caltech essay prompts 2024

Orientation Schedule

Graduate Orientation activities start on Wednesday, September 18 with iBegin@Caltech for international students, and run through Friday, September 20. All students are expected to attend Orientation events from Monday, September 23 to Friday, September 27.

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). Mandatory participation is indicated by an asterisk(*) and attendance will be tracked. Students unable to attend any mandatory sessions must contact the Graduate Studies Office .

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

iBegin@Caltech - International Student Orientation

Required for all incoming international students. See the full schedule of events here .

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

9:45 AM – 11:30 AM | CONVOCATION* – Beckman Auditorium

Caltech's annual convocation ceremony offers a warm welcome and introduction to the Institute for new graduate students, new undergraduate students, and new postdoctoral scholars. The program includes greetings from President Thomas F. Rosenbaum, a brief introduction to student life at Caltech by Kevin M. Gilmartin, Vice President and Faculty Dean of Students, and a keynote address from Jonas C. Peters, Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Resnick Sustainability Institute at Caltech.

At 9:45 AM, please line up on the south side of Beckman Lawn, so that all new graduate students can process into Beckman Auditorium at 10 AM sharp.

12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | ACADEMIC OPTION PROGRAMMING* – Various Locations

Each academic option will provide option-specific orientation programming for new graduate students. Please contact your option representative directly for more detailed information.

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | HUMAN RESOURCES CHECK IN – Center for Student Services Lobby

All students receiving a stipend (assistantship or fellowship) are required to complete Employment Authorization (Form I-9). Please be sure to bring appropriate identification with you and allow up to 10-15 minutes wait time. Human Resources staff will be available to help you complete all of the forms necessary to receive your first paycheck and answer any questions you may have about direct deposit or tax forms.

6:00 PM – 11:00 PM | ANNUAL DEAN'S BARBEQUE & CASINO NIGHT – Dabney Lounge & Gardens

Dean Chan and the Graduate Studies Office staff invite you to join us for an evening of good food, new friends, and fun. Not quite Vegas, but you'll have an opportunity to try your luck at our Caltech casino in Dabney Lounge. At the end of the night, turn in your winning chips for fantastic prizes!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

9:00 AM – 9:50 AM | CHECK IN & BREAKFAST– Beckman Lawn Tent

Check in with the Graduate Studies Office, enjoy a breakfast bar including waffles and coffee, and pick up a highly coveted Caltech Graduate Studies Office swag bag!

10:00 AM | GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE WELCOME* – Beckman Auditorium

David Chan, Harold and Violet Alvarez Professor of Biology and Dean of Graduate Studies, will offer words of welcome, and introduce you to the Graduate Studies staff and Orientation Guides as well as leaders from the Graduate Student Council (GSC). Several critical academic topics will be discussed including academic expectations and the Caltech Honor Code.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | HOT TOPICS* – Beckman Auditorium

We've assembled several Caltech experts from across the Institute to provide more in-depth information regarding various aspects of the graduate student experience at Caltech.

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | LUNCH & RESOURCE FAIR – Avery Courtyard

During lunch you'll have the opportunity to meet with representatives from various Caltech offices to learn more about the programs and services they provide in support of the graduate student community. There will also be plenty of swag and other giveaways, so be sure visit as many tables as possible!

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | FACULTY PANEL* – Beckman Auditorium

Dean Chan will moderate a panel of esteemed faculty members representing each of the six academic divisions at Caltech. A question-and-answer period will follow the panel.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | GROUP CHATS* – Various Campus Locations

You've heard a lot of information today! Join your assigned Orientation Guide for small group discussion about all things Caltech and hear their best advice for ensuring a smooth transition to graduate school.

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM | WELCOME PICNIC AT THE PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE GARDEN* – 415 S. Hill Ave., Pasadena

Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum and Professor Katherine T. Faber invite all incoming graduate students to an outdoor dinner at their home.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

8:45 AM – 4:00 PM | FIRST YEAR TA TRAINING* – Check in at Beckman Lawn Tent

Check-in will begin at 8:45 AM and close at 9:15 AM . Breakfast, lunch, and light snacks are provided.

First Year TA Training is a required component of Graduate Orientation and fulfills your mandatory training should you ever be a TA at Caltech. It is also a valuable professional development activity whether you will formally teach at Caltech or not, as it addresses aspects of professional teaching, mentoring, and communication that are more broadly applicable. All incoming graduate students will complete both the online and in-person training components. Students will receive an email from the CTLO by September 1 with full details.

Sponsored by the Center for Teaching, Learning & Outreach (CTLO)

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | ICE CREAM SOCIAL – Holliston Street outside Avery House

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream Truck is quickly becoming a grad student favorite at Caltech! Visit the truck for a cool, customized unforgettable treat!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | EQUITY AND TITLE IX OFFICE PRESENTATION* – Beckman Auditorium

Caltech fosters a safe and inclusive community to promote student success in and outside of the classroom. Join the Equity and Title IX Office to learn how Caltech is ready to support you during your graduate tenure. In our presentation we will discuss how we all can keep Caltech's campus culture welcoming and safe. We will also review your rights and obligations as graduate students at Caltech, discuss boundary setting and clear communication strategies, and make clear campus policies and resources related to discrimination, sexual misconduct and unlawful harassment. We want everyone at Caltech to feel they are understood, supported, and have full access to educational opportunities. This will allow everyone greater confidence in building healthy professional and personal relationships at Caltech and beyond.

Presented by the Equity and Title IX Office

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | MASTER'S STUDENT WELCOME LUNCHEON – Avery Library

Master's students unite! All incoming students in a master's program at Caltech are invited to join the Graduate Studies staff for lunch and discussion. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet other master's students and build community across options.

ADDITIONAL EVENTS!!!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

4:30 PM | GSC 'GRADIATORS' – Beckman Mall

This outdoor event will pit teams of graduate students against each other in thrilling battles to see who the best team is! We will be playing fun outdoor games (no prior experience necessary!) on Beckman Mall and then enjoying some well-earned food and drinks. It's a fun space to get to know your peers and upper year students! Keep your eyes peeled for more information and link to RSVP in an email closer to the date!

SEPTEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 15

CROSSING OVER: ART AND SCIENCE AT CALTECH, 1920 - 2020

Presented by the Caltech Library, Crossing Over will feature rare books, scientific instruments, molecular models, paintings, drawings, photographs, and films from the Caltech Archives and Special Collections as well as contemporary art installations.

Crossing Over website

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4

5:00 PM – 1:00 AM | TECHFEST – Beckman Mall

Join this annual celebration that includes great food, a movie and dancing!

OCTOBER 4 - DECEMBER 7

OPENING DOORS: A program of PST ART events at Caltech

CaltechLive presents Opening Doors , a themed series of dance, music, and theater events on campus that showcase artists whose work engages with both the history of science and cutting-edge scientific research.

Tickets and General Information

• Tesla, A Radio Play for the Stage – October 4 - 6
• Huang Yi & Kuka – October 18 & 19
• HomeCare by Tonality – November 16
• Turing Tests, Apples, and Queens: Collective Storytelling Through Fairy Tales and Artificial Intelligence by Invertigo Dance Theatre – December 6 & 7

Tickets per event: $10 students (with student ID)

OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 3

THE EARTH DATA: THE MUSICAL

A special stage production, presented at Caltech as a campus extension of the Blended Worlds exhibit, Earth Data: The Musical attempts to show the realities of climate scientists and the struggles and joys of conducting their vital research. Directed by Caltech Theater Arts director Brian Brophy, Earth Data: The Musical is a story about coming together to fight for change and survival, standing up for what one believes in, and celebrating science as a human endeavor.

This musical is based, in part, on the work of NASA/JPL climate scientist Kimberley Rain Miner and field research from JPL postdoctoral scholar Bradley Gay. The production will include performances by Albert Jefferson, JPL flight systems engineer; and Armin Kleinboehl, JPL research scientist, among others.

Theater Arts at Caltech (TACIT) website

What are you looking for?

New faculty members expand the scope of usc dornsife’s humanities this fall.

New faculty members at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences will teach classes and conduct research on a broad range of topics, from feminist philosophy to the works of Dostoevsky.

Merrick Anderson | Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Merrick’s research focuses on ancient Greek philosophy. In particular, he works on the moral thought of Plato and his intellectual predecessors as well as philosophical method in early Greek philosophy. After writing a series of articles on the virtues of justice and courage in Plato’s Republic, he recently published his first book, Just Prospering? Plato and the Sophistic Debate about Justice . Part one in the book surveys a fifth-century BCE debate about whether being just is good for the just individual or not. In part two, Merrick reflects on Plato’s response to that debate in the following century.

Christina Dietz | Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Dietz received her PhD in philosophy at the University of Oxford. Her doctoral thesis, “Essays on the Emotions,” was supervised by renowned philosopher and logician Ofra Magidor . From 2020 to 2023, she was a research fellow at the Dianoia Institute of Philosophy at Australian Catholic University. Her research examines foundational issues within the philosophy of emotion, probing their nature, intentional content, and epistemic roles. She also explores the relation between various models of disability and well-being outcomes.

J. Dmitri Gallow | Associate Professor of Philosophy

Dmitri is interested in foundational questions about probability, causation, rational choice and the relationship between them. Common sense, the law and scientific theories all involve probabilities, but there is confusion and disagreement about their true meaning. Are they just about frequencies, ignorance or objective dispositions? Similarly, there’s debate over causation — whether it makes sense in the world revealed by modern physics, as Bertrand Russell suggested. Yet, probabilities and causation are crucial in rational decision-making, moral judgments and legal responsibility. Dmitri’s research explores the nature of probabilities, causation, and their role in rational choice and moral and legal responsibility.

Jane Hu | Assistant Professor of English

Hu’s research locates the aesthetic origins of contemporary Asian Anglophone novels and films in Victorian genre fiction. She does so by examining the relationship between literary genres and racial stereotypes as both classificatory systems that organize and systems that orient how one looks at the world. Before joining the Department of English, she was a postdoc with the USC Society of Fellows in the Humanities , and she previously taught critical theory courses at California Institute of the Arts.

Chloe Papadopoulos | Assistant Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures

Papadopoulos studies 19th-century Russian literature and visual culture. Her current research considers why the medieval past occupied such a prominent place in the cultural imaginary during an exceptionally modern historical moment — the Great Reforms. Papadopoulos is also a specialist in Dostoevsky studies and has developed a portfolio of research projects that consider Dostoevsky’s work outside of traditional Russian literary perspectives. She serves on the Readers Advisory Board of the North American Dostoevsky Society and is assistant editor of Bloggers Karamazov , the official blog of the North American Dostoevsky Society.

