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I really need help!!!!
I'm torn between Cal.TEch and Columbia. Here are facts I know, and I need clarification.

Cal.Tech
Faculty: Student ratio- 3:1
Professors: nice, accessible, brilliant
Social life: not too great, but a lot of times you can always socialize at the other california schools like USC, Claremont, and yeah those other schools.
Rigor: very rigorous
Atmosphere: very techie.

Columbia
Ratio- 2:1 (pretty amazing)
Professors- well, IDK, it's small, so I guess they're accessible
social life: of course, it's columbia
Rigor: IDK, need help on this one
Atmosphere: NYC atmosphere..independence yeah

Which school preps me for grad school.

I want to major in environmental engineering, and I want to go to law school after I get my masters in environmental engineering. I want to eventually deal with environmental law and policy? I'm sure both prep me for those, right?!

I like to dance. I like music. I like math and science. I love intellectuality. It's soo beautiful.

I want research opportunities in environmental engineering.

I'm from PAlau this is where I want to go, live, and work after I go through everything; env.eng. and law school.

I like NYC, but caltech is after all, caltech.

I hear Columbia engineering is not that great. But, do you guys know which has a better env. eng. program. Columbia has biosphere 2 and earth institute. But caltech is after all: Caltech..research...math, science. Help!!!!
email and help please, or comment: ngirur@hotmail.com

By Kyshantry (Kyshantry) on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 04:13 pm: Edit

It sounds like you have a decent idea of what Caltech is; I would however have to say that it is less common than one would think to end up socializing with other schools. It's something that our student government is working on this year, but ... yeah. Hopefully the "caltech junior taking questions" could answer some of your questions about Caltech.

As per Columbia, I really don't know too much. My only real exposure to it is staying there for a couple of days on a road trip across the country. It seemed like a nice place... but actually, you know what? I have an old friend/acquaintance who went to Caltech for two years then transfered to Columbia. She might be able to help. Drop me an email and I'll see if I can't pass it along to her.

Galen

By Lovetheriver (Lovetheriver) on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 12:09 am: Edit

Columbia? small? 2:1 faculty to student ratio? what????? are we talking about the same Columbia?

By Geodude666 (Geodude666) on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 04:16 pm: Edit

it's true, columbia's SEA has a 2:1 ratio