Incredibly torn on where to REA... princeton/caltech/mit (physics major)

Applying to College
1

As the title says, I am super torn on where I should apply restrictive early action. Princeton, MIT, and Caltech are my absolute dream schools, and I’d be thrilled to attend any of them. However, each school has a distinct academic/social culture and I’m not sure what the best admissions plan is for my specific interests/match. Below I’ve included my pros-and-cons list for each school, as well as my profile for context.

If anyone has been in a similar situation and/or is willing to offer any advice, I would really appreciate it ! Thank you so much :blush::crossed_fingers:

Caltech
Pros: high alignment with research culture, incredible internship opportunities, focus on astrophysics/cosmology, collaborations with jpl and ligo, emphasis on theoretical depth, my profile is an extremely good fit
Cons: west coast, bad weather (too hot), less aesthetic campus, tiny school

MIT
Pros: highly interdisciplinary: computer science/engineering/theory, kavli institute, good size, great campus, potential dual opportunities at harvard, cambridge (<3)
Cons: more engineering-focused, less theoretical, slightly less of a fit with my profile

Princeton
Pros: insane physics legacy, unmatched plasma/fusion research, highly theoretical, high faculty-to-student ratio, gorgeous campus, great clubs, not a stem institute only, closer to philly and ny
Cons: limited elective variety, princeton nj isn’t comparable to pasadena/cambridge, self-contained campus

My profile:

Demographics

• Gender: female
• Race/Ethnicity: white
• Residence: domestic
• Income Bracket: upper middle, full pay
• Type of School: mid-sized public, kinda mediocre
• Hooks (Recruited Athlete, URM, First-Gen, Geographic, Legacy, etc.): none

Intended Major (s): physics/astronomy

Academics
• GPA: 3.98 uw, 4.36 w
• # of Honors/AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/etc: AP Physics 1 & 2, AP Biology, AP Lang, APUSH, AP Calc BC, AP CSP, AP Stats, AP Comp Gov, DE multivariable calc, DE linear algebra (mix of 5s and 4s)

12th grade courses: AP Lit, AP Chem, AP Physics C (self-study), AP US Gov, AP Spanish, DE real analysis/differential equations

Standardized Testing
List the highest scores earned and all scores that were reported.
• SAT: 1570 (770R, 800M)

Extracurriculars/Activities
List all extracurricular involvements, including leadership roles, time commitments, major achievements, etc.

  1. Astrophysics research (combo of independent and mentored), presented at ISEF, AAS, AGU, published twice (pending mnras publication)

  2. NASA SEES intern

  3. FAA private pilot - very involved with aerospace stuff, requires a ton of dedication

  4. Astrophysics software developer (related to my ISEF project, computational tool, open-source)

  5. Lead volunteer at local science center (200 hours) and camp counselor (300 hours), created public exhibit, currently working on program to have researchers present at the planetarium

  6. jazz and classical pianist (jazz combo, paid accompanist & arranger, play for school choir/orchestra/musical theater stuff). nationally selected to perform at disneyworld

  7. Member of university math circle

  8. Various science advocacy stuff (writing formal testimonies for senators regarding budget cuts, stuff like that)

  9. NASA citizen science

  10. Project Euler problems (over 200 hours coding)

Awards/Honors
List all awards and honors submitted on your application.

  1. 2x ISEF finalist

  2. 2x sole author pub in research notes of the AAS

  3. FAA certified private pilot

  4. AGU BrightStars presenter

  5. AAS presenter/undergrad member

  6. various science fair awards (yale award, naval research award, etc)

  7. some state-level music awards

  8. AP scholar with distinction

  9. National honor society member

2

I am wondering about the “slightly less of a fit” part of this.

MIT is strong in physics. As one example I remember years ago walking by a relatively drab looking building at MIT and noticing on a plaque that there was a cyclotron inside the building. Apparently there is still a cyclotron there. MIT also has the Haystack radio telescope, although this is some distance from the main MIT campus. A radio telescope can be quite large and I do not think that there is room to put a big one on campus. I had a great tour of Haystack years ago. There is also plenty of theoretical work going on at MIT, although as you note there is also plenty of applied engineering at MIT. One thing that strikes me about MIT is that you should be very strong at math to go there (or to study physics or astronomy at any of these schools), and this part at least seems like a fit.

I do not know which of these schools is better for astronomy, nor which has a regular (optical) telescope available. I do recall many years ago knowing an MIT student who was taking an astronomy course at Wellesley College, on the basis that Wellesley had an optical telescope (or perhaps a bigger optical telescope). The class met once per week starting Friday at midnight. I have no idea whether this is still available or not, although apparently MIT students can still take classes at Wellesley.

You also need to want to work hard to attend any of these three schools, and that part looks like a fit to me, but a fit to all three.

Between these three schools it is hard to know which one would be the best fit. You could just go with your gut, or not apply REA to any of them (none have ED if I am remembering correctly).

Make sure that you also apply to safeties.

1 Like
3

Nobody here knows you well enough to opine. You have isolated your personal pros and cons so pick your favorite for EA/REA.

I don’t believe there is a material admissions boost to applying early to any of the three options being considered and any admissions offer would not be binding so I would not stress too much about this.

All of these schools are reaches for any unhooked applicant. Focus on creating a well balanced application list with reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable and that you would be excited to attend.

Congrats on your accomplishments.