Max Strassfeld | Associate Professor of Religion

Strassfeld, who uses the pronoun they, specializes in late antique Jewish texts called rabbinic literature. They blend trans studies and queer theory with ancient legal discussion. They also have written for popular venues on the Christian evangelical theologies that underpin recent anti-trans legislation in the U.S. A recipient of numerous awards, including the Berlin Prize, Strassfeld earned their doctorate from Stanford University.

Emily Tilton | Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Most of Tilton’s research is in feminist epistemology. Many feminist epistemologists condemn “traditional” or “neutral” conceptions of objectivity as inimical to feminist aims. However, Tilton thinks that traditional conceptions of objectivity actually put feminists in the best position to produce rigorous, intersectional analysis. Some of Tilton’s research connects feminist critiques of neutrality to political anxieties that she thinks are detrimental to the feminist project. She says her work also has implications for how to investigate and explain specific aspects of oppressive societies, like rape culture.

She is also interested in sexual ethics and consent. Her published work (with Jonathan Ichikawa, professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia) concerns how, and when, deception invalidates consent. More broadly, she is interested in striking the right balance between respecting individual autonomy and avoiding an implausibly individualistic perspective where sexual partners look out only for themselves.

Gabriela Valenzuela | Assistant Professor of English

Valenzuela studies U.S. Central American and Latine literature from the 19th century to the present, with a focus on transnationalism, gender and sexuality, racial capitalism, and print culture. She explores Central American storytelling as expansively as she possibly can, and in complicating fixed analyses about centroamericanidad — the cultural, historical and social identity of Central America — that cast this Latine group exclusively as either newcomers to the U.S. or as perpetual migrants of crises. Valenzuela employs interdisciplinary methods, including close reading, archival research and queer theory, to read the many, diverse texts that constitute U.S. Central American literature.

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Caltech Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts & Advice

August 23, 2024

With a 3% acceptance rate (yes, truly), Caltech is one of the most highly selective schools in the country. Although ACT or SAT results are now required again during the admissions process, the Caltech admissions committee does give serious weight to the six supplemental essay prompts that they require from all applicants.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into Caltech? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Caltech  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Before we dive right in and begin examining the six required and three optional 2024-25 Caltech essays, one quick note… the admissions committee has provided in-depth guidance for all six required essays , so we’ll keep our advice for those short and sweet.

Caltech Supplemental Essays – Prompt #1 (required)

Why did you choose your proposed area of interest? If you selected ‘other’, what topics are you interested in pursuing? (200 words)

(Note: you’ll select 1-2 areas of interest from a provided drop-down box on the application)

We all have a story of what drives us to pursue a certain academic pathway and career. How did your interest initially develop? What was the spark? How have you nurtured this passion and how has it evolved over time? If you desire to go into engineering, this is a chance to talk about everything from your childhood fascination with how things work to your participation in an award-winning robotics program at your high school. Share a compelling (and, of course, true!) narrative about how your love of your future area of study has blossomed to its present levels.

You should also tie your passions into specific academic opportunities at Caltech including  courses ,  professors ,  hands-on research programs , or any other aspects of your desired major that appeal most to you.

Caltech Supplemental Essays – Prompt #2 (required)

Regardless of your STEM interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever STEM rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into. Be as specific or broad as you would like. (150 words)

Can you think of a recent time when you have been completely sucked into a STEM-related topic? Perhaps you binged every documentary available, consumed podcasts like nobody’s business, went on a Reddit bender, or found the most fascinating book at the library. What do you find so interesting about this topic, and why?

While your “rabbit hole” doesn’t necessarily have to lead to anything actionable, you can certainly mention if it did. For example, if your fascination inspired you to take on a particular project—which helped you learn even more about your subject—that could be an excellent addition to your answer.

Caltech Supplemental Essays – Prompts #3 & #4 (required)

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We are interested in learning more about your engagement with STEM.

Please share two STEM-related experiences:

1. Tell us how you initially found your interest and passion for science or any STEM topic and how you have pursued or developed this interest or passion. (200 words)

2. Tell us about a STEM-related experience from the last few years and share how and why it inspired your curiosity. (200 words)

Main note here—you won’t be writing about both experiences within the same response (phew!). Caltech provides a separate response area for each experience, so you’ll have 200 words for Prompt #1 and 200 words for Prompt #2.

Perhaps you experienced a fascinating challenge during your engineering internship, encountered a particularly thought-provoking topic during differential calculus, or relentlessly pursued an interest in black holes or topological physics. Whatever you choose—formal or informal, inside or outside the classroom—use this opportunity to share more about your chosen experience. (Note: for Prompt #1, you’ll want to discuss how you have pursued or developed your interest; for Prompt #2, you’ll focus on how/why your chosen experience stoked your curiosity .) Whether you taught yourself a new coding language and then built an app or consumed thousands of hours of podcasts on drone capabilities, this is a chance to illustrate the ways in which you are an obsessive learner with an endless thirst for information.

The admissions reader should emerge from reading these essays with the sense that you are a sincerely curious young person with a strong intellectual drive.

Caltech Essays – Prompt #5 (required)

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won  Nobel Prizes  and put  rovers on Mars . But Techers also imagine smaller-scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D-print dorm decor to experimenting in the kitchen. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (250 words)

Caltech knows you’re not a PhD-level researcher or a Nobel laureate, so they’re not looking for anything earth-shattering here (unless, of course, you’ve accomplished something earth-shattering—in which case, please share). Instead, they’re simply trying to understand the ways in which you bring your creative, inventive, and/or innovative qualities to your day-to-day life. Essentially, this is a fun chance to show off that side of yourself. To do so, feel free to go beyond extracurricular activities and formal experiences—maybe you perfected a solar oven design that bakes perfectly chewy chocolate chip cookies without utilizing electricity, or offered to develop a website for your local thrift shop with online shopping options. The sky is the limit here!

Caltech Supplemental Essays – Prompt #6 (required)

Caltech’s values include respect for a diversity of thoughts and ideas. How have you cultivated this value in your own life? (200 words)

Before you begin writing, make sure you familiarize yourself with Caltech’s full breakdown of their values . Then, choose one that 1) resonates most with you and 2) allows you to share more about your own personal experiences. Although you can select more than one, doing so may make it more difficult to craft a focused response, so keep that in mind as you write.

In addition, essays that wax poetic about the general importance of a chosen ideal—without connecting it to your own past experiences or future goals—will have approximately zero needle-moving value to the admissions committee. For example, let’s say you gravitate toward “ …we strive to cultivate an environment of learning, discovery, and innovation where “our preconceptions are challenged, our research is broadened, and our ideas are refined through the expansive exchange of ideas. ” Try rephrasing each ideal as a question in order to identify the significance and depth of your associated experiences. For example, when have you had preconceptions challenged? How did you respond? Have you ever had an idea refined through extensive collaboration with others? What was that like?

Caltech Supplemental Essays – Prompt #7, #8, and #9 (optional)

We know, we know … you see optional and start to wonder if we mean it. But in this section, we truly do! See these as completely optional opportunities to show us more of your personality. 

Optional. We promise.

• If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below. (150 words)

When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through coding marathons, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing, reading, yoga, playing musical instruments and theater arts, to solving puzzles, hiking, painting, and building or inventing new gadgets. We understand that everyone needs an outlet or two.   What is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy? (200 words)

• Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too. Tell us about another hobby or interest! (150 words)

Caltech’s admissions committee is quite transparent about what they are and aren’t looking for, so this is one of those rare occasions when an optional essay is truly optional. As such, if there is something significant to share about your background, identity, or interests that hasn’t already been communicated elsewhere on the application, feel free to discuss it here, but do not feel compelled to respond if you’ll be grasping at straws to formulate an answer.

How important are the essays?

Overall, Caltech lists five factors as being “very important” to the admissions process. Those factors are: the rigor of your high school coursework, test scores (even though they are test blind, which is odd) recommendations, character/personal qualities, and your application essays. In fact, the essays are rated as being of greater importance than your GPA, class rank, or extracurricular activities!

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Caltech and  Common App essays , we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

Looking for additional writing resources? Consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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How to Write the Caltech Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

Caltech has four required supplemental essays, and three shorter optional essays, with word limits of 150, 100, and 50, respectively. Because Caltech is one of the most academically rigorous schools in the country, you want to be sure that your essays capture your intellectual and creative potential. In this post, we’ll break down each prompt so that you can know what you need to do to craft a response that truly shines.

Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants, required prompts.

Prompt 1: Because of the rigorous courses in the core curriculum , Caltech students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore.

If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? (There are dropdown menus from which you can choose up to two areas of interest.)

Why did you choose that area of interest (200 words).

Prompt 2: At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (100-200 words per experience)

Prompt 3: The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars , but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm decor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (200-250 words)

Prompt 4: Caltech’s mission – to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracing fundamental Caltech values :

Openness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged

Respect and appreciation for the idea that, while we are all members of the same community, the opportunities we’ve had to develop, showcase, and apply our talents have not been equal, passion for the ideal that science can and should meaningfully improve the lives of others, share what one or more of these values evokes for you. (200-400 words), all applicants, optional prompts.

Prompt 5: If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them. (150 words)

Prompt 6: When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy? (100 words)

Prompt 7: Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (50 words)

Because of the rigorous courses in the core curriculum , Caltech students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore.

After you select your area(s) of interest, you are asked to provide the reasoning behind your choice(s). This is a fairly standard “Why This Major?” prompt . This straightforward prompt is intended to give the admissions committee a sense of what interests you, why it interests you, and why/how you plan on pursuing this interest in college and beyond.

Before we continue, we have to address the elephant in the room—what if you’re undecided?

The bad news is that you’re required to pick at least one area of interest on your application. The good news is that you aren’t contractually bound to the area you choose! In fact, “Every first-year student at Caltech takes the same classes during their first two terms; you won’t even declare your major until the end of your first year.”

Don’t worry if you haven’t figured out exactly what you want to do in college—many students haven’t! Look through the list of areas of interest and pick one that’s closely related to a hobby or pastime of yours so you’ll have something to write about.

If you do have an area of interest or desired major in mind, great! Pick that one for your essay.

