A major difference is CalTech offers a top-notch education plus an outlet for those who are athletically inclined, where Stanford offers a top-notch education that is free for select candidates.
Stanford sets itself apart from the rest of Division I by NOT watering down its admissions standards for athletes, which has had the effect of making it an attractive place for intelligent athletes. There have been a number of articles exploring the effect this has had on its football program:
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...lp-stanford-elevate-itself-in-recruitingStanford's recruiting process is opposite from virtually every other program in major college football and has been for the past few years. The staff doesn't watch film of prospects until after it receivers--and evaluates--a recruit's academic transcript. Many schools these days offer scholarships to kids whose transcripts they've never seen.
Not Stanford.
"We can't afford to waste time," says Shaw. "I need to look at kids who are great players and great students."
