Why is Caltech's graduation rate so low?

mathboy98
Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:23:58 +0000

Unlike many other schools, if you decide you don’t want to do math, science, or engineering, you really should transfer to somewhere else. This is also something that is impossible to tell before you get here- upon matriculation, you can’t really tell who these students are going to be.



Humor me please, isn’t this exactly Caltech’s responsibility in its admissions philosophy setup? I.e. not to admit students who wouldn’t almost certainly be happy? I hope you just mean that a few exceptions accidentally slip through, and they’re hardest to detect because most of the glaring misfits are not admitted.

I would think an ideal way to check whether students are truly ready for Caltech is to monitor a hugely significant lopsidedness in their studies with extra time dedicated for engaging in significant maths/science/engineering pursuits beyond having extremely high grades and scores…plus an essay that communicates not just enthusiasm but maturity. Maturity is the key word – people who don’t just like maths/science, but those who know what they are getting into.