Now that you’ve picked a subject, you may find it helpful to ponder the following questions before you begin crafting your response:

1) What are your sincere reasons for wanting to major in your chosen field?

Ideally, you will have picked a field in which you have a deep interest—one that you can talk about at length. You should have meaningful reasons for wanting to pursue your chosen field. If your primary motivation involves money, status, or pressure from your parents, you’re already off to a bad start. An essay that seems disingenuous or too self-serving will detract immensely from your application as a whole, so be sure to choose substantial reasons.

2) What are some specific examples of things you enjoy about this field of study?

When answering this question, aim to be as specific as you can. Anyone can write about liking “information and data sciences” or “biology,” so think of more narrow subtopics like “principal component analysis to reduce dataset dimensionality” or “identifying mitotic mutations in fruit flies.” If you’ve picked a topic you’re already passionate about and familiar with, talking about something specific you enjoy about it shouldn’t be too daunting.

3) How does this major serve your life and/or career goals?

You might not have the most detailed plan for your career and adult life, and that’s totally fine! However, it would be helpful if you had some idea of what you want to do in the future. Think of industries you would be able to work in with a degree in your chosen field. What is your dream job? How can this major contribute to your attainment of that job and success in the field?

4) What’s your favorite experience with this subject in school? What are the best parts of your experience with it outside the classroom?

5) Is there any recurring emotion or state of mind that you experience when exploring this field of study? What do you find appealing about that emotion or state of mind?

You can use your answers to questions 4 and 5 to recall some relevant anecdotes that may contribute to your response.

Once you’ve figured out the answers to the five aforementioned questions, you can begin planning a structure for your response. You may find it helpful to break your essay into two principal parts:

• The experiences that fostered and increased your interest in this field (as well as your emotional and personal connection to your chosen major)
• What you hope to do in the future, both at Caltech and in your career

Now, you should do some research on Caltech’s website to find some unique aspects of your chosen major that you can write about. Check out Caltech’s list of majors , as it has links that will lead you to each major’s respective webpage. Also consult their lists of faculty members and research facilities to see what work Caltech is doing in your area of interest.

For example, consider a hypothetical student who wants to pursue bioengineering with a particular interest in stem cell research. She might begin with an anecdote about how her father was a participant in a clinical trial for stem cell therapy after his spinal cord treatment. Perhaps seeing the potential of stem cell treatment opened up a new world for her, which fostered a deeper interest in biology and bioengineering than she had ever had before.

She might write about her high school experiences with biology classes, her intensive preparation for the AP Biology exam, and the bioengineering publications she now likes to read in her free time. She can then transition into a discussion of what kind of research she would like to be a part of at Caltech. A faculty member she can talk about specifically is Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, whose lab used stem cells last year to create model mouse embryos “that have beating hearts, as well as the foundations for a brain and all of the other organs in the mouse body.”

No matter how unique, weird, or quirky you think your interests are, there will probably be a major or research group at Caltech that can cultivate them. Don’t be afraid to show how unique you are as an individual—that’s the point of supplemental essays!

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (100-200 words per experience)

This prompt is supposed to gauge your interest in and experiences with STEM, both in school and in your personal life. Writing a successful essay will ideally show the admissions committee a few things:

• You are serious about pursuing STEM in college and beyond.
• You have hands-on experience in STEM.
• You have at least some idea of what to expect from a STEM-based education at Caltech.

You’ll probably know if an experience is related to STEM at first glance. Nevertheless, before you begin writing your responses to this prompt, you should make sure you have a handle on what exactly STEM is, even if you think you understand it fully.

As a quick refresher, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. It heavily emphasizes analytical and critical thinking skills, scientific literacy, and domain-specific hard skills that are essential to many career paths.

Even though the prompt specifies that you can write about experiences both within and outside the classroom, you might find the tips in CollegeVine’s guide to the extracurricular activities essay helpful.

If you have any obvious STEM experience, picking some events should be fairly straightforward. Think about the experiences you’ve had with science fairs, robotics clubs, biology or chemistry classes, etc. Narrow down your experiences to the ones that had the most significant impact on your interest in STEM. If you write about an experience that you didn’t have too much emotional investment in, you might inadvertently express a tepid interest in STEM as a whole.

If you only took one science class in high school and didn’t participate in any STEM-related extracurriculars, don’t fret! Feel free to write about two experiences from the same class. You might even be able to relate some work experience to STEM.

For example, perhaps you worked alongside a pharmacist during high school. Some people consider pharmacy to be more medical and less STEM-related, but the field of pharmacology is indisputably a branch of biology and chemistry. Don’t be afraid to bend some definitions when identifying meaningful STEM experiences you’ve had.

To help you identify your two experiences, mull over a few questions:

1) What is your favorite STEM-related activity? If you don’t have a good STEM activity, which of your non-STEM activities can be linked to STEM logically?

2) What about this activity generated your interest in STEM? Why did it make you curious and how did your participation in it increase your interest?

3) What went through your mind as you participated in this activity?

4) Have you developed or strengthened any specific interests because of this activity? If so, what are they and how have they changed over time? For example, you might have been interested in chemistry in general, but this particular activity focused your attention on metal alloys.

5) Are there any specific STEM-related skills that you have developed as a result of participating in this activity? Think about hard skills like chemical titration, building robots, testing the pH of substances, etc.

Once you’ve decided on your two activities, you can begin writing your responses. For each activity, you should address each point of the prompt:

• How did the activity activate your curiosity?
• Why did the activity activate your curiosity?
• What about the activity made you want to learn more and explore further?

After addressing each point, if you still have room within your 200 words per activity, you can explain some things further. Perhaps you want to discuss something specific that you learned or exactly what your role in the activity was.

For example, consider the following response by a hypothetical student:

“During my junior year of high school, I joined the Robotics Club with no prior experience, other than having taken AP CompSci. Our team’s first project involved building and coding a robot that could get to distant water sources, collect water, and purify and store it. We spent several weekends and late nights programming the bot and troubleshooting it.

It had trouble navigating at first, then it failed to recognize the water sources. Finally, we completed the build in a few months, and though it was far from perfect, it did the job. That first drink of purified water from the bot was beyond refreshing.

That project was the one that truly showed me how useful robotics could be to humanity. I imagined building hundreds of robots like the original and sending them to developing countries to increase their access to clean drinking water. I am now drawn to mechanical engineering because it offers limitless opportunities to create devices that can be used to improve the world and people’s quality of life.”

This example is effective because it tells an engaging anecdote, addresses each point of the prompt, and offers a plan for the student’s college career and future professional life.

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars , but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm decor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (200-250 words)

This prompt is trying to determine how you think as a problem solver. The admissions committee wants to know the ways in which you have been innovative or have approached problems creatively.

Don’t feel like you have to have developed some revolutionary solution to a global problem. No one is expecting you to have engineered some brilliant scientific apparatus—you haven’t even begun college yet! Just like the prompt’s examples illustrate, you can think on as big or as small a scale as you’d like.

When trying to choose an example of innovation in your own life, it might be useful to think about abstract qualities then work your way to concrete events. Are you ambitious, adaptable, creative, resourceful, open-minded? What are some positive qualities of yours? Once you’ve decided on some attributes, you should be able to relate them to some anecdotes.

Let’s say you’re creative and resourceful. Think of a time when those traits generated something innovative or novel in your life. Maybe you were locked out of your apartment and used a credit card to open the latch. Perhaps this experience inspired you to 3D print a plastic card to use specifically for problems like that.

Your story of innovation can involve anything really, as long as you came up with a creative solution to a problem you were confronted with. Maybe the arm of your glasses broke in the middle of class, so you attached a pen cap to it so the glasses could still be used until you had time to replace them.

You have 250 words, so you may want to think of 2-3 anecdotes to discuss. It might even be helpful to write about something you want to improve but haven’t yet. You can talk about a persistent problem you’ve seen and propose a creative potential solution.

Here’s an example of an anecdote a student might write:

“I worked at a hardware store during high school to help my parents pay some bills. The store was far from my home, and often took about an hour to get to by public transportation. I’ve always been interested in tinkering with mechanical devices, so I decided to make the most of my job.

I bought parts from the store with portions of my paycheck every couple of weeks, and over the course of several months I built myself a bicycle from scratch. Of course, it wasn’t the most visually appealing or comfortable bike, but it did the job and it did it well. I don’t use it much anymore, but I still own it and feel great pride every time I pass it on my way out the door.”

This is a good anecdote because it presents an issue, describes something about the student’s creative and inquisitive nature, and showcases the innovative solution that the student devised.

You may want to approach this prompt in a similar way. Outline a problem you had to deal with, describe some relevant positive attributes about yourself, then explain how these attributes helped you find an innovative solution to the problem.

Caltech’s mission – to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracing fundamental Caltech values :

Brainstorming your topic:

Caltech has narrowed your list of possible topics to just three things—the values listed above. Now, that doesn’t mean your brainstorming process is over when you pick the value(s) you want to write about.

You also want to have a clear sense of how you’re going to explain what that value means to you, as 400 words is on the longer side for a supplemental essay. If you’re unfocused going into the essay, your writing may end up somewhat scattered. To ensure that doesn’t happen, think of some experiences you’ve had that showcase what the value you’ve selected means to you.

For example, you might want to write about your openness to other perspectives. Maybe you describe a snowshoeing trip you took with your family, and how you were dreading the damp, the cold, and the blisters. But, even though you did end up confronting all of those things, you also unexpectedly got to see the northern lights. That once-in-a-lifetime treat helped you realize that having a positive outlook on new experiences is a choice, and if you consciously make it, you’re likely to enjoy yourself much more.

As this example illustrates, unless you choose the third value, your response doesn’t have to rely solely on STEM-related experiences. Obviously, Caltech is one of the most prestigious tech schools in the world, but remember that admissions officers will also be reading your responses to Prompts 1, 2, and 3, which are all academically focused. So, if you want to share a slightly different side of yourself, this prompt is a great opportunity to do so.

Note: given the linked webpage and the wording of the values in the prompt, you might use this space to write about a topic related to diversity . Just be sure to follow the prompt’s directions if you do.

Finally, note that the prompt says you can write about “one or more” of the listed values. If you can think of an experience you’ve had that showcases two or three of the given values, go for it! That said, don’t force anything. A well-written, cohesive response that focuses on just one value is just as good as one that includes multiple values.

400 words should be more than enough to develop your ideas in sufficient detail, but if you’re trying to cram in a connection that isn’t really logically there, your essay will feel disjointed.

