<p>Cornell's got an awesome Applied Economics and Management (AEM) program at the CALS school.</p>
<p>really?????????????????????????????????????????</p>
<p>Caltech only accepts only a little more than 200 a YEAR?</p>
<p>Caltech accepts a little over 600 students a year, but only 200 or so end up enrolling.</p>
<p>Caltech is the best math-science school in U.S</p>
<p>Can someone explain why 2/3 of those being accepted winding up not choose to enroll?</p>
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[quote]
Can someone explain why 2/3 of those being accepted winding up not choose to enroll?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Because of losing the popularity contest and there's too much hardship at Caltech, 1/3 of them go to Harvard, the other 1/3 go to MIT.</p>
<p>
<p>What rtkysg said (though I personally don't think there's too much hardship at Caltech, but many/most/nearly all people do). </p>
<p>Also, Caltech is very specialized, and if people aren't pretty sure they want math/science/engineering, they should definitely choose MIT (or Harvard...I guess).</p>
<p> [quote=nash_nowitzki] Caltech is the best math-science school in U.S
One of the best at least, but there are several other equally-valid choices depending on specific personality/interests.</p>
<p>Econ-Wharton?</p>
<p>
[quote]
though I personally don't think there's too much hardship at Caltech
[/quote]
</p>
<p>LOL, compared to other schools, you do ;).</p>
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[quote]
Because of losing the popularity contest and there's too much hardship at Caltech, 1/3 of them go to Harvard, the other 1/3 go to MIT.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, MIT's just as hard or harder than CalTech...but if CalTech's campus looks anything like MIT (which reminds me of Abu Grahib Prison) I wouldn't be shocked if the matriculation rate was 1%. Hey, if I had the grades for CalTech, well, screw CalTech, I'm going to Wharton.</p>
<p>
Though I'm sure it varies on a degree by degree basis, I'm going to generally disagree with you if only because Caltech's Core requirements are ridiculously difficult for non math/physics majors. </p>
<p>Caltech requires of every graduate (yes - even (the few and the proud) lit majors):
<em>note: term=quarter (i.e. 3 per year)</em>
5 terms of math: incredibly difficult single var calc, linear algebra, multivariable, diff eq, and probability/statistics
5 terms of physics: newtonian mechanics, special relativity, e&m, waves, quantum mechanics, statistical physics
2 terms of chemistry: general chemistry and intro to organic chemistry (both far past the level of IB HL Chem (or consequently >> AP Chem)
1 term of biology
1 term of chemistry lab
1 other lab course
1 menu science course (this part is easy)
4 terms humanities
4 terms social sciences
4 terms humanities/social sciences
3 terms of physical education</p>
<p>MIT requires:
<em>note term=semester (i.e. 2 per year)</em>
8 terms humanities/social science/art
2 terms of calculus
2 terms of physics
1 term of biology
2 elective science classes
1 lab course
1 term physical education </p>
<p>So I guess what I'm saying is that if MIT's Core were to get in a fight with Caltech's Core...</p>
<p>Anyway, I think the fact that every graduate has to take almost two years of math and physics is pretty indicative of the level of difficulty at Caltech, and why I at least would argue that MIT is not harder than Caltech, and I believe it's harder to get a degree at Caltech than MIT. Maybe you think that's a bad thing, and many people do - hence the low yield.</p>
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[quote]
Well, MIT's just as hard or harder than CalTech
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No, Caltech is harder than MIT for undergrad, period. Please don't give any crap if you don't even go to any of these schools.</p>
<p>I agree. I have known 7 students who went to Caltech, and as many who went to MIT. My friends who went to Caltech had no life. My friends who went to MIT actually had a relatively normal college experience.</p>
<p>Wharton beats everyone in econ.</p>
<p>No, it does not at all. There are at least half a dozen better.</p>
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Wharton beats everyone in econ
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Really ?? I never know if Wharton ever beats Harvard or UChicago for econs.</p>
<p>If you plan to get an MBA, good grades at any decent program are enough. The right work experience may often count more for admission.</p>
<p>If you think you might do a PhD in Econ or Finance, the econ classes you take are nearly irrelevant unless you take grad level courses. What matters is how much proof-based math you have. In fact, from that standpoint, Caltech's core is better for economists than the standard math at "higher ranked" econ programs because at Tech everyone takes proof-based calc using Apostol or equivalent. The average undergrad degree in econ may actually be a liability for grad school because you will be fooled into thinking that A's in standard classes mean something. Indeed at every school but Caltech, the standard calc sequence is just Plug and Chug [e.g. MIT has a standard calc track and an optional theoretical calc track which is similar to Caltech Math 1. I think they even use Apostol in this higher track.] Most students never do formal math till their first course in real analysis even at top schools and it is those classes that econ grad school cares about. [When applying for grad school, some professors at top programs said it was a virtue that I had so little undergrad econ. "It'll be easier to retrain you."] Some schools such as Northwestern have programs like MMSS which explicitly recognize how different a "real" econ degree is and train accordingly.</p>
<p>I met a mathematician with degrees from Harvard and Princeton who had extensive teaching experience at a UC and at Michigan. When I said I'd had Tom Apostol as teacher for calc she went "Really, I love his book. If only I could require it for my students." Then she rolled her eyes "I wish..." She couldn't believe that Apostol was the text for the required class for all majors.</p>
<p>Unless you want Econ as a standard, general liberal arts degree, it pays to know what you're going to do with the degree and it's unwise to enter a program just for its prestige. The biggest advantage of a famous program is the likelihood that a distinguished professor will write you a rec if he comes to like you.</p>