Admissions To:

California Institute of Technology

Caltech has the most obnoxious application out of any non-honors undergraduate program in the country. With 8+ essays, all unique to Caltech, meaning they can't be repurposed from other schools one has already applied for, they have earned the distinction of being the most difficult college to apply to. From our experience, the time required to write Caltech’s essays to the incredibly high standard necessary to stand out in their admissions process could have been used to apply to Harvard, Princeton, and MIT or Yale combined.

Typical Admitted Student Profile:

GPA:

3.9–4.0 unweighted, STEM-heavy transcript

Test Scores:

SAT: 1570–1600
ACT: 35–36

Course Rigor:

Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Group Theory, Abstract Algebra, Complex Variables,  AP Physics C (both), AP Chemistry, C/C++/Rust wizard, or Olympiad-level math coursework

Research:

STEM research projects with measurable outcomes, RSI, PRIMES-USA, SSP (Summer Science Program), ISEF finalist or semifinalist

Competitive Achievements:

AIME/USA(J)MO qualifier, Physics Olympiad, USABO, USACO Gold/Platinum, Siemens semifinalist, math/physics modeling competitions

Quantifiable Local Impact / Leadership:

Organizing math circles or STEM camps, robotics outreach, founding community science programs, mentoring younger students in STEM disciplines

If you have this profile, working with us is your best bet to get into Caltech. If you want to attend Caltech, whether you will be starting your freshman year soon or have just started your freshman or sophomore year, contact us, and we'll guide you in acquiring a similarly competitive profile that will get you into Caltech.

With a 2% acceptance rate, admitting only around 240 new students a year, Caltech has earned the title of the most difficult college to be accepted into. These 240 students are admitted in both a restrictive early action (REA) round and a regular decision round. That is why, despite being the most challenging school to help applicants apply to, they are also our favorite. We love pushing our students to discover things about themselves they didn't even know existed so they can masterfully answer all of the unique questions that Caltech asks. We are proud of the essays our students have produced and have an insatiable desire to become the firm which boasts the highest acceptance rate in the world for students applying to Caltech.

Besides the large number of essays and the quantitative differences discussed above, the most significant distinction between Caltech and its other Tier 1 peers is that its faculty play a huge role in the admissions process. Professors sit side by side with admissions readers and officers to evaluate applications for Caltech. The tangible impact of this is that applicants should not dumb down their writing so that even an admissions reader with a degree in underwater basket weaving can understand it. Instead, they should fully unleash the technical/math-heavy side of their passion for science and math. If it takes a PhD just to understand your Caltech essay, then you did something right when applying to Caltech—something we would not say is true for any other college. For other colleges, ensure your writing can be understood by someone with a bachelor's degree who took, and still has fresh in their head, their school's general science and math requirements.

Even on their application, Caltech implores students to talk technical and math heavy:

“Faculty at Caltech review files of the most competitive applicants. So don't worry that your science won't make sense to a lay-person because our faculty with PhDs conducting research that will change the world will understand what you're saying. We promise.”

So please, don’t hold back, feel free to talk about how topological invariants found within topos can help one understand spinfoam dynamics of quantized spacetime in covariance preserving formulations of quantum gravity.

https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/apply/what-we-look-for/faculty-the-admissions-process

Unsurprisingly, they require that applicants submit SAT or ACT scores.

Overall, a competitive applicant to Caltech would have a 1500+ SAT/35+ ACT score, with almost perfect subscores in math for the SAT or near-perfect scores in math and science for the ACT. Their UW GPA would be 3.9+. They would have consistently chosen the most rigorous classes available to them. This includes community college classes outside of their school.

For students with ample academic opportunities who come from privileged backgrounds, this means they would be expected to take the most accelerated math and science curriculum available to them, which would place them on a trajectory to finish two years' worth of college math by the start of their junior or senior year of high school. Taking AP Statistics in your senior year after completing your school's and local community college's calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations classes would be a death sentence for applying to a school like Caltech. At that point, the most privileged and resourced students would need to start taking classes at a four-year college, either online or in person. Such classes might be complex variables, abstract algebra, introduction to topology, analytical mechanics, or modern physics.

In terms of extracurriculars, a competitive Caltech applicant would, at the bare minimum, have placed nationally in some math or science competitions such as the AMC, Science Olympiad, Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, etc., have been doing research consistently since 10th grade under the guidance of a professor, have their names on papers published in recognized academic journals (not high school journals), or have made a name for themselves in their local community by making a quantifiably large positive contribution by leveraging their talents in math and science.

If you don't fit these criteria, it is not advisable to apply to Caltech. We emphasize this because of the immense time required to write the numerous essays they request at a quality level that would distinguish you from applicants with the aforementioned profiles. As previously mentioned, in the time it takes to apply to Caltech, you could apply to three similar tier-1 colleges. More importantly, given the unprecedented double-digit increases in applications that many colleges are receiving, if your applicant profile falls short of what we've described, you should focus your time on crafting exceptional essays for reasonable safety schools and target institutions.

https://news.utexas.edu/2024/12/06/demand-soars-as-ut-shatters-record-for-freshman-applications/

Schools that might have been safeties and targets last year could be reaches this year. Therefore, spending a significant amount of time on a pipe dream such as applying to Caltech when you're a B or, worse, a C student, can completely undermine your college prospects by becoming a time sink, which would only result in you having a bunch of Caltech essays that you can’t repurpose for your safeties and targets, due to how specific and unique Caltech’s prompts are.

When Caltech releases its essays for the 2025-2026 admission cycle, we will provide an in-depth guide on how to write them here and on our blog. To see our recommendations for tackling their 2024-2025 supplemental essay, see our blog post: Acing Caltech’s 2024-2025 Supplemental Essays.

We will also include a breakdown of their latest Common Data Set when it is released, so you understand the nitty-gritty of who gets into Caltech. 

So stay tuned!

If you want to learn how we can help you get into Caltech, or any college for that matter, schedule a complimentary consultation with an admissions expert today.

In case it is ever advantageous to talk about any of Caltech’s traditions, here are some of them.

  • Ditch Day:

A senior prank day when seniors disappear from campus, leaving elaborate puzzles and challenges ("stacks") for underclassmen to solve. Originally began with seniors simply ditching classes, but evolved into a complex tradition featuring themed adventures.

  • The Cannon Heist:

A long-standing rivalry between Caltech and Harvey Mudd College involving the stealing and returning of a Fleming cannon. The cannon has been transported across the country in some of the more elaborate heists.

  • House System:

Caltech's eight undergraduate houses each have their own traditions, personalities, and culture, similar to Hogwarts houses in Harry Potter.

  • The Honor Code:

While more of a principle than a tradition, Caltech's Honor Code ("No member shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community") is a fundamental part of campus life that influences many traditions.

  • Rotation:

First-year students visit all eight houses during a "rotation" period to find their best fit before being sorted into houses.

  • Interhouse Parties:

Each house hosts one major themed party per year with elaborate sets and decorations built by students.

  • Olive Walk:

The pathway in the center of campus lined with olive trees where many events and informal gatherings take place.

  • Midnight Donuts:

During finals week, free donuts are provided at midnight to help students studying late.

  • Prank Culture:

Caltech is famous for elaborate pranks, including changing the Hollywood sign to read "CALTECH" and hacking the 1984 Rose Bowl scoreboard.

  • The Fleming Airborne Funeral:

When students "flame out" (fail academically), Fleming House residents sometimes hold mock funerals where an effigy is thrown from the roof.

  • Annual Seminar Day:

Alumni return to campus for lectures and reunions.

  • ASCIT Formal:

The annual formal dance organized by the Associated Students of Caltech.