<p>After spending hours researching colleges to apply to, I can't find any that seem to fit as well as MIT! None seem to have the research emphasis, atmospgere, and caliber of MIT. I'm posting this thread to find other universities that compare with MIT in the above described areas. Please post other universities which you will be applying to.</p>
<p>Some I've compiled include:
Caltech
Columbia
UCB</p>
<p>None seem to compare :-(!</p>
<p>MIT is on top of the list for me as well.</p>
<p>Comprable schools include (this is not my apply list btw):</p>
<p>Olin
Stanford
Caltech
Cornell
Columbia
Northwestern
John Hopkins (idk)
Carnegie Mellon
UC Berkeley
USC</p>
<p>Hmm... that's for starters.</p>
<p>How does Cornell compare in the sciences? </p>
<p>Also, what safety schools are you planning to? USC, UCB?</p>
<p>zking: what's your intended major?</p>
<p>My intended major is biological engineering. However, I might major in neuropsychology or mechanical engineering. I definately want a strong science-based education with an emphasis on multidisciplinary learning and research.</p>
<p>"bio engineering"
Where's DUKE.</p>
<p>Is duke ranked highly in bio engineering (or most sciences?). Also, how does it stand in terms of research?</p>
<p>Duke is top-3 (other 2 are JHU and UCSD) in biomedical engineering (not sure if it's the same as bioengineering). But other than that, its engineering school has only 3 other disciplines and is pretty much all about BME (# of BME students is probably larger than all the others combined because other types of engineering aren't that good).</p>
<p>I'm applying to Caltech also EA and the RD to Harvard and UCB</p>
<p>biomath2:
I'm definitely going to apply to UCB, Caltech, and Harvard. I just don't know how well of a fit each of these schools will provide.</p>
<p>UCB, like MIT, has a distinctive atmosphere. It seems like an interesting place to be, but it still doesn't have the same intellectually charged atmosphere as MIT does.</p>
<p>I'm also concerned about Harvard. It will definitely have the brightest professors and the best students. My only concern is the curriculum. I've been told by a few people that the curriculum isn't very challenging. Others have told me that it is very grade-inflated. MIT, in contrast, is notorious for its rigorous curriculum that teaches you how to learn. </p>
<p>Out of all these schools, Caltech seems the most similar to MIT. Anyone who has visited both? I've visited MIT, but haven't yet seen Caltech. I would greatly appreciate any feedback. From what I've heard on campusdirt, Caltech doesn't have good professors, curriculum, or ec activities. While Caltech seems to be very similar to MIT, I don't understand why it receives such low rankings on campusdirt. Any experiences with Caltech would be greatly appreciated. Caltech seems to be the research-capital of the west coast, but it seems to be fairly underrepresented online.</p>
<p>Caltech seems the most similar to MIT? 0.o. You really need to visit. Both are great math/science schools, but are vastly different. I suggest going over to the Caltech forums and asking there.</p>
<p>I have been to both, so I'll go ahead and list out differences I've noticed. Caltech was (and is) a much smaller school, and was quieter than MIT. It's also right in a suburbanesque area, but the suburban->urban tranisiton happens really quickly going out of Pasadena towards LA. Just because it's small doesn't mean there's no campus life... I got to see pictures of people flooding their dorms to play water polo. The temperature is moderate-to-hot, which is good if you want stability, but bad if you like the snow.</p>
<p>Intellectually speaking, I think Caltech emphasizes that it is, first and foremost, a research institute. It shows in every aspect of the campus and student body. It almost seems that if you're planning to go into a research career, Caltech wants to give you an early taste not just of the research, but of the whole thing. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing is up to you.</p>
<p>My friends at Caltech tell me it's very, very, common for people to skip the freshmen classes and get by with what they learned prior to their enrolling. Keep in mind, a significant portion of the Caltech student body had gone through multivariable calculus before ever having set foot on the campus. I don't know whether this contributes to them simply not caring about the professors until sophomore year. However, the institute is committed to a good undergraduate education. Just look at Dr. Goodstein (yes, from the Mechanical Universe!) teaching freshmen physics every year. Not to mention the Nobel presence on campus.</p>
<p>MIT is a much larger school, and has more of an emphasis on the humanities and social sciences. It's in Cambridge, which is a hop away from Boston, and it shows. The campus wasn't too busy when I visited, but I visited while it was snowing, so more likely than not, people were in their dorms trying to stay warm.</p>
<p>MIT's emphasis seems to be geared more towards innovation. There is no shortage of research facilities (they have more than any campus in the country, don't they?), it's like MIT wants to get you out in the world making a difference from the very beginning. There have to be a thousand science-based industries with a branch right next to MIT, which as you can imagine provides a great foothold to get into the industry or into industrial research.</p>
<p>I've heard mixed things about professors at MIT. Almost all of my friends are complaining about the 8.012 (classical mechanics with theory) professor this year. I've heard at least two complaints that HASS professors don't seem to care about the "community" of the school. Then again, I have friends who are in love with their professors. Dr. Walter Lewin gets much praise, for instance. As with Caltech, you'll find the campus peppered with Nobel Laureates (Ketterle, Laureate '01, is a TA for freshmen physics, and there are plenty of Laureates teaching undergraduate courses).</p>
