<p>I have seen several mentions in recent posts of the CalTech environment and how it is "different". Can someone please elaborate on what is different about it from other high powered math and sciences programs? Say MIT or Rose-Hulman or even Carnegie Mellon (other than size on CM)
Son is interested in these schools.
Thanks</p>
<h1>TM</h1>
<p>I'm almost done writing a fairly long open letter about this very topic, so if you don't mind waiting a couple of days it will be on the forums.</p>
<p>Great
Will look forward to it</p>
<p>this thread might provide some insight on Caltech's environment.</p>
<p>Yes I had seen that before asking the question.<br>
I was hoping to hear from someone who is there now on how they feel it is different. What people put up on websites, especially when they want to come off as "different" might not be truly indicative of the environment there.
I went to a small school (many moons ago) whose claim to fame was its "different" environment, but when it came right down to it, though it was a little more "out there" the other small schools I visited, that had the same type of curriculum focus as mine, were not a whole lot different.
But thanks for the link. I haven't looked at it since last year. I'll check it again. </p>
<h1>TM</h1>
<p>I'd say most other tech schools are science nerd schools. Caltech feels much more to me like a math nerd school. For example, I don't know why I need to prove properties of Fourier transforms and Dirac delta functions on my homework in my chemistry class here. At CMU for undergrad we would have learned about the properties and then be expected to figure out how to apply them; here it's derive/prove them and, well, if you happen to figure out what they're for, that's cool.</p>