California Institute of Technology

♠ Posted by Anju Satyal in College and University at 10:55 PM

Academics

According to students at the California Institute of Technology, their tiny school is the greatest research university out there. Caltech’s math, science, and engineering programs are indisputably first-rate, gloats a senior. If you like science and know that you want some sort of career in research, engineering , or academia, this is one of the best places to come in the world. The mandatory core curriculum is heavy on math, physics, and chemistry. It also includes a humanities requirement. Beyond that, students can choose from a host of majors and minors. Whatever path you choose “The resources are incredible,” and lab facilities are top-notch.” There are fabulous opportunities for students to conduct research at every class level, too. Be prepared for a crippling work load, though. The academic atmosphere here is probably the most intense you could hope to find. It’s like trying to drink from a fire hose. (Even if this is an overused cliché).There is no grade inflation. Caltech has the ability to crush your own opinion of how smart you are. If you were the top student allyour life, prepare to experience a big dose of humility because you’ll have to work hardjust to stay in the middle of the pack. Introductory classes are often taught by Nobel laureates and world renowned scientists. The quality of professors as teaches, rather than brilliant researches, however, is often hit-or-miss, explains an applied physics major. Professors tend to e very passionate about their subjects, but only a select few professors teach well.

Life

Life at Caltech involves doing a lot of homework. A sizable population of the school does not come out of their rooms much. Clubs and extracurricular activities run the gamut, though, and it’s very easy to get involved matter your experience. Computer games, card games, role-playing games, and the like are popular. Otherwise, social life relies heavily on Caltech’s unique housing system. First-year students are required to live on campus, in one of eight houses. The houses combine the feel and purpose of a dorm with the pride and spirit of a fraternity. Each house plans social events and provides the social community for students. When Caltech students throw a party, it’s a major operation, and the end result is usually pretty epic. Off campus, Caltech‘s location is sunny Pasadena provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities. There are beaches, mountains, and deserts all within a two-hour drive. The proximity of Los Angeles provides a ready escape as well. Once in a while we’ll pile in a car and go to Los Angeles for a concert or something, notes a senior, and that’s a lot of fun. Plotting pranks is another common pastime here. Teachers have a notorious reputation for amusing and generally harmless mischief. Students one altered the famous Hollywood Sign to reach “Caltech”. In another instance, they adjusted the scoreboard at the Rose Bowl to show Caltech leading hated MIT by an impressive score of 38-9.

Student Body

Caltech is home to lots of whites and Asians, and the student population is overwhelmingly male. The ratio sucks, laments a lonely senior. Your typical student here was the math team/science team/quiz bowl type in high school. This is nerd heaven. Everyone’s a scientist, and every student is brilliant. Students also describe themselves as ‘hardworking’, ‘quirky’, and slightly eccentric, you’ll find a wide variety, though from cool party types, to scary hardcore nerds, to cool party types who build massive rail guns in their spare time. Some students are terribly creative. Some are socially inept and very strange. Ultimately, it’s a hard group to pigeonhole. You will meet someone who might think is a total jock if you saw him or her on the street, but he or she works late at night on homework and aces exams, promised one student. If you come here with stereotypes in mind, they will be broken.