Is Caltech mostly for geniuses who want to do super nerdy research?

[Anonymous]

I think so. I have a junior DD who has already finished calc bc and linear algebra, and loves all things math and science. Perfect grades and test scores. I would even call her a nerd because she would be happy to find others who do math proofs or coding for fun. But I would hesitate to send her to a place like Caltech because it might be too intense.

[Anonymous]

Our high school sends someone to CalTech every few years, almost always smart plus athletes

We send someone to MIT every year - also a lot of athletes.

The CalTech seems always feel more California to me more than anything else. And because many are athletic recruits, they’re not applying to both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In reality, Caltech is for MIT rejects. I haven’t heard anyone chose Caltech over MIT.

NP. That’s because you are in DC government work circles, not high-tech. Foolish statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not MIT or Princeton? They're a lot more broadly appealing and can be as rigorous with the right course choice.

OP: because we’ve never known any normal smart unconnected kids who got into MIT or Princeton. Not that I think Caltech will be easy, but we personally know someone with similar profile as DD’s who got in (ghats a close friend’s DD we know well but she didn’t matriculate after accepted students weekend. Chose Penn instead). Also heard being female could give a tiny advantage in admissions.

[Anonymous]

Caltech is held in awe by MIT students in the hard sciences. It's a lot harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In reality, Caltech is for MIT rejects. I haven’t heard anyone chose Caltech over MIT.

NP. That’s because you are in DC government work circles, not high-tech. Foolish statement.

Not really. Caltech yield rate <50% before the recent REA gimmicks while MIT>85%. It should tell you something. Of course it’s probably too hard to understand to foolish people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can a normal smart kid fit in and be happy there? High score and GPA from rigorous school. LOVES school and learning. Happy when doing homework and studying for tests but not a nerd. Looks and acts nothing like those guys in the Big Bang theory - it’s actually a pretty fashionable and popular girl but just happens to really love science

Don’t send her to Pasadena. Send her to Lehigh or Michigan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids are brilliant and love learning but they aren’t all nerdy and they certainly aren’t like the fictional grad students portrayed on Big Bang Theory. My kid has had a great experience there, lives in a very social house (too much partying in my opinion), and enjoys being in California with multiple trips to the beach and skiing. It’s not for most people but most people on dcum have no actual knowledge of the school as shown by the responses you received.

This is about right.

[Anonymous]

MIT and CalTech are such fierce rivals because they have so much in common. CalTech does have a distinct SoCal vibe while MIT has a MassBay vibe - not surprisingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In reality, Caltech is for MIT rejects. I haven’t heard anyone chose Caltech over MIT.

NP. That’s because you are in DC government work circles, not high-tech. Foolish statement.

Not really. Caltech yield rate <50% before the recent REA gimmicks while MIT>85%. It should tell you something. Of course it’s probably too hard to understand to foolish people.

Wow. You really don’t understand numbers. Yes, you are deeply foolish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In reality, Caltech is for MIT rejects. I haven’t heard anyone chose Caltech over MIT.

NP. That’s because you are in DC government work circles, not high-tech. Foolish statement.

Not really. Caltech yield rate <50% before the recent REA gimmicks while MIT>85%. It should tell you something. Of course it’s probably too hard to understand to foolish people.

Wow. You really don’t understand numbers. Yes, you are deeply foolish.

Typical dcum dumb ass, no substance only hollow words.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MIT and CalTech are such fierce rivals because they have so much in common. CalTech does have a distinct SoCal vibe while MIT has a MassBay vibe - not surprisingly.

Are they fierce rivals? In what exactly?

I have never heard the two schools described that way, but maybe at those college math competitions the two are fierce rivals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MIT and CalTech are such fierce rivals because they have so much in common. CalTech does have a distinct SoCal vibe while MIT has a MassBay vibe - not surprisingly.

Neither really give that vibe, and I spent my grad years at one. They’re located in these places but the student culture isn’t really correlated.

[Anonymous]

I was a girl like that and went to a much bigger school and still hated it because I was surrounded by guys like the Big Bang theory. I really am stressing to my own kids to look at an entire university to find a good fit, beyond academics.

Everyone told me I would thrive academically and find my people. I hated college and had no social life. It was a really sad time for me. In hindsight, I wish I went to a big university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but look for the majors like geology.

It wouldn't take much looking to see something that's plainly there. Nonetheless, an available major in geosciences is essential for a school to be considered broadly excellent in the sciences.