StudentsReview :: The California Institute of Technology
[Home][Faq][Members]
> Search for University
 
-or-
Look for Schools
 

or within distance of city

Similar Schools
Harvard University -- Cambridge, MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- Cambridge, MA
Stanford University -- Stanford, CA
 Summary 
 Information 
 Sports 
 CIT Summer Programs! 
 Undergrad (22) 
 Grad (4) 
 Life at CIT (Comments) 
 Life after CIT (12) 
 Getting Into CIT (11) 
 Student Groups 
The California Institute of Technology
Follow Comments
 
Request Brochures
 
Compare CIT
 
Save School
 
CIT Minibook
 
- Survey CIT -
Critique CIT
    Undergraduate
    Graduate
    Alumni
    Professors
Add Campus Photo
Add Video!
Casual Comment
   
Featured
Admissions Essay Help
My Chances?
$5000 for School
Loan Consolidation
 
Summer
HS Summer Programs
Internship Post
 

Advertisement
Link me!
Forward me!

There are 25 Comments
 

View
Snapshot - Student Ratings
Education Quality   A-
Collaboration/Competitive   A

color key: 

Sort By: [Date] [Major] [Rating]
Bright
I graduated back in '02. Caltech is one of those schools that looking back at your experience, you are quite fond of the uniqueness and zaniness of the experience, but during the time there, you longed to be elsewhere.
Almost everyone you will meet from 'tech will give their two cents about the social life there: a skewed male-female ratio, nerdy and eccentric students, etc. As far as the ratio goes, if you are a guy, you're going to be in for some tough times with the women for the next 4 years. All the desirable girls are usually picked up within the first 1/2 of freshman year, leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves. My buddies and I were able to meet girls outside of school, however, since 'tech is within walking distance of PCC, and driving distance of UCLA. But all in all, on-campus dating is a nightmare, that not only creates frustration for the guys, but creates this weird social divide amongst the women that I cannot fully describe nor comprehend (This would be a good thesis topic for some of you sociology majors out there.
The rest of the partying that you would associate with any college environment is actually quite intact at Caltech. At least once every year, each "house" within campus will host a mega-party, complete with a custom-built structure that students will spend weeks of their academic term building. Also, expect friendly but nerdy conversation in whichever dorm you live in. I should stress that the dorm situation at Caltech is quite unique: each "house" at 'tech has a unique personality ( the hippie/druggie house, the sadistic house, the mostly christian house, the sporty house, etc.) that you will soon adopt as your own, whether you want to or not ( I was in the hippie/druggie). Once selected into one of these houses, a majority of the students will essentially confine themselves with this one group of people for the rest of their four years. So be careful about which house you choose to live in.
The type of people you'd meet as a student at Caltech are who I'd deem as the "outcasts" from your high school: the nerds, the hippies, the anti-socials, the quiet. Very rarely will you find the average dresses-trendy, basketball playing (if boy), wears a lot of makeup (if girl) student that comprises most larger universities. And I have a feeling that the admissions committee does this on-purpose; they select the unique applicants because they're usually the most creative.
And creativity is definitely a part of Caltech that you'd notice immediately. Students are allowed to draw "art" on their dorm rooms, and build weird structures for parties and senior puzzles, etc. And that's the single greatest social aspect about Caltech: that the administration supports the students both socially and academically to express themselves and foster new ideas.
You have a great amount of leeway at Caltech to do whatever you want, whenever you want. At Caltech, you are treated by the administration as a child by his hippie parents, with lots of care, attention, and freedom to find your own path. There's plenty of opportunities to do research, to take interesting classes without worrying about grades, and to take tests at home when YOU have time to do them. All of which is awesome. Now if only there were more girls here :).
Oh, one more thing. The classes are hard, but they teach you a lot. So be prepared to work your ass off, but get a world-class education because of it. You'll get treated with a lot of respect when you come out, too :)
Campus Aesthetics: A+, Social Life: D+
Have a Question?
 More → 
Sep 22 2004 4th Year Male -- Class 2002  
 Forward 
Blog it!
Rate this comment:
Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful
  Mark Invalid   Discuss Comment  
 
Super Brilliant
Caltech is a great school for the right kind of person:

1) Very smart
2) Sure they want to do math, science or engineering
3) Having a quirky/geeky outlook and sense of humor
4) Willing to take on an overwhelming workload

If you don't match all four of these, stay away at all costs. If you do, there's nowhere better.
Starting Job: Software Consultant, Preparedness: B, Reputation: B
Have a Question?
Nov 22 2006 Alumnus Male -- Class 2000 
 Forward 
Blog it!
Rate this comment:
Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful
  Mark Invalid   Discuss Comment  
 
Quite Bright
My college's reputation helps me get in the door, but I don't feel like it prepared me well in practical skills. Everything I learned was very theoretical.
Starting Job: programmer, Preparedness: B-, Reputation: A+
Have a Question?
Aug 08 2007 Alumna Female -- Class 2000 
 Forward 
Blog it!
Rate this comment:
Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful
  Mark Invalid   Discuss Comment  
 
Bright
The grass is always greener on the other side, and just because most students at Caltech are miserable doesn't mean the students in the math and science departments at other schools aren't just as miserable.
Collaboration/Competitive: A+, Social Life: B+
Have a Question?
 More → 
Aug 06 2007 1st Year Male -- Class 2010  
 Forward 
Blog it!
Rate this comment:
Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful
  Mark Invalid   Discuss Comment  
   
 Prev   Select Page:
 1  2  3  4  5
  Next 

Write your own Review of CIT
 

If you wish to further your education, consider one of the many options available through online degrees. Browse a wide range of online college and university programs and find the perfect degree for you.
Want to Learn More?
Powered by CampusExplorer.com
 

  Articles
• What is a good school?
• Statistical Significance
• How to choose a Major
• How to choose your Career
• What you make of it?
• How Ivy League Admissions works
• On the Student/Faculty Ratio

FAFSA:
• Who is a Parent?
• Parent Contribution
• Dream out of reach
 

Earn $$
Write an Article!

• College Financial Planning
• Survive College and Graduate
• Sniffing Out Commuter Schools
• Preparing for College: A HS Roadmap
• Talking to Your Parents about College.
• Is a top college worth it?
• Why is college hard?
• Why Kids Aren't Happy in Traditional Schools
CampusCompare: College Trends
CampusCompare: Financial Aid
CampusCompare: Dear Babs
 

 
 
 
About Us | Advertise! | Press
Send Comments/Suggestions to: sradmin@studentsreview.com.

Copyright © 2000-2009. Students Review, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 
   

All Universities in CA

College Search

College Rankings