MIT today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I take it that MIT > Cal Tech? Why?? Does MIT offer more popular majors, better research opportunities, greater inter-disciplinary approach? What is the allure? I'd rather take Pasadena weather than Cambridge in the winter!

MIT does a very good job in caring for their undergrad students than Caltech. The level of support and resources that MIT students have access to, and by the openness and communications from MIT administration and president’s office. During the pandemic, they communicated with students and parents all the way through those semesters. From what I saw on parents page, Caltech didn’t handle it well. The lack of organization and communication caused a lot of frustration. For such a small school with such a large endowment, I think Caltech has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to how they treat their undergraduate students. I don’t know why administration makes it so hard for undergrads and why communication is lacking.
Just think about it - more than half of students accepted to Caltech choose to attend other schools.

Majority kids who get into MIT also get into Caltech, but not the other way. My DD graduated from FCPS school (now in UMD as she got a full ride) had 4 kids her year who got into MIT and Caltech. They all chose MIT over Caltech. MIT is broadly considered the premiere institution worldwide for math and engineering. Being a large school, offers a diverse student body that can support a variety of activities, clubs, and parties. MIT has a broader range of non-STEM programs.

I don't think that is right. The majority who are admitted to both will choose MIT, which is considerably larger. There is a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I take it that MIT > Cal Tech? Why?? Does MIT offer more popular majors, better research opportunities, greater inter-disciplinary approach? What is the allure? I'd rather take Pasadena weather than Cambridge in the winter!

MIT does a very good job in caring for their undergrad students than Caltech. The level of support and resources that MIT students have access to, and by the openness and communications from MIT administration and president’s office. During the pandemic, they communicated with students and parents all the way through those semesters. From what I saw on parents page, Caltech didn’t handle it well. The lack of organization and communication caused a lot of frustration. For such a small school with such a large endowment, I think Caltech has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to how they treat their undergraduate students. I don’t know why administration makes it so hard for undergrads and why communication is lacking.
Just think about it - more than half of students accepted to Caltech choose to attend other schools.

Majority kids who get into MIT also get into Caltech, but not the other way. My DD graduated from FCPS school (now in UMD as she got a full ride) had 4 kids her year who got into MIT and Caltech. They all chose MIT over Caltech. MIT is broadly considered the premiere institution worldwide for math and engineering. Being a large school, offers a diverse student body that can support a variety of activities, clubs, and parties. MIT has a broader range of non-STEM programs.

I don't think that is right. The majority who are admitted to both will choose MIT, which is considerably larger. There is a difference.

Agree, but many kids do get into both MIT Caltech and may be Georgia Tech too. They make a choice and take MIT since it is almost a no brainer

[Anonymous]

Yes, Caltech is a much smaller undergraduate school. And east coast kids tend to pick MIT while west coast kids tend to pick Caltech. Both are amazing schools for academic kids interested in STEM!

[Anonymous]

Just heard a friend's son got in to MIT, but waitlisted at UNC. More evidence of how hard getting into UNC from out of state really is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For this 2021-2022 season, there are many MIT students got admissions from top med schools. Pre-med program in MIT is very challenging however most of students in pre-med got great results. Pre-med counselors in MIT are doing their best to support students. Weed out class of pre-med is organic chemistry. Most of premed students in MIT take orgo in Harvard. Its one is way easier than MIT’s. And other premed classes are pretty o.k. I think MIT is fine for premed students,too. My DD’s friends who are in premed track have med school admissions at least 2 so far.

I love the image of MIT students treating Harvard as a community college for organic chemistry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For this 2021-2022 season, there are many MIT students got admissions from top med schools. Pre-med program in MIT is very challenging however most of students in pre-med got great results. Pre-med counselors in MIT are doing their best to support students. Weed out class of pre-med is organic chemistry. Most of premed students in MIT take orgo in Harvard. Its one is way easier than MIT’s. And other premed classes are pretty o.k. I think MIT is fine for premed students,too. My DD’s friends who are in premed track have med school admissions at least 2 so far.

I love the image of MIT students treating Harvard as a community college for organic chemistry.

Idea of taking Organic Chemistry in Harvard comes from MIT pre-med counselors. They recommend to take orgo from Harvard to get A.

[Anonymous]

Hardest part of Harvard is getting in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Caltech is a much smaller undergraduate school. And east coast kids tend to pick MIT while west coast kids tend to pick Caltech. Both are amazing schools for academic kids interested in STEM!

There are stronger CA schools for CS than Caltech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For this 2021-2022 season, there are many MIT students got admissions from top med schools. Pre-med program in MIT is very challenging however most of students in pre-med got great results. Pre-med counselors in MIT are doing their best to support students. Weed out class of pre-med is organic chemistry. Most of premed students in MIT take orgo in Harvard. Its one is way easier than MIT’s. And other premed classes are pretty o.k. I think MIT is fine for premed students,too. My DD’s friends who are in premed track have med school admissions at least 2 so far.

I love the image of MIT students treating Harvard as a community college for organic chemistry.

This is funny! Community College…lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For this 2021-2022 season, there are many MIT students got admissions from top med schools. Pre-med program in MIT is very challenging however most of students in pre-med got great results. Pre-med counselors in MIT are doing their best to support students. Weed out class of pre-med is organic chemistry. Most of premed students in MIT take orgo in Harvard. Its one is way easier than MIT’s. And other premed classes are pretty o.k. I think MIT is fine for premed students,too. My DD’s friends who are in premed track have med school admissions at least 2 so far.

I love the image of MIT students treating Harvard as a community college for organic chemistry.

There's cross-registration at Wellesley so they could take it there as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Caltech is a much smaller undergraduate school. And east coast kids tend to pick MIT while west coast kids tend to pick Caltech. Both are amazing schools for academic kids interested in STEM!

There are stronger CA schools for CS than Caltech.

Agree with OP. WOuld take UC Berkeley or Stanford over Caltech for CS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Caltech is a much smaller undergraduate school. And east coast kids tend to pick MIT while west coast kids tend to pick Caltech. Both are amazing schools for academic kids interested in STEM!

There are stronger CA schools for CS than Caltech.

You have to be a bit of a masochist to go to CalTech. Wealthy kids who want a prestige education - but don't want to put in the insane work - will opt for Stanford/HYP/Berkeley before going to CalTech.

CalTech has a frightening reputation as an intellectual grinder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Caltech is a much smaller undergraduate school. And east coast kids tend to pick MIT while west coast kids tend to pick Caltech. Both are amazing schools for academic kids interested in STEM!

There are stronger CA schools for CS than Caltech.

STanford is more known for CS and MIT ofcourse on East course. Plenty of other great options as well (would NOT take Caltech)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS was rejected from MIT. He is disappointed as MIT was his dream school and had worked very hard to maintain very good stats. He was accepted to Caltech, Georgia Tech and Berkeley MET. He wants to do electrical engineering. Which school would be the best for his major? He is leaning a bit to the MET program due to dual degree advantage and as he is interested in entrepreneurship.

He has received Stamp's scholarship at Georgia Tech, part scholarship at Berkeley. He had not looked into Caltech earlier but had just applied. Money is somewhat of a consideration but ultimately we want him to go to place that is best for him ( we do not mind taking loans). Understand that Caltech would be much higher fees. If we were not to consider money situation, any advice?

Go to Berkeley!! The BEST EE school!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Caltech is a much smaller undergraduate school. And east coast kids tend to pick MIT while west coast kids tend to pick Caltech. Both are amazing schools for academic kids interested in STEM!

Tons of west coasters at MIT.