<p>Hope this helps. For emphasis, I'm not a student at MIT, but this is what I've seen, as well as what I've heard from those who are. :)</p>
<p>Once again, thanks Timur! You really are helpful. Where else have you visited :-)? I really appreciate your perceptions. Initially, I was hesitant at applying to Caltech because I was unsure about their emphasis on research. I am, however, now concerned with what you mean by innovation. Doesn't all research begin with innovation--a new idea that is tested through research? I'm not sure if you mean to say that Caltech isn't as innovative as MIT. </p>
<p>Also, from your visits, did you get the impression that Caltech emphasizes collaborative learning? Is it more competitive than it is collaborative? </p>
<p>I will definately ask these these questions on the Caltech forum, but I don't want to sound like a "troll"! I don't want to incite antagonism, I just want to learn about the two universities. </p>
<p>Anyway, thanks for all your assistance. You really know a lot about these universities. Your sharing of your knowledge is definitely valued.</p>
<p>As for where I've visited, I've been around the world. :). If I haven't been there, I have friends who go there.</p>
<p>I didn't mean that Caltech was not innovative. Research is one form of innovation, and Caltech really focuses on that one form. What I meant to say was that MIT was more broad, discussing innovation in general. A lot of that contributes to the engineering and entrepreneurial tone of the school, and likely the success of the Sloan School.</p>
<p>Emphasis on collaborative learning? Yes. Both schools have this in excess. They're just too rigorous to work against your fellow peers, you have to work with them.</p>
<p>Hehe, I do my research, and I get into all the little nooks and crannies. I guess I'm a social engineer first and foremost. :)</p>
<p>I quite like the 8.012 lecturer. =)</p>
<p>In fact, I don't think I have a single friend in that class who doesn't like him. I mean... he lived in Senior House when he was undergrad here. He was chatting about steer roast the other day :P</p>
<p>The TA's in that class are all full professors and from what I've heard and what I've experienced (I'm in Ketterle's recitation and I attended Burgasser's when I oversleep), are all really wonderful people.</p>
<p>ZKing
I think you'd be happy at either MIT or Caltech. Please don't think I'm a troll, but there are so many cross references between these 2 sites. I spent MANY years working in Cambridge, and now have S at Caltech. I think both schools are great.
I can't address the entrepreneurial tone at Caltech, though many graduates (and some pre-graduates) have started own companies. If you look at Caltech website, they list many graduates and what they are doing. Economics is a popular major at C.
C has a beautiful campus, one of nicest I've ever seen, with pools, olive and orange tree walkways, bridges. Freshman join one of 7 houses after a week sampling the atmosphere/people in each. Pesonally, I love this idea of having a "home" for 4 years. Friends will expand beyond the House when you meet others thru ECs and majors, but the House always has social events. A very nice factor is that your classes are a 2-5 minute walk from where you live. Also, you can stay in your room thru summer (for small fee) and all the holidays.
The summers most students chose to do a SURF. Freshmen generally work with a Caltech professor, but upperclassmen can go to Google, NASA, etc. Caltech pays for these 10 week programs. You can join a team already involved in a study, or create your own. My S worked 1:1 with a prof, and loved the research.
Because C is a smaller school, you don't have the choices of humanity courses, but look thru the catalogue. The kids I've talked to have really enjoyed their electives. Same with ECs. S joined one group that met at a prof's house on Sunday afternoons. Any club can get funding for equipment and food.
The Honor system dominates the culture. Study groups most popular are at 11 pm. Collaboraion is the norm.
I suggest you ask particular Qs on C site, and you'll get good responses. Your Q calls forth more enthusiasm than "what are my chances?" thread.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your responses. As advised, I will also ask on Caltech's forum. Your guys have been very helpful in understanding which colleges will best fit my needs. Caltech, now, definitely seems like an option (if I get in). I can't imagine why it recieves such low ratings on Campus Dirt. Anyway, it seems the school is quite simillar to MIT, despite its lacking in the humanities and size. </p>
<p>With regards the other schools, I will probably also apply to Berkeley, Stanford, Harvard, Maybe Duke, and Maybe Columbia. I'm still hoping MIT will accept me, as it is definitely my first choice.</p>
<p>Anyway, thanks for all the assistance.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Anyway, it seems [Caltech] is quite simillar to MIT, despite its lacking in the humanities and size.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>what???? i respectfully disagree...</p>
<p>Indeed. Caltech and MIT, aside from being math/science oriented and very intellectually rigorous, are worlds apart. Visit each, if you can.</p>
<p>Disagree with it being simillar to MIT, or with Caltech lacking in the humanities and size? Please ellaborate, I'd appreciate yet another perspective.</p>
<p>they both do end in institute of tech</p>
<p>hehe</p>