CalTech vs. Stanford

[iamthelaw]

Have been accepted to both with reasonable stipends, albeit a slightly higher one at Stanford. I've lived in LA all my life and am getting my bachelors from UCLA, so going to CalTech is the easy option (staying close to family and friends). I wouldn't be opposed to moving, and my significant other has already agreed to move. Both have many professors I am interested in working with, but I felt I got to interact more personally with the professors at Stanford. CalTech set up short group interviews so I don't feel I got to really asses them as PI's, which is why I'm going to meet with more faculty soon.

Stanfords Biophysics program is part of the umbrella Biosciences program, so I'd be allowed to work with any faculty I wanted as long as they had space. Everyone at CalTech has already assured me getting your choice of PI isn't a problem, and they don't have quals! However, there are proposals and I would be required to TA, unlike at Stanford. Stanford would also allow me to take classes in the business, law, and design schools if I wanted. I have a feeling I'd like to stay in academia, but I like to have those options in case things change. They also seem to have far more resources for graduate students in general.

Since these are pretty similar opportunities, does anyone have any tips/advice/opinions on either of these programs or the schools in general? They're both ranked fairly high, but does anyone know if one is more well-regarded than the other? I've heard differing opinions.

[iamthelaw]

one week left...help is appreciated.

Edited April 8, 2010 by iamthelaw

[origin415]

If you plan on going into academia, TAing is a plus, its good experience and you generally need it if you plan on applying to postdocs and such. Besides that and moving, everything you've said seems to point in Stanford's favor, though.

[iamthelaw]

If you plan on going into academia, TAing is a plus, its good experience and you generally need it if you plan on applying to postdocs and such. Besides that and moving, everything you've said seems to point in Stanford's favor, though.

Apparently I've heard at Stanford, if your PI is ok with you TA'ing, you can actually get paid a few grand extra. Sooo..thats not a big deal, actually pretty preferable since I can coordinate it around my research schedule. I've heard from a lot of professors at other schools (oddly enough..) that CalTech is a really great place to go to graduate school, plus its really close to home. I guess I'm more just torn about moving away and turning down CalTech, since it IS such a great school. My hearts telling me to go with Stanford, even though its the harder option.

Just found out I'll have to have surgery this summer too. Not gonna be fun trying to move while on crutches!

[pangur-ban]

Apparently I've heard at Stanford, if your PI is ok with you TA'ing, you can actually get paid a few grand extra. Sooo..thats not a big deal, actually pretty preferable since I can coordinate it around my research schedule. I've heard from a lot of professors at other schools (oddly enough..) that CalTech is a really great place to go to graduate school, plus its really close to home. I guess I'm more just torn about moving away and turning down CalTech, since it IS such a great school. My hearts telling me to go with Stanford, even though its the harder option.

Just found out I'll have to have surgery this summer too. Not gonna be fun trying to move while on crutches!

Well, if you have the option of TAing at Stanford, I think it sounds like the better program overall for you. You sound more excited about it in your post, and it seems like it's just attachment that's keeping you from going for it.

Speaking as someone who moved halfway across the country for undergrad, and then halfway across the globe for a job, and then again for grad school, my advice would be to move outside of your comfort zone. It's really hard, especially the first time, but it is totally worth it in terms of experience gained. You're likely to have to make a bigger move again when you get a job after grad school, and you'll be better prepared for that if you make this move first. It sucks with the surgery, but ask your family (and friends?) for help, and I'm sure you'll manage the move.

Besides being a generally good idea to go to new places whenever possible(in my opinion) making this move to grad school might also help put you in a new mentality when you start the program. If you're still living in the same area and seeing the same people and places, it might be that much harder to think of yourself as a grad student.

[Chorg]

Well, if you have the option of TAing at Stanford, I think it sounds like the better program overall for you. You sound more excited about it in your post, and it seems like it's just attachment that's keeping you from going for it.

Speaking as someone who moved halfway across the country for undergrad, and then halfway across the globe for a job, and then again for grad school, my advice would be to move outside of your comfort zone. It's really hard, especially the first time, but it is totally worth it in terms of experience gained. You're likely to have to make a bigger move again when you get a job after grad school, and you'll be better prepared for that if you make this move first. It sucks with the surgery, but ask your family (and friends?) for help, and I'm sure you'll manage the move.

Besides being a generally good idea to go to new places whenever possible(in my opinion) making this move to grad school might also help put you in a new mentality when you start the program. If you're still living in the same area and seeing the same people and places, it might be that much harder to think of yourself as a grad student.

Here's my opinion of Caltech(from a current student),

Caltech is first and foremost a research institute. They also happen to give degrees for research. The school is small and extremely prestigious. The program is small and interdisciplinary, you can work in any laboratory you want. There may not be many PIs, but the majority of the PIs at caltech are of the highest caliber. Social life at Caltech is so-so. Everyone is a scientist, and with that comes the awkwardness, gender-imbalances, and pockets of awesome people. The grad students at caltech tend to be pretty cool, the undergraduates horribly geeky. Counter-balancing this is the fact that LA is a quick trip away.

