford rather than to Caltech for Math/Science alone.</p>
<p>Hi. Yes IIT is totally impossible...
Its nuts and I hate the JEE its such a bad admission process</p>
<p>Really, goto stanford anyday... it builds people, not just minds</p>
<p>one word. Stanford</p>
<p>jedi,</p>
<p>I am not sure about the critical facilities, but I would contact the US embassy in India and ask them about your concern with US research facilities.</p>
<p>hey, that sounds nice amnesia, but bad idea tho</p>
<p>US embassy is so tightly secured, ull be arrested for walking near by. :DGetting in for a passport renewal was a pain.. kiddin'</p>
<p>Ans jedi, IIT isnt in the pic. U have to reply by MAY 1st. IIT results are out after that....</p>
<p>If you are 110% sure that you want to do math/science in your life and that you don't care about anything except for math/science and don't care for a social life, go to Caltech.</p>
<p>Otherwise, go to Stanford.</p>
<p>Don't go to IIT.</p>
<p>Antarius, u r right! Of course I lose only the deposit. US decision is by May 1 and IIT shall be known by May31. Ultimately I have to decide on one in June.</p>
<p>Theoneo, In response to you I shall add as below.
As of today I am interested in science and want to do engg. I think I will go into engg.research(65% chance) or management(35% chance). I m only 16, so not really mature to decide finally. In undergrad school I want 75% focus on academics and 25% on personality. Within academics I want 80% focus on science/engg and 20% on humanities.</p>
<p>Wow, some IIT students actually use Harvard as a safety school. The competition there is insane. Still, I would go with Stanford. Good luck with whatever you do decide on!</p>
<p>I'd probably pick Stanford (if I understand your situation/interests correctly). It gives you more options without sacrificing any quality really (Stanford EECS is really good). </p>
<p>(Now time for a shameless plug...) Do take a good luck at Caltech, though. If you feel Caltech fits you better than Stanford, I'd say go to Caltech. Take a look over Caltech's course catelog and see if you find enough business/management and humanities courses to keep you happy for four years. </p>
<p>As with most decisions between top schools, it comes down to where you feel you'll be the most satisfied.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I would go with Stanford...it is very well rounded in all of its programs whereas Caltech is very focused on math and science.</p>