feuxfollets

So uhm, my parents just won't let me apply to Caltech because:
it's too far
there's earthquakes
the west coast economic situation is bad or something
it has too narrow of a focus or something...

How can I convince them to let me apply?...

littlemikey4

too far - this should be your decision because you are leaving your family and friends
earthquakes - lamest excuse i've ever heard... are they serious? lol
economic situation - what does it matter to a college kid anyway? especially when you graduate from Caltech and you'll have numerous job offers
narrow focus - this is true about focusing on math and science but if you love those things then why is this a problem? do they want you to be more well rounded and go to a LAC?

feuxfollets

I have no idea why they are complaining about earthquakes.
I have no idea why they are complaining about the economic situation either as I'll probably go for a PhD after.
They allowed me to EA MIT so I don't see what's the problem. They think Caltech is "narrower" or something. Idk. I don't think this is the main problem, it's more of the earthquakes (lol) and distance thing.

spoon!

How can they "not let" you apply? It's not like they have to sign the application or something. Why do they even have to know?

oaklandmom

Make sure your parents understand that Caltech is a private school, not one of the public Universities. Many people are concerned about the economy and how its effecting the UCs.

Earthquakes: Natural disasters can happen anywhere. Hurricanes, floods, tornados, fire, etc. It really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me for people to worry about California earthquakes when natural disasters occur everywhere. And I also understand that earthquakes can occur anywhere - probably even where you live now.

Also if there is an earthquake in southern California, I understand Caltech is one of the safest places to be.

Distance: going away from school is hard. Find out what part of it is hard for your parents. Is it the cost of airfare to go home for holidays and vacations? Maybe you could tell them you'll help pay the difference in airfare if you get in. For some parents though its more of an "emotional distance" thats an issue ("my baby going sooo far away). From my perspective: my son was in Japan this summer and while at first it felt like it was so far, once he was there, it really wasn't much different than having him down in Pasadena and me in California. Kids going away is really just something parents must get used to.

Narrow focus: tell your parents its what you want. (I'm assuming it is otherwise you wouldn't be wanting to apply to Caltech or MIT).

Good Luck!

susgeek

IMO Caltech is no more narrow than MIT, but if they are paying the bills, they do have a say.

I don't know where you live, but I live on Long Island, and even paying for the Orient Ferry ($$$) it is definitely cheaper and easier to get to Boston than to LA. So money might be a factor they are concerned about.

Good luck!

bookworm

Tell them it doesn't hurt to apply. Also, Caltech was less $$$ than MIT or CMU, which made up for airfares. Clothes are also cheaper. One fleece jacket and you are set. Tell them you would feel better having an acceptance in hand, and applying MIT and cALTECH ea DOUBLES YOUR CHANCES.

feuxfollets

@spoon: I don't have a credit card so I need to ask them to pay the application fee.

@oaklandmom: I think it is more of the "emotional distance" thing, that I probably won't be able to come home more than 2-3 times a year. Also they keep saying that I won't have any family/etc. in California so when everyone else leaves for breaks I'll be alone there.
And it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either... Earthquakes are probably just more publicized.

@bookworm: On paper yea but actually not really as the EA pool is much more self-selective and competitive. Hmmm is it really that much cheaper, enough to make up for the cost of 2-3 roundtrip airfees a year? That might be something good to bring up.

LHC

With regard to breaks, I presume you will come home for winter break, spring break, and for some portion of the summer. There are actually a fair number of people (including all of the international students, many people who live on the East Coast, and anyone else who would rather not travel for four days so late into the term) who stay at Tech over Thanksgiving. Each house has a Thanksgiving dinner together (Caltech dining provides turkeys!) and I've heard it's a really fun time. Over parts of winter break and spring break, too, there are a lot of people who stay, partially because it's awesome to be at Tech (and in so cal) with your friends when you don't have any schoolwork.

I definitely understand that your parents would like to see you more than three times a year, but if you have to stay over a break, Caltech will certainly not be deserted.

mamarama

I'm a mom of a Caltech senior. I was worried about distance as well but it's a short shuttle ride to the Burbank airport and we can usually get a good deal on airfare. He can be back home on the east coast in 8 hours. We just drive 1/2 hour to the airport to pick him up. He comes home between terms (trimester system). I'll admit, it was hard that first Thanksgiving when he didn't come home because they are super busy just then. I was afraid he would be all alone. The truth is...almost NO ONE goes away for Thanksgiving so the students cook a huge feast in their house.

As for earthquakes, Caltech is very very safe. If there were ever any kind of natural disaster, I would want to be at Caltech. They take preparedness VERY seriously. They even train two students in each house to be first responders. They are called Health Advocates and they get EMT training.

I was worried about all these things, too but here is what convinced me to "let" my son go so far away. I met the Dean of Students and she told me that when a student isn't feeling well, they can email dining services and ask for some homemade soup to be delivered to their room. That made me feel better. It's a small, close-knit community and they look after one another. Good luck!

Bowlesman

doesnt caltech have one of the best seismology program in the nation?

T-bird

that's awesome.

spoon!

Can't you send a check or money order?

Djokovic

it's too far- stupid excuse. Stanford+UC are that far too, are you to applying their either?

there's earthquakes- I live in CA. And that is the lamest stereotype I've ever heard of. More ppl die from cold weather, hurricanes, and tornadoes than earthquakes my friend.

the west coast economic situation is bad or something- true, it is bad. But that hardly affects the private schools here as compared to the UC's. CA is home of the internet and silicon valley dude. This place is a tech-crazy place!

it has too narrow of a focus or something- it's engineering and scie-based. If you don't like that, well then maybe it is not worth applying

ckohsa

Caltech is very narrowly focused, and they make no pretenses about it. Yes you can get a humanities degree from Caltech, but you still need to take 5 trimesters of Physics, 4 of Math and I think 2 of Chemistry and Biology. In other words if you are not interested in that much of math and physics and the sciences, you will not do well there. It is a very technical school. No they do not have performing arts, choir, anyone can join their sports team as it is not competitive etc., nor do they really miss some of these amenities most colleges have

MIT is much broader than Caltech in terms of course offerings, MIT is much larger than Caltech in terms of student body size and amenities, so it all comes down to how much you are interested in math and science and how much you want a more traditional view of a college. In MIT you could get an economics degree, management or even anthropology degree in addition to science and engineering and it is very close to other colleges where you could take some classes of general interest. Caltech is not