<p>sran,
they are similar in spirit - in joy of learning - in intensity. I also have a good deal of respect for Caltech as their admissions policies are quite honest. </p>
<p>Caltech’s focus is, of course, more directed on the sciences. I am sure that they have some form of distribution requirement, but I don’t believe it is as deep as Chicago’s core (and the core is not for everyone). This has some ramifications for your own education as well as the people that make up your learning community. If you attend Chicago, you will be surrounded by historians, economists, anthropologists, classics majors - and of course various scientific and mathematical types. Since you will likely learn as much from your classmates as your professors -this is a consideration. When you are a graduate student, you will have to go where your program is. But for your undergraduate days - you have a little luxury - to learn for the fun of it. There really is more to an undergraduate education than one’s major, and it is something to think about. Again, no right or wrong, but there are different favors of education.</p>