<p>Hmm, the immediate thing I thought of was the old statistic that in 2002, 91% of Harvard undergrads graduated with honors. In addition, during that year roughly half of the grades awarded were either A’s or A-'s. </p>
<p>Re: MIT, I have heard that it is easier to maintain a high GPA there if maintaining GPA is your main goal–there are ways to avoid taking as much math and physics (assuming of course you are not a math/physics/eng major) . This is just based on what I’ve heard, though… In any case, I would imagine that many tracks at MIT are just as hard as at Caltech, but that being a premed might be slightly easier on account of not having to take five terms of physics…</p>
<p>That being said, when I referred to the Caltech GPA being lower than at most schools, I wasn’t referring to places like MIT or Harvey Mudd. More so the Ivies and some of the high end state schools. I also feel like even if the average GPA isn’t incredibly higher than it is here, it still would be a lot easier for a person intelligent and knowledgeable enough to get into places like MIT or Caltech to do their premed elsewhere. I think you said it pretty well in post #9, antiquark.</p>
<p>Edit: I’m still interested about the MechE/EE side of things. 
Option pride, and all that!</p>