<p>First of all, there is a decent chance you won’t get into either MIT or Caltech, and I hope you are wise enough to apply to a few matches and safeties as well.</p>
<p>Answering your question, MIT or Caltech beat any European university, including Karlsruhe. ETH Zurich is ranked higher than KIT though and, like Imperial College London, is a good alternative to second-tier US schools. You might want to check the [THES ranking of world universities in engineering/technology <a href=“where%20KIT%20didn’t%20even%20make%20to%20the%20top%2050”>/url</a> and the [url=<a href=“http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011/subject-rankings/engineering/computer-science”>http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011/subject-rankings/engineering/computer-science</a>] QS ranking in computer science](<a href=“Subject Ranking 2011-12: Engineering & Technology | Times Higher Education (THE)”>http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2011-2012/engineering-and-it.html</a>) specifically (where KIT is ranked in the 100-150 range).</p>