Tips for writing your essay:

Once you start writing, keep this important writing principle in mind—show, don’t tell. You don’t want to just state things in a factual, direct way. Rather, describe a situation that illustrates the points you’re trying to make. To see the difference, compare the following two example sentences:

Example 1: “Although I had been having a terrible time all day, when we finally reached the overlook we had been trekking towards, we got to see the northern lights, which I will never forget.”

Example 2: “When we finally emerged from the treeline, my hair was still damp with cold sweat and snowfall, and my heels were still chafing against my itchy wool socks, but my discomfort melted away in the iridescent shimmer of the aurora borealis sparkling on unblemished snow.”

These two examples are about the same moment, but the second immerses us in the scene with sensory details and strong descriptions, which makes it much more engaging to read. Since you have a little more room to write in this supplement, don’t be afraid to show your creative writing abilities.

Also be sure you give the admissions officers a strong sense of what your chosen value means to you. Remember, within your application as a whole, the point of the essay is to set yourself apart even from other smart, talented applicants. Since everyone is going to be writing about the same three given values in their responses, make sure it’s clear how your experiences have shaped your own personal understanding of the value you select. 

Including a personal overall takeaway will help admissions officers see why the experience you’ve described speaks to the kind of Caltech student you’ll be. Remember, their job is to visualize how you will contribute to their school for the next four years, so make sure you explain how something that took place in the past continues to influence you today.

Mistakes to avoid:

The most important thing to avoid in your response is vagueness. If you speak only in general abstract terms about the value you’ve selected and fail to incorporate detailed, illustrative examples, your essay may end up sounding preachy, or like a Hallmark card.

The other, slightly more subtle mistake you want to watch out for is not drawing an obvious connection between your experiences and the value you’ve selected. For example, say that in the snowshoeing example you spent all 400 words describing how beautiful the northern lights are, and didn’t say anything about how grumpy you were at the start of the snowshoeing trip. Your reader wouldn’t have any idea how this story reflects your open-mindedness.

As long as you follow the brainstorming tips we’ve provided above and rely on strong descriptions once you start writing, you should be unlikely to fall into these traps and should be well on your way to a personal, engaging essay.

Prompt 5 (Optional)

If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them. (150 words).

While we typically encourage students to respond to optional prompts, there’s no need to write additional information here if you feel that your application already captures your identity adequately.

This is a variation on the common diversity prompt . Unlike the previous prompts, this prompt has a 150-word limit, so if you choose to respond to it, you’re going to have to be more succinct.

Think about communities that you’re a member of, especially those that have played a role in your development as a person. These communities can be physical environments, like the neighborhood you grew up in, or communities defined by attributes, like your ethnic group or gender identity. Remember, identity encompasses a wealth of attributes.

Aspects of identity include traditional markers of diversity, such as ethnicity/race, country of origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, your first language, and an illness/disability. However, aspects of identity also include your hometown, socioeconomic class, groups you’re part of, and even your interests or hobbies.

A quick note if you intend to write about your racial background: In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling, however, still allows colleges to consider race on an individual basis, which is one reason many schools are now including diversity prompts as one of their supplemental essay prompts. If you feel that your racial background has impacted you significantly, this is the place to discuss that.

Because of the wording of the prompt, you might also choose to write about an aspect of your life that isn’t related to ideas of identity. These can include life-altering events, important social interactions you’ve had, or formative experiences.

After you’ve settled on an aspect of identity or an event you deem important enough to write about, consider some questions to help direct your writing:

1) What is the strongest emotion you feel about your chosen aspect of identity or event?

2) Is there a skill, ability, or talent you have due to this aspect or event?

3) Have you developed or strengthened any personality traits as a result of this background? If so, what are they and how have they changed over time?

You don’t necessarily have to include any or all of this information in your response, but if you’re having trouble putting the importance of your chosen aspect/event into words, these questions might inspire some ideas.

Once you’ve chosen a topic and have some idea of how you intend to describe it and its importance, it’s time to write. There are two strong approaches to writing this response:

• The first approach involves doing something totally novel. You might want to pick a completely new aspect of your identity or life event that is fully distinct from one previously mentioned in your application. For example, if you mentioned your gender identity already, you may choose to write about your ethnic background here. This can be a useful approach if certain parts of your identity hold a similar level of importance to you.
• The second approach involves building a previously mentioned attribute/event. Perhaps there is an aspect of your identity that is related to the one you just wrote about, but distinct enough to warrant a new essay. Maybe you talked about being Hispanic somewhere in your application previously, and now want to write about the Spanish language. The language you speak might be an integral part of your identity. It isn’t the same as your ethnic background, even if the two are closely linked, so something like that would be fair game for this prompt.

Though this response is really whatever you want it to be, there are some things you’ll want to try not to do. Remember to avoid simply listing aspects of your identity without elaboration, writing too much about something negative, and discussing a topic that’s too clichéd.

This is another chance to showcase who you are. During the admissions process, there aren’t too many of these opportunities, so make the most of them!

Prompt 6 (Optional)

When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speedcubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. what is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy (100 words).

This prompt is meant to gauge who you are beyond your grades and test scores. It’s an optional prompt, but we strongly recommend writing a response to it, as this gives the admissions committee more knowledge about you.

Caltech wants to know what interests you outside of school, and what hobbies you might bring to their campus. Your hobbies don’t necessarily have to be traditional extracurricular activities, but you might still want to look at our guide to writing the extracurricular activities essay for some tips!

Before you begin writing, it’s important that you select a strong topic. Of course, you need to be sincere. Don’t write about a topic you don’t consider a hobby just because you think the admissions committee wants to read about it. An authentic topic will always make for a better essay than an extravagant one. Make a list of your most meaningful hobbies and consider the following questions:

1) Which hobby on your list have you shown the most commitment to? Which has been most influential in your development?

2) What is the strongest emotion you feel about this hobby?

• Why do you feel this emotion?
• Has that emotional response changed over time? If so, how and why?
• What emotions do you feel during the activity?

3) What thoughts and feelings go through your mind while you participate in this hobby/activity?

4) Have you developed or strengthened any personality traits as a result of this hobby? If so, what are they and how have they evolved over time?

5) Have you developed any skills due to this hobby? These can include soft skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, work ethic, and teamwork, or hard skills, which are specific to whatever domain your hobby is a part of.

6) What impact has this hobby had on the rest of your life (other activities, social life, academics, etc.)?

Once you’ve chosen your hobby, think about how you want to structure your essay. You only have 100 words, which is a very small space to work within, so you’re going to have to be concise. The prompt specifically asks why this interest brings you joy, so you’ll definitely want to include a response to that question.

You have some flexibility in the way you respond to this prompt. You might explicitly state what you enjoy about the hobby, or perhaps you’ll talk about some of the activity’s outcomes that have brought you fulfillment.

Consider this response from a hypothetical student:

“My fingers pluck each string deliberately but delicately. My foot taps quietly along, keeping rhythm like a metronome. I am at peace, once again practicing classical guitar like I have every day for the past ten years. That seems long already, but there is still so much to learn.

As each mellifluous note wafts through the air, I am filled with the joy of knowing there is another technique to master, another piece to play, another obstacle to conquer. Playing classical pieces is more than a hobby; it is a challenge, an opportunity to honor something that transcends time.”

This is a strong response for a number of reasons:

• First, it uses very evocative language to great effect, painting a picture of the hobby in question.
• Second, it describes in detail the emotions the hobby evokes and the reason it elicits joy in the student.
• Finally, it showcases the student’s perspective in a way that cannot be misconstrued. This student is clearly intellectually stimulated by this hobby, dedicated to it, and industrious when it comes to practicing—all excellent qualities to bring to Caltech.

You should strive to do the same things in your essay. Use imagery to your advantage, be specific when discussing your emotions, and try to describe your emotional response to the hobby in a way that reveals something about your personality.

You want to craft an effective essay, so you should note a few common mistakes to avoid:

• Don’t pick the wrong activity! Bad activities include: hobbies you’ve already written about somewhere else in your application, impressive-sounding hobbies you don’t actually participate in, and hobbies you haven’t actually put that much time into.
• Don’t just describe the interest without elaborating on its impact on you. You might get caught up in your anecdote when writing, but don’t forget to explain the hobby’s significance.
• Don’t just list your accomplishments within the hobby. You shouldn’t simply provide a list of things that make you look good superficially. You want to show your personal perspective and growth by discussing your emotional response to your chosen hobby and how the hobby impacts your life.

Structurally, take a reflective approach and really analyze your thoughts and feelings about the hobby. Since you only have 100 words to work with, avoid writing more than one anecdote. You need to be concise in your language, but as long as you can provide a good reflection and describe what it is about your hobby that brings you joy, you will be fine.

Prompt 7 (Optional)

Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby we understand – caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest (50 words).

This prompt is also optional, but it’s a great chance to describe something else you’re passionate about. If you were stuck on the previous prompt, struggling to choose between two hobbies that are really important to you, you can describe the second one here.

Bear in mind that this prompt has only 50 words, half the words you had for the previous prompt. If you decide to write a response to this prompt, you have to be extremely precise in your word choice. Consult the guide to the previous prompt above, CollegeVine’s guide to writing the extracurricular activities essay , for more in-depth tips on how you should craft your essay.

Consider the following example response:

“My fingers pluck each string deliberately but delicately. I am at peace, practicing classical guitar like I have daily for the past decade. As notes float through the air, I’m filled with the joy of knowing there is another technique to master, another piece to play, another obstacle to conquer.”

This response is the previous example response adapted to fit the smaller word limit. Notice that it still defines the hobby, paints a picture of the activity, and describes the student’s emotional response when participating in the activity. Of course, the reduced word count means that this essay reveals a bit less about the student than the previous version, but it still answers the prompt well.

Where to Get Your Caltech Essay Edited

Do you want feedback on your Caltech essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

How to Write the Caltech Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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California Institute of Technology , also known as Caltech, is a renowned university that focuses on providing a rigorous STEM education to its students. Caltech’s living alumni include 17 Nobel Laureates, such as Richard Feynman. Other notable Caltech alumni include Stephen Wolfram, Fei-Fei Li, Adam D’Angelo, and David Brin. If you’re an aspiring Techie, you’ve come to the right place. The Caltech supplemental essays include six required and four optional prompts for prospective applicants to answer. Let’s dive in.

