At present, Caltech is ranked #9 by US News for best national universities. Literally even students who won gold in olympiads or published 10 research papers or won the Intel competition don’t get in (don’t ask me why, cause I don’t know why). How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity of Caltech's community? When thinking about how to get into Caltech, you must also consider the logistics. Oxford will probably be my first choice, though, assuming MIT and Caltech both reject me. A teacher from your school may help guide you and provide you with the resources you need. For science, this means taking AP Physics 1 at minimum, but in most cases, taking AP Physics C and beyond. So, your response could also focus on a part of your background that has shaped you or it could highlight an experience that you believe distinguishes you from your peers. Students can choose from a variety of specialized concentrations such as “Business, Economics, & Management,” “Geobiology,” and “History and Philosophy and Science.” If you’re a STEM-focused student who is still curious about other topics, courses in the Humanities and Social Sciences division can be your go-to for an interdisciplinary approach to your interests. Other websites will tell you about the SAT/ACT scores one used to need to get in (now Caltech is test-optional though). With a focus on engineering and science, it has six academic divisions with scientists who are one of the best researchers in the world. If you are deferred from EA, this is due February 15. CalTech cares about developing a sense of unity on campus, and since it’s a smaller student body, you’ll need some people skills to get along. For example, you’re interested in both physics and gender studies, you can combine the two to work on a research project on the importance of female physicists. Home with your spouse/family/SO for 8 mos- what did you learn about them that you didn’t know? For Regular Decision (RD), this should be submitted whenever mid-year grades are available. So, don’t just work hard in your science classes or get to know your math teacher. You can learn more about how to tackle each question in our blog about the. This must be submitted directly from your school. Some of the most prestigious STEM camps include: Showcasing participation in such competitions and programs in your activities list can boost your application and exemplify how your interest in a specific STEM topic expands beyond just on paper. Even though standardized tests are no longer in the picture, Caltech’s standards are still incredibly high. Early Action: November 15 for FAFSA, January 6 for CSS Profile
Women: 46% (250-400 words), Caltech students are often known for their sense of humor and creative pranks. While not particularly uncommon, admissions officers appreciate students who pursue this route, as it showcases initiative and independence. Does it mean anything if Yale requested an alumni interview? When these classes have not been readily available to our talented math students in high school, we’ve encouraged them to enroll in local community colleges. It’s extremely important that you follow instructions and stick to deadlines when it comes to getting the required scores, recommendations, and other documents submitted on time. Caltech, look at your school context, but the website. A teacher from your school may help guide you and provide you with the resources you need. This means demonstrating a strong interest in Caltech alongside building a stellar academic and extracurricular profile, with an emphasis in the sciences. For most students at Caltech, it is very demanding. They expect students to excel in their courses throughout high school. The acceptance rate will give you an idea of how difficult it is to get in. Regular Decision: March 2 for FAFSA, March 16 for CSS Profile. Being a senior here at Caltech, I think people tend to exaggerate how hard Caltech is. you should be working to find a nuanced angle to each of them. The university highly values your teacher recommendations. Since these letters provide the reader with an idea of what you’re like in the classroom, you must choose instructors who know you well. Even though you can’t rave about Caltech in this part of the application, the prompts still provide you with a chance to tell a story that doesn’t apply to 99% of other students. This should give you a sense of exactly how difficult it is to get into Caltech. I decided: this is where I want to go to college! You need to make sure that you’ve conveyed why your interests — whether your experiences and activities, or your idea of a humorous or creative prank — are exceptional. The Caltech Academic Programs Caltech is home to over 100 student organizations in academics, arts, hobbies, outdoors, politics, activism, community service, and more. The Caltech majors are divided into 6 divisions: Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Applied Science, Geological and Planetary Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, and finally, Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy. To guide you through the question of how to get into Caltech, I’ve elaborated on Caltech’s academic programs, the academic requirements, understanding the recent test blind policy, how to take advantage of your extracurriculars, ways to write your essays, and finally, the requirements and deadlines as set by the school. Average ACT: 36. Very few high school students have exposure to proof based calculus and that is in the first term. They expect students to excel in their courses throughout high school. But, you’ve got to be more specific than just a general interest in STEM — you need to be highly specific in your interests and goals. To guide you through the question of. This means that the school will not even look at your test scores if you submit them. An advanced degree in physics at Caltech is contingent upon an extensive research achievement. Since almost every student will have involvements in STEM, as you build your extracurricular profile when researching how to get into Caltech, you should be working to find a nuanced angle to each of them. It is truly interdisciplinary. These will appear on the Common App once you’ve chosen Caltech as one of your colleges. Caltech admissions officers read thousands of applications every year. . , I’ve elaborated on Caltech’s academic programs, the academic requirements, understanding the recent test blind policy, how to take advantage of your extracurriculars, ways to write your essays, and finally, the requirements and deadlines as set by the school. Caltech is a very work hard play hard mentality. Also, the first two terms are pass/fail to give freshmen time to adjust to the school. As the school grew, it became a university in 1934. Academically, it has the most rigorous and intense coursework I've ever experienced. And I say Oxbridge suddenly feel weak. Plus, you must show admissions specific reasons for why you are a strong fit for their university. So, don’t just work hard in your science classes or get to know your math teacher. Since Caltech is a big research university, you should also be seeking research opportunities — or initiating your own — in a field of your interest. Report . The main difference (I think) between Caltech and other colleges is the way it handles exams. This knowledge will come in handy when writing your essays, as you’ll demonstrate knowledge of programs and opportunities at this prestigious institution. Let your essays add depth to your application, and convince the reader more and more that you could be a good fit for Caltech.