Stanford is a big university full of lots of people in northern cal. It's a bit deeper in the burbs than caltech.

Barring a preference for the PIs are either school, the decision would really come down to location and school size/dynamics.

Either choice is an excellent one.

Oh, the stipend system at caltech: You must be payed the minimum stipend. Whether this comes only from your professor or a combination of TA and your proffesor is a different manner. People generally TA for two years, and professors pick up your tab afterwards. If you want to TA more, it's 4.5k a class extra.

[iamthelaw]

Well, if you have the option of TAing at Stanford, I think it sounds like the better program overall for you. You sound more excited about it in your post, and it seems like it's just attachment that's keeping you from going for it.

Speaking as someone who moved halfway across the country for undergrad, and then halfway across the globe for a job, and then again for grad school, my advice would be to move outside of your comfort zone. It's really hard, especially the first time, but it is totally worth it in terms of experience gained. You're likely to have to make a bigger move again when you get a job after grad school, and you'll be better prepared for that if you make this move first. It sucks with the surgery, but ask your family (and friends?) for help, and I'm sure you'll manage the move.

Besides being a generally good idea to go to new places whenever possible(in my opinion) making this move to grad school might also help put you in a new mentality when you start the program. If you're still living in the same area and seeing the same people and places, it might be that much harder to think of yourself as a grad student.

Thanks Everything you said is pretty much spot on. My moms disabled, and somewhat relies on my to carry up groceries and stuff for her business. Shes fully capable of living on her own, but its gonna be hard to make her believe she'll be ok without me. I guess thats whats holding me back, but it has to happen eventually.

[iamthelaw]

Here's my opinion of Caltech(from a current student),

Caltech is first and foremost a research institute. They also happen to give degrees for research. The school is small and extremely prestigious. The program is small and interdisciplinary, you can work in any laboratory you want. There may not be many PIs, but the majority of the PIs at caltech are of the highest caliber. Social life at Caltech is so-so. Everyone is a scientist, and with that comes the awkwardness, gender-imbalances, and pockets of awesome people. The grad students at caltech tend to be pretty cool, the undergraduates horribly geeky. Counter-balancing this is the fact that LA is a quick trip away.

Stanford is a big university full of lots of people in northern cal. It's a bit deeper in the burbs than caltech.

Barring a preference for the PIs are either school, the decision would really come down to location and school size/dynamics.

Either choice is an excellent one.

Oh, the stipend system at caltech: You must be payed the minimum stipend. Whether this comes only from your professor or a combination of TA and your proffesor is a different manner. People generally TA for two years, and professors pick up your tab afterwards. If you want to TA more, it's 4.5k a class extra.

Thanks. I definitely got along with the caltech grad students, maybe even a little bit better than at Stanford. Coincidentally, they all talked about how they didn't like their Stanford visit..haha.

[Steph<3Chem]

I'm chemistry with a biological emphasis - it came down to Berkeley, Stanford, or CalTech. All three are AMAZING in terms of science, and all three had at least 1 person who I wanted to quit undergrad and stay at my visit weekend to work for and a couple others who were very interesting. For me, the deciding factors were how urban the setting was and where the school sat on the university to institute spectrum. Also, there were some differences in the financial offers, although I see that more as an added bonus than a deciding factor. We're going for the science not the $ :-) Based on my visit experience, I think the graduate student's description posted above is fairly accurate, and which one it makes you want to pick is fairly personal.

[UnlikelyGrad]

Here's my opinion of Caltech(from a current student),

Caltech is first and foremost a research institute. They also happen to give degrees for research. The school is small and extremely prestigious. The program is small and interdisciplinary, you can work in any laboratory you want. There may not be many PIs, but the majority of the PIs at caltech are of the highest caliber. Social life at Caltech is so-so. Everyone is a scientist, and with that comes the awkwardness, gender-imbalances, and pockets of awesome people. The grad students at caltech tend to be pretty cool, the undergraduates horribly geeky. Counter-balancing this is the fact that LA is a quick trip away.

Stanford is a big university full of lots of people in northern cal. It's a bit deeper in the burbs than caltech.

Stanford does have a more happenin' social life, since not everyone there is a geek. (They offer degrees in humanities/social sciences.) Also because the male/female ratio is a little less skewed. If you're at Caltech and looking for a girl, you usually have to go off campus.

I personally don't know what LA has that you couldn't find near Stanford in terms of attractions. Family though...family is important.

Oh, the stipend system at caltech: You must be payed the minimum stipend. Whether this comes only from your professor or a combination of TA and your proffesor is a different manner. People generally TA for two years, and professors pick up your tab afterwards. If you want to TA more, it's 4.5k a class extra.

Doesn't this depend on the department? Which department would you be TAing for? I know my info is a bit dated, but I'm pretty sure that both physics and chemistry TAs used to teach only one section. (Sounds like bliss to me!)