Caltech’s 2024-2025 Prompts

Required caltech supplemental essays, your stem future – stem academic interests: caltech has a rigorous core curriculum and students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. however, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore. if you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose why did you choose your proposed area of interest if you selected ‘other’, what topics are you interested in pursuing (100-200 words), your stem present – stem curiosity: regardless of your stem interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever stem rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into. be as specific or broad as you would like. (50-150 words), your stem past – stem experiences: tell us how you initially found your interest and passion for science or any stem topic, and how you have pursued or developed this interest or passion over time. (100-200 words), your stem past – stem experiences (continued): tell us about a stem-related experience from the last few years and share how and why it inspired your curiosity. (100-200 words), creativity in action question: the creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won nobel prizes and put rovers on mars . but techers also imagine smaller-scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3d-print dorm decor to experimenting in the kitchen. how have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life (200-250 words), caltech values question: caltech’s values include respect for a diversity of thoughts and ideas. how have you cultivated this value in your own life (50-200 words), optional caltech supplemental essays, if there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below. (150 words or fewer), when not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through coding marathons, caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing, reading, yoga, playing musical instruments and theater arts, to solving puzzles, hiking, painting, and building or inventing new gadgets. we understand that everyone needs an outlet or two. what is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy (200 words or fewer), did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby we understand – caltech students like to stay busy, too. tell us about another hobby or interest (150 words or fewer), have you had any extenuating circumstances (such as limited course selection or disruptions), that have affected your coursework, but that are not described elsewhere in your application if so, tell us about them here..

General Tips

While Caltech is unusual in offering ten essay prompts for applicants to answer, these essays don’t have to be difficult. Before you begin writing the first essay, read through all the prompts. That way, you can pace yourself. If a topic has multiple facets that could be discussed in different essays, versus getting jammed into one essay, then go for it. What might seem like an excessive number of essays to write is actually just an abundance of opportunities to show Caltech who you are.

Moreover, the optional essay prompts are really just that: optional. In order to be effective and boost your chances of admission, your Caltech supplemental essays need to be thoughtful, organized, proofread, and specific. If you only have the bandwidth to bring your best writing talents to the required prompts, you should feel no pressure to write a few more rushed essays. In addition, not all of the optional prompts will relate to all applicants. In other words, don’t try to write responses to the optional prompts if they don’t speak to you. Instead, consider all of the parts of yourself you’d really like Caltech to know, and do your best to incorporate them into the essays you are required to write.

That said, let’s dive in.

Required Caltech Short Essay Questions

Although you’re not bound to study whatever major or area of interest you describe in this essay, you should answer authentically. Through the Caltech supplemental essays, the admissions team seeks curious, driven individuals who already know they want to pursue STEM. Because of this, you’ll want to let your passion shine through.

In addition, whether you have a particular origin story behind your academic interest(s), or you simply enjoy pursuing the questions behind your interest(s), this essay response will benefit from specific details. For example, you hope to study computer science, explain to the reader what kind of computer science you’re interested in, how you became interested in this subfield, and, if you have space, what you hope to do with this degree. Don’t be afraid to sound nerdy!

If there were any details or interests you couldn’t fit into the answer above, here’s your opportunity to explore them further. Note that the wording of the prompt indicates that you should only discuss one rabbit hole in this essay. Instead of discussing all your interests in one place, focus on one topic you’ve regularly been Googling, reading about, watching YouTube videos on, or otherwise researching. Remember, there are quite a few Caltech essays. Therefore, you should aim for depth instead of breadth in this essay. Any topics you wish you could have addressed here, you’ll likely have the opportunity to address in another essay.

This essay prompt has some overlap with the first prompt, which could also involve the origin story of a STEM interest of yours. That said, this prompt could be about any STEM interest, not just your intended area of study. In addition, you could focus this essay on a more specific interest, topic, or subfield than your area of study. In fact, you could focus on a singular, specific topic that is included within your area of study. You could even get as specific as a single question you’ve sought to answer over the years.

If you’re having trouble coming up with topics for this essay, consider focusing on whatever interest has the best story behind it. Note that the prompt expects a singular topic , not multiple topics. This prompt expects you to provide the past, present, and future of a particular interest. Therefore, if you have been pursuing any particular topic for a while, then that topic might fit well into this essay.

This prompt, which is under the same subheading as the previous prompt (”Your STEM Past – STEM Experiences), opens the door for you to discuss extracurricular activities or coursework. For instance, you could describe a lab project in school that inspired your interest in biology. You could focus on an independent research project you have pursued, a summer camp you have attended, a lecture you have heard, or even a book you have read.

The prompt asks you to discuss an “experience,” so be sure to keep your narrative concrete, not abstract. Your essay should clarify that the topic of your essay involved a real-life experience. Then, you should explore how that experience has impacted you and your interest(s).

This essay is your space to describe a project you’ve undertaken, a way you’ve optimized your daily life, a practical idea you’ve come up, or something along these lines. The more creative, the better. Consider the times when you’ve worked with your hands, solved practical problems for your family or friends, or used your technical skills to create something new and unexpected.

The admissions team set this prompt in order to gauge their applicants’ level of creativity and drive to be industriousness in their daily lives. Creativity is great to demonstrate here, but you can also highlight the ways you’ve served others. Not only will you be a student at Caltech, but you will be a peer, a roommate, a community member, and a friend. Therefore, if you have created, invented, or innovated on behalf of others, then you might want to focus on one of those projects here.

Following on the last prompt, Caltech seeks students who will also be thoughtful community members, peers, and friends. Most likely, Caltech’s community will be more diverse than your hometown, given that your classmates will be from around the world. Therefore, the admissions team looks for students who will thrive in communities of great diversity. This diversity not only encompasses identity but also perspectives and life experiences.

Consider times when you have exercised humility, worked to build community, and/or engaged with people who have very different worldviews from your own. Describe who you were in those moments, and feel free to bring up multiple moments as long as you have room to describe each one with specificity.

Optional Caltech Short Essay Questions

Like all of the optional Caltech supplemental essays, this prompt provides applicants with the opportunity to discuss topics otherwise unmentioned in their applications. For instance, if your Caltech application explores your academic and extracurricular interests and achievements but ignores your cultural identity, you might want to write about that topic in this essay. In other words, if there are parts of who you are and how you present yourself to the world that aren’t addressed elsewhere in your application but feel important to you to mention, here’s your chance.

The word “identity” can be treated expansively here. Your identity can include your gender, ethnicity, immigration status, sexual orientation, Myers-Briggs type, political party, religion, and more. Remember, the admissions team has posed this prompt in order to get to know you better. If you were meeting someone for the first time, what would you hope they understood about you? This essay is the right place to answer that question.

The key word in this prompt is “joy.” While brainstorming for this prompt, think about the ways you spend your time. When are you most joyful? What excites you? What do you look forward to doing in your spare time? Here’s your opportunity to elaborate on a source of joy for you.

A “favorite interest or hobby,” in the context of this prompt, should be something that you do simply because you like to. In other words, this activity should not be solely driven by your desire to pad your resume, earn money, or please your parents. This activity should be self-driven and self-motivated.

In addition, this should be a singular activity (see the next prompt). Because most people can write at lengths about their passions, it is important to keep this essay focused on one topic, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Before you begin to write, consider structuring your essay around an anecdote. You could also write this essay about how your interest/activity/hobby has changed you as a person, a structure which would give your essay a clear narrative arc. However you choose to organize your thoughts in this essay, pay attention to the narrative structure, make sure every sentence relates back to your overarching topic, and be sure to let your joy shine through.

If you found yourself struggling to decide on which hobby or interest to write about while brainstorming the last essay, consider giving one of the runner-ups a chance to shine in this essay. Note that you should only choose to respond to this prompt if you have already responded to the last prompt.

Like in the previous essay, cohesion is essential to making this essay stand out. Don’t mention all your other interests here; the prompt is clear that you’re only supposed to bring up one more interest in this essay. And, once again, joy is key to making this essay feel authentic. Feel comfortable discussing an interest that is similar to the one you already wrote about, or write about a completely different type of hobby if that feels more right to you. Regardless, focus on an activity you pursue that genuinely makes you happy, and your essay will read just as genuinely

This essay prompt gives an applicant the opportunity to bring up a topic otherwise untouched in their application. If your GPA was affected by factors outside your control, your AP exams disturbed or unexpectedly canceled, or another similar issue, then you don’t have to be burdened by that situation in your college application process. Instead, you can elaborate on your unique circumstances here, in an essay with no official word limit.

Be as specific, humble, and honest as you can be here. Moreover, don’t write more than you need to. Although there’s no official word limit on this essay, the admissions officers at Caltech are busy individuals. As briefly as you can, provide the details of your extenuating circumstances, but don’t provide more information than necessary.

If you need help polishing up your Caltech supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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How to Write Amazing Caltech Essays

College Essays

The California Institute of Technology—or Caltech, as it's more commonly known—is a highly exclusive college. If you want to join the Beavers, you'll need not just top grades and standardized test scores, but strong writing supplements to support them as well.

Caltech accepts around 6% of students who apply, making it an extremely competitive school . The more you know about the Caltech essay prompts before you start, the better prepared you are to answer them.

Read on to learn about 2021's essay prompts, as well as some tips and tricks for maximizing their potential to impress!

Feature Image: Canon.vs.nikon /Wikimedia Commons

BREAKING: Caltech Application Changes Due to COVID-19

As a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, many colleges have made the decision to at least temporarily stop requiring SAT and ACT scores. In June 2020, California Institute of Technology announced that they will stop considering SAT and ACT scores of applicants for the next two admission cycles (those applying in fall 2020, 2021, and 2022). This means that, not only are SAT and ACT scores not required, but, even if you submit them, they won't be reviewed and they won't be considered as part of your application. (This is what we refer to as a "test blind" policy.) Additionally, international students can now meet Caltech's English proficiency requirement by submitting either TOEFL or Duolingo scores.

Because of SAT and ACT cancellations , as well as the difficulty some students are having preparing or paying for the tests, Caltech made the decision to temporarily stop requiring standardized test scores to make admissions as fair and equitable as possible. Because test scores aren't being considered, there will be an increased emphasis on classes students took and the grades they received in them.

What Do I Need to Know About the Caltech Essays?

Caltech accepts four different applications: Coalition, Common App, Powered by Scoir, and Questbridge. In addition to the required Coalition,  Common Application, and powered by Scoir essays, Caltech also requires three short essays. ( Questbridge applicants only need to write these if they become Match Finalists and have ranked Caltech.)

