<p>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. </p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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!</p>