<p>Hi, I just have a quick question. </p>
<p>What happens to the ppl who do not do well at Caltech? I am only asking this because I heard that a lot of people who don't do well get ruined and that going to caltech is something one will regret a lot unless he/she does extremely well in Caltech. Is this true?</p>
<p>it just seems like Caltech is very unforgiving to ppl who don't do well</p>
<p>Not true.</p>
<p>Well, not exactly true. Depends on WHY you don't do well.</p>
<p>If you fail 'cause you figure that "well, i got straight A's in high school, why should I have to work" and refuse to do your sets or go to office hours or anything, yeah, you're on your own. And you'd deserve it. </p>
<p>But if you don't do well because you honestly have a hard time wiht the workload, but have been going to office hours and getting help and such, Tech's actually quite good at giving you the help you need. I know one guy personally who had some trouble his first and second year (didn't fail anything, but came close) and is now taking a lighter courseload on the five-year plan. Tech is also very forgiving about failing out (the first time), if you show a willingness to work hard to graduate on readmission. </p>
<p>It's hard. Very hard. If you don't want to work, then you'll probably hate Tech and flame out, and be bitter and "ruined" and all that. If you're willing to work, and accept being below average (for Tech), then... well, I can't say you necessarily won't regret it, but that'd be up to you, not Tech. </p>
<p>And if you think "well, this doesn't apply to me, of course I'll do well at Caltech", then be prepared for a reality check. Just a warning.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I heard that a lot of people who don't do well get ruined and that going to Cltech is something one will regret a lot unless he/she does extremely well in Caltech.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Most people saying such things don't really know what they're talking about. The university goes out of its way to provide free tutoring, generous sabbaticals (time off from school), etc., etc. for those having academic difficulty. Yes, of course getting straight C's, if you do will make your post-college prospects somewhat dim. On the other hand, a 3.0 from Caltech is still way better than a higher GPA from most other places. </p>
<p>In the end, most people who end up coming here can do quite well, though what that means is different, depending on the goals each person sets. What is true for sure is that about 90% of our students graduate, virtually all of them go to graduate school or get jobs, and a vast majority of the grad schools and jobs (even of the more mediocre students) are quite excellent. </p>
<p>All that said, it's true that if you fail to meet the following two conditions, you will probably be "ruined" by Caltech and shoudl avoid it:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You should be at or very near the top of your high school classes in analytic subjects (math, physics, chemistry, engineering).</p></li>
<li><p>You must be deeply in love with very hard, unforgiving, and stressful work.</p></li>
</ol>