|
|
College Prowler Take
The gender disparity on campus is a focal point for much discontent among Caltech students. The school unmistakably has about three times as many men as women, and the “ratio” is always a topic of conversation. The guys generally complain about the scarcity of women on campus and how many of them already have boyfriends. The guys also complain about how women here are not primarily concerned with dressing to impress, but instead worry about graduate school and publishing papers. Some of the girls complain about men who don’t seem to shower on a regular basis or guys who don’t talk about anything but science. Although there’s some truth to these assertions, a lot of it is exaggerated by bitter single people. Dating at Caltech is very common. People start hooking up during pre-frosh weekend—before they even start school here! There are also a number of interracial couples. This isn’t to say that there are no single people, because at least half the people here are single. Finding a boyfriend or girlfriend for a lot of Techers is simply a matter of searching, instead of moping around and complaining. Caltechers who do date often end up living together. Tech has a rather monogamous social scene. Because of the size of the school, almost no one sleeps around because of the school gossip mill. There are, of course, exceptions to this, and when scandalous activity occurs (break-ups and cheating), everyone knows. Many students at Caltech have no time for gel and a hairbrush, and in many cases, they wouldn’t purchase these products if they did have the time. Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
Many of the women here are very...
Many of the women here are very strong. To rephrase that, the women are very self-reliant and determined to succeed. There are also a good deal of feminists on campus. Most of the guys on campus tend to be very shy and very approachable. Most of the guys never had girlfriends in high school and were not social butterflies. |
Anonymous says: |
All Techers are nerds or dorks at...
All Techers are nerds or dorks at heart, and no one here is stupid. This is one of the few places where you can talk about really advanced math or science and people will just nod their head as they follow along. Another overriding theme within Techers is bitterness. This applies mostly to the upperclassmen. We did not start out this way; the difficulty and the stress of Caltech makes you this way. |
Anonymous says: |
Men are generally too interested...
Men are generally too interested in commitment and lose in the numbers game. Accordingly, women are fairly disinterested in commitment and spend time thinking about things like getting a PhD. In too many relationships, women realize they have control of the situation and take advantage of it, developing a boy-toy. Neither sex is generally experienced at relationships. |
Anonymous says: |
Everybody says Caltech girls suck,...
Everybody says Caltech girls suck, but then again, those who say that are probably just being mean or jealous. Most everybody at Caltech is polite when spoken to, and there are quite a few pretty girls. Of course, most of these girls are dating other guys (either at Caltech or elsewhere). This is very unfortunate. There are definitely a great number of guys seeking girlfriends who end up very frustrated. However, I definitely do not agree that Caltech girls just suck in general. |
Anonymous says: |
There’s a wide range of guys—from...
There’s a wide range of guys—from pretty normal to pretty nerdy. Concerning girls, uh, what girls? |
FactsBirth Control Available?
Yes - Birth control is available at Young Health Center in the SAC or from the RAs.
Social Scene
The students are more of the quiet, studious types. Generally, when students have time off, they want to catch up on sleep, but after that, they do normal things like go to the movies or go out to eat.
Hookups or Relationships?
Hookups and dating are very different at Caltech. People who date are a minority. Students here tend not to date but have relationships. Casual dating is almost non-existent. Of those who date, breakups are rare, and many couples get married after Caltech—some right after graduation.
Best Places to Meet Guys/Girls
Most people at Caltech end up dating friends, and most of the friends people make here are either in their houses, study groups, or classes. Since the school is so small, there really isn't a specific place to meet new people since people familiarize with each other very early in the semester. If a student is looking for a relationship, he or she will probably have the best luck within his or her group of friends. There are quite a few students who have boyfriends or girlfriends back home. There are also some people who have significant others at different colleges in the LA area. If Techers want to date "outside students," they have to make the effort and go hang out at UCLA or PCC (Pasadena City College) to meet people.
Dress Code
In one word: casual. Most Caltech students wear T-shirts, jeans or shorts, and sandals year round. When it's a little cooler, people might add a sweatshirt, but that's it. Students who constantly wear formal clothing are rare. Students only dress up on special occasions. There are exceptions to this, of course; some people wear button down shirts and formal slacks everyday. For the most part, though, people here are very relaxed about clothing style.
Write for Us! College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating
the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally
recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is
really like at your college. Read more >
|
|