3 Likes
4

Of the list Caltech is likely easier to get into. MIT may like to see a maker vibe in you. Princeton may like to see an interest in a liberal arts education.

5

Is there some reason why you need to REA anywhere?

2 Likes
6

Have you visited these schools? They each have a different vibe, and one might resonate more with you.

If an upside to MIT is the course catalog at Harvard, it would seem that Princeton would be the frontrunner.

They are all amazing schools, so it’s really a matter of preference.

1 Like
7

So I don’t know if this helps, but I tend to think of this as a “if you know, you know” sort of situation.

Like I think successful MIT kids tend to know they are MIT kids. And if you are at all unsure and have the option of a college like Princeton instead, that might be a good idea because Princeton will likely still work out well for kids who turn out to not exactly be MIT kids, not so much MIT.

And that goes double (triple? quadruple?) for Caltech. Like if you aren’t 100% sure you are a Caltech kid, it seems really risky to me to choose Caltech.

That said, you aren’t applying binding, so it isn’t like you have to make a final decision now. Of course it is nice when you can get in somewhere early that eliminates a lot of other potential applications. And if it can eliminate ALL other potential applications, even nicer. But the first thing is still valuable.

So that is another way of thinking of it. Imagine getting an early offer from each of these respectively. How many other potential applications would that allow you to eliminate? You could then pick the one that would trigger the most cuts.

4 Likes
8

I would apply to MIT EA if this is your top choice for physics, given your profile. Caltech is “an extremely good fit” in terms of curriculum & culture but you list four cons - unsure if you’ll be able to withstand four years of hot west coast weather. Princeton seems too restrictive & just isn’t the same as Cambridge or Pasadena. Else, I wouldn’t apply ED or EA anywhere.

Are you considering schools like Harvard, Stanford, & perhaps UC Berkeley for physics - three additional reaches? You should also apply 1 or 2 safety options.

Also, keep in mind if you are contemplating pursuing a PhD in physics or even engineering post-undergraduate (you can do this with a solid background in physics). Some physics departments don’t allow or highly discourage their undergraduates from pursuing graduate study in the same department. This shouldn’t be the case if you convert from ugrad physics to grad engineering at the same university.

9

If you like Cambridge and are interested in Princeton, why not Harvard?
Visiting, by the way, is often the best way to choose among schools that all meet your requirements.

To me the most interesting thing about you is that you are a pilot! That said, I certainly hope you are submitting a music supplement with music resume, recording/video, and music letters of recommendation. Ask the schools what they accept. The recording can be short. Music can bump your chances at some selective schools.

1 Like
10

CalTech is in Pasadena. The weather is not particularly hot—it just doesn’t have snow in the winter time. Many people move to this area of California because the weather is so lovely.

6 Likes
11

I can’t imagine that MIT Physics isn’t “theoretical” enough for any HS student in America.

But if you don’t have a clear favorite here, why apply early anywhere? None if these three care about demonstrated interest. Apply and decide once your acceptances are in.

3 Likes
12

They could apply early to MIT, which has no restrictions on its early action plan, and apply RD to colleges that have restrictions on their early plans as well as early to other colleges that don’t. (And would be nice to also have an admission or two in hand at that stage if rejected or deferred from MIT.)

It’s not clear to me that there are benefits to SCEA at Princeton for unhooked applicants. I don’t know about CalTech’s one.

3 Likes
13

Was coming here to say the same. MIT EA has no restrictions, so could be useful if they have other private schools they wish to apply EA to. Otherwise, MIT apparently defers a lot, so if they want more “info” from their application then Princeton supposedly doesn’t defer as much. You might get a better sense if your application is competitive (possibly - every school is different, so plenty of reasons for Princeton to accept or deny that are unrelated to others). I don’t know enough about CalTech to say where REA there is useful either.

I did want to add that one of the parents on tour at Princeton asked our tour guide there if Princeton was their first choice. In fact, their first choice was CalTech. Their second choice was MIT. They were denied at both and “ended up” at Princeton. All to say that I think it can be unclear which of these schools might work out even if you did have a fav.

1 Like
14

If the decision isn’t binding, there’s really no problem in picking one. You won’t need a favorite until spring. If you do get in early with a non-binding decision, the biggest benefit is that it saves you applying to any others that might not challenge it.

15

You say that you are a recruited athlete. Are you being recruited at all 3? Do you have an offer from any of the 3?

I second the point by @MMRose that Pasadena is not that hot. And you’re not going to be there for most of the summer anyway. Personally I’d take that off the list of cons for Cal Tech.

Princeton is also non-binding.

As a female with a great application package, I think you’ll be in demand.

16

I think you misread - OP put “none” after the standard list of hooks.

All the options are non-binding, but two are restrictive in their plans as to where else you can apply.

1 Like
17

Thanks.

18

If a student does not apply EA to any restricted EA school that restricts against other EA applications, then it makes sense to apply EA to any school with unrestricted EA.

Even where a restricted EA application has a restriction against some other EA applications, it makes sense to apply EA to schools not included in the restrictions.

Of course, one should not apply ED to any school that is not a clear no regrets top choice that is realistic for admission and affordability.

2 Likes
19

Both Caltech and Princeton offer restricted EA, so e_w_13 wouldn’t be allowed to apply EA to MIT & another one of these options REA.

20

Apply EA to MIT and play this process out.

2 Likes