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<p>It depends on your strengths and, in some cases, your major.</p>
<p>If you aren’t good at theory, than being forced to take quantum mechanics plus other theory-heavy classes will be harder. For me, theory was much easier than the more applied parts of classes (i.e., engineering lab, programming.) If you think that a class like abstract algebra is fun, then this won’t make it harder. </p>
<p>Chem E is notoriously hard at Caltech. Chem E at MIT is a bear as well, but given the anecdotal evidence of it being impossible at Caltech (and given the strength of the student body), it may be harder there. I think aerospace engineering is probably harder at MIT. Other majors? Probably about the same. Physics has lightened up the required electives recently to offer flexibility, but they’ve still got Junior Lab. I have no proof of this, but the lab classes may be harder at MIT.</p>
<p>Some of your core will be taken on pass/fail at both Caltech and MIT, so that may impact it.</p>