You’ll write one required academic question and three required short answer questions, but you’ll also have the option to answer three supplemental short answer questions and one supplemental academic question, if you want.

Altogether, you'll be writing up to 1100 words for the required essays, and 300 words for the optional short answer questions. These essays are fairly short, so you'll want to spend a good amount of time honing your argument to its most efficient. Start early so you have plenty of time to plan, refine, revise, and proof before you submit!

Do a little preparation and you can look this happy when writing your Caltech essays, too!

What Are the Caltech Essay Prompts?

The Caltech essay prompts are fairly standard, though each one is tailored to the college's specifications. You'll see the usual "Overcoming Obstacles” and “Defining Your Fit” essay questions, but always keep in mind that you're applying to Caltech specifically, and your essays should reflect that.

Required Academic Question

Because of the rigorous core course curriculum, Caltech students don't declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore. If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose that area of interest? (Max: 200 words)

The first essay asks you share your academic passion (or passions), and how you discovered them. Many colleges understand that students change their majors throughout the course of their careers, and Caltech doesn’t want you to have to choose a major until you’re a sophomore. But they still want you to have a good idea of what you want to focus on and why it matters to you.

The key here is to be specific about your area of interest. Note that they don’t mention a major, but instead an overall field. In other words, now isn’t the time to say that you want to major in biology because you’ve always done well in school. Instead, focus on something more specific, like a problem you want to solve or an experience that changed the way you see your career. Maybe your physical science egg-drop challenge inspired a desire to create safer structures, or maybe a field trip to a NASA location made you realize you had to be in that control room one day.

Whatever the case, be as specific as you can with what you want to study, and remember that multiple majors could get you there. For example, visiting NASA could have inspired you to study mathematics, physics, or engineering. There are multiple paths to reach the same goal; do your homework, look at the different programs Caltech offers, and choose one or two that align with your dream.

Caltech is, in their own words, “an unapologetic STEM institution.” Whatever you do, make sure that your chosen area fits within these parameters.

Required Short Answer Question #1

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100/Max: 200 words for each experience)

This prompt is asking you to discuss something you're passionate about. Your interests and activities outside of school and work can reveal a lot about the kind of person you are. As such, this prompt is a great opportunity to show how you exhibit the characteristics of the perfect Caltech candidate in your life experiences that don’t show up in your test scores and GPA.

Hopefully, thinking of a topic for this essay will be easy for you. You should write about a situation, story, or topic that gets you so engrossed and excited that it’s tough to tear yourself away from learning about it! Whether that’s reading up on the psychology of conspiracy theories or bird watching with your little brother, the most important thing is that you choose something that you’re deeply interested in. When you do that, admissions counselors will be able to feel your passion too!

Even though you probably could write pages and pages about the topic you choose, it’s important to keep things clear and concise here. Remember: you only have 200 words per topic to work with! To keep your essay focused, tell the story of how these experiences piqued your curiosity into the subject (or subjects) you’ve chosen to write about. You can describe your learning process, even if it’s quirky or unconventional. This is your chance to show Caltech how you choose to expand your mind when left to your own devices.

And that’s the most important thing to emphasize in your essay. Caltech is looking for students who don’t stop learning when the semester ends. The people who make a difference in the world are passionate, lifelong learners. This essay is your chance to show off your niche interests and prove to Caltech that you’re a lifelong learner too.

This guy would fit right in at Caltech.

Required Short Answer Question #2

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech's students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars , but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm decor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)

This question is a great way for you to show off your skills! Maybe your insight helped your school’s robotics team take home first place, or maybe you found a way to streamline some part of your family’s day-to-day routine. You have a lot of options here, but make sure to keep your topic focused on STEM-related subjects. This is an excellent topic for a problem-and-solution essay: after all, your innovation will have improved a situation, right? You only have 250 words, so you’ll need to make them count! Caltech wants to see how your mind works : why were you driven to your chosen innovation? Were there any obstacles? What was the end result, and how was it received?

Remember:  you'll need to give the admissions counselors enough information that they can understand your innovation and  its impact. Be sure to answer both parts of this question so that you're fully addressing the prompt. 

It probably wasn't one of these kids who wrote these successful Caltech essays.

Required Short Answer Question #3

The process of discovery is best advanced when people from diverse backgrounds come together to solve the greatest challenges in their fields. How do your past experiences and present-day perspectives inform who you have become and how you navigate the world? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)

This is your chance to show Caltech what makes you tick, and how you’ve become who you are. Think back on the formative experiences in your life: your home, your family, your cultural background. How have they shaped you into who you are now and what you want? Show Caltech how you see the world, and why.

As always, you should remember to gear this toward STEM as much as you can: Caltech isn’t kidding when they tell you to “lean all the way in on the STEMiest of STEMmy topics.” The trick here is to show how your own lived experiences have informed your interest and perspective on the STEM subject that you’re most drawn to. Maybe you come from a family of artists, and their sense of aesthetics informs the way you design and present your projects. Maybe you have a different cultural background than most of your peers, which influences your thought processes.

Be sure to tell a story here so that you can connect with admissions counselors. For example, was there a formative experience in your childhood or youth that made you realize you stand out from your peers in some way? Was a family member or cultural tradition particularly influential?

CalTech Short Answer Questions

Along with longer essays, you'll also have to tackle a few short answer responses, too. We'll break them down below! 

Supplemental Short Answer Question #1

If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (Max: 150 words)

This is a pretty broad prompt! Unlike Required Question 3, which asks about your background, or Supplemental Question 2, which asks about your hobbies, this is about your identity, which includes both of those things and more! You have a lot of options here: think of past experiences that made you realize more about who you are and what you stand for. Maybe you stood up to a bully. Maybe you went stargazing with family or friends, and found yourself overwhelmed by the vastness of the universe. Just like with the other prompts, remember to be as specific as possible, and give examples.

Supplemental Short Answer Question #2

When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy? (Max: 100 words)

This is a great prompt to answer, because it gives you the chance to show the admissions counselors more about who you are not just as a budding scholar but as a person. Here’s a chance to open up about, say, your passion for rock climbing or your increasingly-large collection of succulents. You only have 100 words, but try to go into as much detail as possible about how your hobby makes you feel. This is the place to be descriptive, and to show rather than tell.

Supplemental Short Answer Question #3

Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (Max: 50 words)

You've probably got more than one hobby you love. This is your chance to share that with admissions counselors at CalTech. You don't have much space, but help your readers understand why you're passionate about the hobby you choose. 

Caltech Essays That Worked

All this information is great, but it can still be tricky to understand exactly what Caltech wants to know until you've seen it demonstrated. Check out this accepted essay—and some tips from someone who took a serious risk—to learn more about what Caltech hopes to see in your essay!

Even though the example essays below respond to old essay prompts, there’s still a lot you can learn from them about how to write successful Caltech essays.

Martin Alternburg's Essay

I cross over the bridge into Minnesota. Out of my three sports, cross country is definitely my worst — but I continue to be hooked on it. Unlike swimming and track, my motivation to run is heavily intrinsic. I live for the long runs I take on by myself. While they rarely happen during our season, we were assigned a long run to complete over our first weekend of cross country. In reality, I was supposed to go six miles, but felt eight gave me more time to explore the home I had just returned to. My mind begins to wander as I once again find my rhythm. My train of thought while running is similar to the way one thinks in the minutes before sleep — except one has more control over how these thoughts progress and what tangents they move off of. While special relativity would be the "proper" thing to think about, especially at MITES, I revive the violin repertoire I had turned away from for so long and begin playing it in my head. I'm now at the edge of town in between the cornfields. The streaming floodlights on the open road give me a sense of lonely curiosity, reminiscent of the opening lines of Wieniawski's first violin concerto. I come up with adaptations of the melody in my head, experimenting with an atonality similar to Stravinsky's.

Martin Altenburg's essay is well-structured, using the narrative of a morning run to demonstrate all the things that run through his head, and, more importantly, all the unique traits that make him who he is.

From just these two paragraphs, we know he's a runner, that he's driven, that he strives for more than he thinks he's capable of, and that he knows music and composition. Because the essay is in a narrative format, we're able to follow this line of thinking and have it all wrapped up neatly at the end. We're drawn in by energetic and purposeful writing that also delivers us all the information we need.

Throughout the essay, Altenburg discusses his interests and his growth. His strategic use of locations in his hometown allows readers to understand where he comes from both literally and figuratively, especially the part about his beliefs and how the community he's grown up in have impacted them. All this is valuable information to an admissions office, who wants to see how you see yourself and why.

One thing to note about this essay is that it doesn't include any reference to Caltech. In fact, Altenburg used the same essay to apply to—and get into—eight different Ivy Leagues as well as some other schools. The essay was likely written as part of the Common or Coalition Application rather than as part of Altenburg's Caltech supplement, hence the lack of specificity. Your essays for the Caltech supplement should contain more specificity than this, as these essays are unique to Caltech and want to know exactly what draws you to that school above others.

Michelle Fan's Essay Reflection

"How do you believe Caltech will best fuel your intellectual curiosity and help you meet your goals?" If I had a few weeks, I might have done enough research to namedrop a few professors, rave about the strength of their computer science programs, and come up with a compelling story about all my professional goals. But I didn't have those few weeks, so I told them the unembellished, wholehearted truth: I said I have no idea what I want to do in life. All I knew was that I liked making calculator games and explosions and wanted to participate in the bread-throwing, water-dumping congregations otherwise known as Caltech house dinners. As it turns out, being yourself actually works. Shocker, I know. Colleges really do want to like you for you.

Michelle Fan doesn't post her Caltech essay directly, but she does talk about her process and what she discovered between her highly planned essays and the ones she wrote the day they were due.

Fan points out that her last-minute essays, the ones that she wrote from her heart rather than from her head, are the ones that got accepted. Though I definitely don't advocate for waiting until the same day that your essay is due to start writing it, it's a good message to keep in mind—when you're faced with an imminent deadline and you just need to get something out, your writing is probably more genuine than if you've been editing and revising it for ages.

But the big takeaway here should not be to wait until the last second to write your essay (please, don't do that!). The real lesson is that you should write in a way that is true to yourself, not a way that you think will impress admissions offices. You should be authentic and genuine, letting your personality and interests tell Caltech why you're a good fit.

If your essay looks like this, that's a good thing!

4 Key Tips for Writing a Caltech Essay

Like all college essays, there are some general things to keep in mind when working on your Caltech writing supplement. The earlier you get started, the better—take a little time to make sure that your essay is as polished as possible!

