WE'RE FIFTH! YES, NUMBER FIVE (under google search for "rankmaniac 2010")

From rankmaniac 2010

Yayy! A big thank you to all the kindly strangers out there that linked us from your blog or simply visited this website!

Updates:
1) The collegeconfidential jerks (just kidding, they are the best--please don't hurt me) removed our threads and banned The 2010 Rankmaniacs from CC! =( I understand if they block spammers but...we were adding value to the site by providing actual information! What jealous biotches :) Oh well, that won't stop us! If you have any questions regarding Caltech or anything--you're still welcome to comment.

2) Yelp update on Pasadena restaurant DISH bistro and bar

3) It is raining in SoCal ='(

4) Curling is a ridiculous sport. I thought the girls (very cute ones) were just cleaning the ice, little did I know they were actually playing a game!

collegeconfidential: Sneeezy's question

Question: What got you into Caltech?

Answer: Aside from the "necessary" academic requirements (high standardized test scores, high GPA, good recommendations). I think what may have really showed the admissions people my passion for math and science was a 20-page write up I submitted from my summer research project at a national university neuroscience research lab. I also stuck to my nerdy/dorky/quirky voice in my personal statements. I made a campus visit prior to admissions and the lady working at admissions said she would make a note of that on my files. Those are just my opinions though, of course I never found out why they accepted me :)

collegeconfidential: wasslion's question

Question: What is the "vibe" at Caltech? Are people competitive? Helpful? Does the small class make a personal feel? Is there a lot of merchandising (Campus bookstore)?

Also, I know Caltech has one of the highest scoring class profiles.

Answer: From what I hear about other colleges, it seems like Caltech is definitely a lot more relaxed than other "top tier" schools. I've heard stories about how people re-arrange reference books in libraries so that other students will not be able to find them. That does not happen here...we're too lazy :P hehe jk. The Honor Code (no member of Caltech community should take advantage of another) is taken seriously and generally followed by students and members of the community.

Most classes have collaboration policies that encourage students to discuss the homework problems together but write up their answers separately. I feel like sometimes our homework assignments are made tougher and harder because the Profs expect us to collaborate hahha :) People are generally very nice about help each other out--the close-knit house system makes it really easy for people to just pop next door and ask their neighbors for help. We also have a Dean's tutoring program where you can sign up for tutors--for free! Tutors get paid by the deans. The TAs are generally helpful as well.

The small class size does make for a closer knit community--by the time I graduated I knew most of my class by name.

There isn't much merchandising, altho you can see for yourself at the Caltech bookstore website.

Hope that answered your questions!

- Rankmaniac 2010