Brainstorming before you start writing will help you pick a topic that's both meaningful and impressive. Jotting down a list of ideas for each topic, no matter how silly they might feel at first impression, gives you options. Spend a little time away from your options so that you can pick the one that you feel most strongly about with less bias!

#2: Get People to Read Your Essays for You

Feedback is an important tool as a writer. Getting someone else to look at your work—preferably someone who will be honest about its shortcomings—will help you find logical holes, weird phrasing, and other errors that may creep into your work. When you feel like your essays are as polished as you can make them is a good time to hand them off to someone else. Remember, you don't have to make every change they suggest exactly as they suggest it, but if your reader is confused about something, see what you can do to make it clearer!

#3: Edit and Revise

Take that feedback you got from your reader and turn it into gold. Again, don't feel like their suggestions are always the right move, but do consider what's causing their confusion or dislike for parts of your essays. Fix them in your own voice, and re-read your essay, especially out loud, to catch any additional errors. The more time you can spend revising, the better!

#4: Be Authentic

Always remember that you're not just trying to impress Caltech with a bunch of statistics—you're trying to impress them as you. That means always staying true to yourself and striving for authenticity. Give Caltech an essay that showcases what it means to be you, not an essay that gives them what you think that they want to hear.

What's Next?

Need an even more in-depth guide to how to write a college essay ? Those tips will help you write a stellar essay from start to finish!

A strong essay is just one part of a successful Caltech application. Also look into Caltech's SAT scores and GPA requirements so you can draft an effective academic plan!

Before you send in your Caltech application, it's a smart idea to figure out how much money it's going to cost you to attend. How do Caltech's financial aid offerings measure up to tuition costs?

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How to Ace the 23/24 Caltech Supplemental Essays

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Deciding to go to the California Institute of Technology is the dawn of a new academic adventure! Caltech is a highly selective private research university with a 4% acceptance rate . With such a competitive application pool, your very best writing is required. In this guide, we’ll go over each prompt and help you break the Caltech essays down so you’ll know exactly what is being asked. Let’s get started!

The Caltech essays

Caltech’s supplemental essay prompts are a way for you to show the admission’s readers exactly who you are and why you should be part of the next undergraduate class. Even responding to the optional prompts (Essays #5 through #9 are optional) shows Caltech that you want to be there and are willing to go the extra mile to prove that. Remember, applicants should emphasize STEM in their essays as much as possible since that’s one of the primary focuses of Caltech. 

Keep reading below to learn more about Caltech supplemental essay prompts!

“If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose that area of interest? (Max: 200 words)”

Applicants should see this prompt as an opportunity to discuss their passions in STEM or any other Caltech program. However, it’s important to discuss more than just what  your desired major is; be sure to talk about how Caltech plays a part in whatever interests are shared. What’s so unique about this major/interest that you can’t stop thinking about it? Is it daring? Are you the only one in your family to do it? Use this essay to show your drive and initiative. 

Questions to consider:

• Why do you want to study your major at Caltech?
• What is something unique about the majors that Caltech offers?
• What do you imagine when you think of studying your major at Caltech?

“At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words for each experience)”

Caltech is clear in this prompt that the focus is on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). While your experiences might seem similar to other applicants, try to set yourself apart by incorporating a personal aspect to your essay. Explain to the reader where your love of STEM started or grew during your time in high school and how that might contribute to your desire to attend Caltech. 

Applicants should also explain what they want to learn more about or explore further and why. Doing so further demonstrates your interest in Caltech if you’re able to make a connection between what you’re curious about and what you love about this specific university. 

• Who motivated you to get involved in STEM? Was it a mentor or a family member?
• What about this experience made you want to pursue STEM at Caltech?
• What are you most curious or excited about in STEM?

“The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars, but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm decor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)”

The definition of innovation is the introduction of something that’s never existed before. Remember, innovation doesn’t have to be some large, spectacular creation. Your innovation can be something new you’ve added to your life or doing something that you’ve never heard of. Even being the first person in your family to go to college could be a form of innovation–you just have to get creative! 

• Are you the first person to do something in your family?
• Have you created something that you think is fresh or different?
• Do you consider yourself a trailblazer? Why?

“The process of discovery is best advanced when people from diverse backgrounds come together to solve the greatest challenges in their fields. How do your past experiences and present-day perspectives inform who you have become and how you navigate the world? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)”

Use this prompt to consider how your background and/or cultural experiences have shaped your life. Have you had a chance to experience other cultures and learn from them? Has your background empowered you to further pursue STEM? These are questions you should think about as you write your Caltech supplemental essay.

The world has advanced from a collection of ideas from various different sources, so it would be good to share how a collaborative effort from people different from yourself has allowed you to grow and learn new things. Try to show your open-minded side as well as your intelligent one.

• What opinions have you formed about the world as a result of your experiences?
• How does your background influence who you are today and who you hope to become?
• What is the difference between how you navigate the world and how other applicants might?

“ Optional: If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (Max: 150 words)”

This prompt should take the Caltech admissions office on an exploration of the unknown, aka you. You could approach this essay in a unique way and push conventional boundaries. Alternatively, you could take a straightforward approach that positions you as an ideal candidate. Either way, the goal is to differentiate yourself from all other applicants, especially since this is one of the first optional essays that Caltech offers. 

• Why do you want to share this with the admissions office?
• How will this aspect of your identity make your application stand out?
• What should be the key takeaway from this optional essay?

Also see: How to write an essay about yourself

“ Optional: When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy? (Max: 100 words)”

As an optional prompt, it may be tempting to skip over this essay. However, completing it can make your application more interesting while showing that you’re willing to go the extra mile to attend Caltech. Telling the admissions office about a unique interest or hobby reveals a lot about your personality and whether you fit in at the university. You could be especially interested in plants and bugs, which might show that your love of science goes deeper than just in the classroom. The same can be true for any other activity that you find joy in. 

The word count for this prompt is relatively short, but don’t over-generalize your interests. Just saying a particular aspect of STEM isn’t going to cut it, so try to dig a little deeper to highlight something different and new to your application. 

• What is an activity that you haven’t mentioned anywhere else in your application?
• What does this interest or hobby say about you and your personality?
• Why do you enjoy this experience? 

“ Optional: Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (Max: 50 words)” 

This prompt is for applicants that have multiple unique hobbies or interests. If you completed the initial prompt mentioned above, then don’t feel pressured to write about another hobby if you can’t think of one right away. However, you’ll have to simplify this interest a lot more than the first, so be sure to pick the most important one for the longer prompt.

• Why do you want to write about this additional hobby?
• Does this interest build on your first one and the rest of your application?

“ Optional: Have you had any extenuating circumstances regarding your coursework (such as limited course selection or disruptions) not described elsewhere in your application? If so, tell us about them here.”

Everyone doesn’t have the same journey when it comes to pursuing education. Sometimes, we hit bumps in the road, and Caltech offers this prompt for you to explain your story. Applicants don’t have to share every detail of their circumstances, but disclose enough that Caltech can understand what the conditions at the time were and how they affected you. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and transparent since doing so shows that you’re taking your application seriously. It can also prove your tenacity and determination if you include how you overcame this difficulty in your life and how you’ll continue to progress.

• Is there anything that you feel you need to explain about your grades or courses?
• Was there anything notable and impactful that affected your school performance?
• How have you grown or what did you learn from this experience?

“ Optional: Some Caltech applicants engage in STEM competitions locally, nationally, and internationally (such as AIME, Science Olympiad, International Science Olympiads.) If you have received any STEM honors or awards, list them here (and scores, if applicable).” 

Use this prompt as your opportunity to share your STEM accomplishments with Caltech. Don’t be afraid to include all the awards that you’re proud of! Let your accomplishments speak for themselves, and try not to exaggerate. 

There also isn’t a word limit, which can tempt you to go on and on for page after page. So, show Caltech that you still have tricks up your sleeve by giving them a small piece of what’s next. This means knowing when to bring an end to your essay, even if you haven’t listed every award.

• What are some of the awards I’ve won throughout high school?
• Why do I want Caltech to know about this specific award?
• How does this award relate to attending Caltech?

Final thoughts for applicants

As you wrap up your Caltech essays, it’s important to keep a couple of things in mind. One of the most important things is noticing word count for each prompt. A majority of the prompts are 100-200 words with only a few exceptions. This means it’s ideal to get to the main point of your essay as soon as possible. 

Potential Caltech students should also take time to read through each essay submission to check for errors or any weird issues with the flow and readability of your essays. It can be helpful to ask your teachers, peers, or family members to read over your submission and get feedback to improve on your writing and storytelling skills. The world wasn’t built in a day, so don’t overwhelm yourself! There are resources here to help.

Additional resources

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Essay Writing Advice

We don't want essay writing to be intimidating, but we know it often is. We have put together some advice to help you get started writing your Caltech Supplemental Essays , so you can worry less and enjoy the application process.

Some general advice

• We've said it before and we will say it again: there is no way to write about too much STEM in your supplemental questions! Caltech is an unapologetic STEM institution . So lean all the way in on the STEMiest of STEMmy topics (yep, those are made-up words but totally appropriate).
• Do your research. Read about what kind of students thrive at Caltech by reviewing our What We Look For page.
• Don't wait until the last minute to write your supplemental essays. Give yourself time to write thoughtfully - and time to proofread them, too!
• We don't have an interview process at Caltech, so our supplemental essays are where you are speaking directly to us. Embrace your own voice and personality!
• Recent experiences will always tell us more about who you are as a soon-to-be college student. You may have first been inspired to become an engineer after playing with Legos as a kid, but we care much more about what your passion for engineering looks like as a high schooler.
• Review Caltech's guidelines on the ethical use of AI before submitting your supplemental essays.
• We ask you to write a lot on purpose! Take advantage of this opportunity by writing about different facets of your life and different topics across essays.
• If you are ever stuck, take a moment and ask yourself 'Why?' Why did you choose to write about this topic? Why is it important to you? Why does it relate to your STEM identity?

Advice for Three of the 2024 Supplemental Essay Questions

You will find tips to help you answer three selected supplemental essay questions for Fall 2024 applicants. These three essays cover a wide range of themes and should each be approached differently and thoughtfully. The advice listed after each question is designed to help you kickstart your writing process. You got this!

Question One - STEM Experiences

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100/Max: 200 words for each experience)

Why are we asking this?

We want to give you the space to tell us directly why STEM matters to you and to show us how STEM ties into your larger story. Your STEM experiences help us understand who you are as a scientist, mathematician, or engineer on a deeper, more personal level.

Tips for answering this question:

• These responses are not resume entries - there is already room for that elsewhere in your application. Dig deeper than a list of accomplishments.
• Remember, we are asking about YOUR experience. Many students are inspired by a mentor or a family member, but we want to hear about your STEM experiences.
• We ask for experiences from your high school years because we want to get a sense of who you are today. So focus on a recent experience and give us a glimpse of how you do STEM.
• Have you encountered a problem that you solved through STEM?
• Did you combine two interests to discover a new passion? Biology and Computer Science! Physics and Ice Skating! Social Justice and Environmental Science! The combinations are endless.
• Have you ever fallen down a research rabbit hole? What came of it?
• Are you on a team? Do you have a hobby? What are some specific moments or events that highlight why you have a passion for that activity?

Question Two - Creative Spirit

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech's students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars . But Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D print dorm decor. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250 words)

" Educating outstanding students to become creative members of society " is in our mission statement and this is your opportunity to show us your creative and innovative spirit in action.

• We celebrate innovation in all forms , whether they happened in the laboratory, the classroom, the kitchen sink, or entirely in C++.
• Tell us the ‘why' behind your creative endeavor. Maybe you invented a new way to freeze ice cream, but was your passion sparked by taking apart an old ice cream maker, learning about the triglycerides in milk fat, or starting a side hustle?
• Have fun here and let your personality shine .

Question Three - Caltech's Values

Caltech's mission – to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracing fundamental Caltech values :

• Openness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged
• Respect and appreciation for the idea that, while we are all members of the same community, the opportunities we've had to develop, showcase, and apply our talents have not been equal
• Passion for the ideal that science can and should meaningfully improve the lives of others

Share what one or more of these values evokes for you. (Min: 200 / Max: 400)

Caltech is a close-knit community that fosters collaboration and we value the wide range of experiences and perspectives our students, faculty, and staff bring to campus. We want to understand how your own personal experiences and perspectives have shaped you.

• You don't need to address each value listed, though you are welcome to. Take time to read the question, explore Caltech's mission and our fundamental values , and think deeply about what resonated for you.
• Be specific. For example, instead of simply telling us that you are open to new ideas, instead paint a picture of a time that you had an idea or belief challenged and how it affected you.
• Do you have a story to tell? We care about your lived experiences and identities and how they intersect with these values.
• Center yourself in the response - remember, we are asking what one or more of these values evokes in YOU .

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Caltech Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

By Eric Eng

The Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 are a pivotal component of the application process, offering a window into the applicant. These essays are not merely a test of writing ability but a platform for students to demonstrate their intellectual curiosity, innovative thinking, and potential to contribute to Caltech’s mission.

How many Supplemental Essays does Caltech have?

Caltech’s application process is rigorous and reflective of its commitment to excellence. For the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 , applicants must submit seven essays: one academic essay, three short answer questions, which are mandatory, and an additional three optional short answer questions .

This suite of essays is designed to give the admissions committee a multi-dimensional view of each applicant, going beyond the quantitative metrics of test scores and GPA to reveal the person behind the numbers.

What are the Caltech Supplemental Essays 2023-2024?

The Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 are a series of thoughtfully crafted questions designed to assess the depth of an applicant’s passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The essays allow students to showcase their intellectual curiosity, creativity, and alignment with Caltech’s mission, providing a narrative of their academic journey and personal growth.

The Singular Academic Essay

The singular academic essay is a cornerstone of the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024, asking students to delve into their area of interest within STEM. This essay is not just about stating a preference; it’s an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their passion and articulate why they are drawn to their chosen field.

“If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose that area of interest?”

With a maximum of 200 words, students must be brief yet powerful in their expression, conveying a clear understanding of their field and an eagerness to explore it further at Caltech. This essay should reflect the applicant’s individuality and potential to thrive in a challenging academic environment.

The Trio of Required Short Answer Essays

The trio of required short answer essays in the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 provides a platform for applicants to discuss their experiences and contributions to the STEM fields. These essays ask students to reflect on their most stimulating STEM-related experiences and innovations and how they see themselves aligning with Caltech’s core values.

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100/Max: 200 words for each experience)

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars. But Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D print dorm decor. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)

• Caltech’s mission – to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracing fundamental Caltech values: o penness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged; r espect and appreciation for the idea that, while we are all members of the same community, the opportunities we’ve had to develop, showcase, and apply our talents have not been equal; and p assion for the ideal that science can and should meaningfully improve the lives of others. Share what one or more of these values evokes for you. (Min: 200 / Max: 400)

Each response requires applicants to provide specific examples highlighting their curiosity, creativity, and ethical standpoint. These narratives are crucial in illustrating how applicants have engaged with STEM outside traditional academics and how they plan to bring that innovative spirit to Caltech.

The Three Optional Short Answer Questions

The three optional short answer questions in the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 offer applicants the chance to share more about their identity and interests. These questions are an invitation to present aspects of themselves that may need to be captured by the required essays or other parts of the application.

If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below. (Max: 150 words)

When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy? (Max: 100 words)

Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (Max: 50 words)

Whether discussing a unique life experience, a cherished hobby, or another interest, these essays allow students to round out their application with personal anecdotes that underscore their individuality. While optional, these responses can be pivotal in setting an applicant apart in a pool of highly qualified candidates.

How to write the Caltech Supplemental Essays 2023-2024?

Writing the Caltech Supplemental Essays for the 2023-2024 application cycle is a critical step in presenting yourself as a well-rounded candidate to one of the world’s most prestigious institutions in science and technology. The key to success lies in understanding what each prompt asks and how best to respond in a way that showcases your strengths, passions, and fit for Caltech.

Singular Academic Essay

The Singular Academic Essay is a pivotal component of the Caltech Supplemental Essays 2023-2024. This essay, capped at 200 words, asks applicants to articulate their current academic interests, providing a window into their intellectual passions and aspirations.

Understanding the Singular Academic Essay

Understanding the Singular Academic Essay requires recognizing its purpose in the broader context of your application. This essay is your chance to communicate directly with the admissions committee about what excites you academically.

It’s about showcasing your dedication to a particular field or fields within STEM and explaining why these areas captivate you. The key is to be specific – general statements about a love for science or technology won’t suffice.

Brainstorming Your Response: Singular Academic Essay

When brainstorming your response to the Singular Academic Essay, consider the following listicle approach:

• Identify Your Interests: List all the STEM areas that interest you. Don’t limit yourself at this stage; include everything that comes to mind.
• Narrow Down: Look at your list and consider which areas you are most passionate about. Which topics do you find yourself reading about, discussing, or exploring in your spare time?
• Reflect on ‘Why’: For each area you’ve narrowed down to, write a few sentences about why it interests you. Is it a personal experience, a problem you want to solve, or an intellectual challenge that draws you in?
• Look for Patterns: Review your reasons and see if common themes or specific aspects stand out.
• Connect to Your Goals: Consider how these interests align with your future academic or career goals. How do they fit into the bigger picture of what you want to achieve?

Structuring Your Response for the Singular Academic Essay

Structuring your answer for the Singular Academic Essay involves crafting a response that is both concise and impactful. Begin with a clear statement of your area or areas of interest. This sets the stage for the rest of your essay.

Follow this with a brief explanation of why these areas intrigue you. Be specific and personal – what aspects of these fields stimulate your curiosity or passion? Then, connect these interests to your broader academic or career aspirations. How do these areas fit into your plans or goals?

Remember, with a 200-word limit, every word counts. Your essay should be tightly focused, without any unnecessary details. The goal is to leave the admissions committee with a clear understanding of your academic interests and why they matter to you.

First Short Answer Essay

The first of the short answer essays in the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 asks applicants to identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from their high school years that have sparked their curiosity.

Understanding the First Short Answer Essay

When addressing how their STEM-related experiences have fueled their curiosity, applicants to the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 must go beyond the superficial recounting of events. The admissions committee is looking for insights into how these experiences have shaped the applicant’s approach to learning and problem-solving.

Applicants should reflect on how their chosen experiences exemplify their investigative spirit and drive to understand the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind scientific phenomena. Whether it was a particular experiment in a chemistry class that defied expectations, a robotics competition that required innovative problem-solving, or an independent research project that led to more questions than answers, these experiences should be narrated in a way that conveys a genuine passion for discovery.

Brainstorming Your Response: First Short Answer Essay

When brainstorming your response to Caltech’s first short answer essay for the 2023-2024 application, consider the following listicle approach to capture your most impactful STEM-related experiences effectively:

• Compile a List of Experiences: Start by jotting down all the STEM-related experiences you’ve had during high school, both in and out of the classroom. This could include projects, experiments, competitions, research, internships, or other relevant activities.
• Reflect on Moments of Curiosity: For each experience, consider the moments that particularly piqued your curiosity. What about these instances fascinated you or prompted questions in your mind?
• Analyze the Learning Impact: Consider how each experience contributed to your understanding of STEM. Did it change your perspective, introduce new concepts, or deepen your interest in a specific area?
• Identify Personal Growth: Reflect on how these experiences have contributed to your growth. Did they challenge you, develop your problem-solving skills, or enhance teamwork?
• Connect to Future Aspirations: Consider how these experiences have shaped your future aspirations in STEM. How do they align with your goals and the work you want to pursue?

Structuring Your Answer for the First Short Answer Essay

Structuring your answer for Caltech’s first short answer essay involves a clear and focused approach, ensuring each word contributes to a compelling narrative. Briefly introduce each experience, providing enough context to understand the setting and your role.

Follow this with a detailed description of how and why these experiences sparked your curiosity. Be specific about the aspects that intrigued you and the questions they raised in your mind. Then, delve into the impact of these experiences on your understanding of STEM. Discuss any new insights gained, skills developed, or interests that deepened.

Finally, connect these experiences to your broader academic journey and future aspirations. Explain how they have shaped your perspective on STEM and influenced your goals. Remember, with a limit of 200 words per experience, it’s crucial to be concise and direct, ensuring each sentence adds value to your response.

Second Short Answer Essay

The second short answer essay in the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 invites applicants to reflect on their roles as creators, inventors, or innovators.

Understanding the Second Short Answer Essay

Responding to how one has been a creator, inventor, or innovator requires applicants to the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 to introspect on their unique contributions to the world of STEM or beyond.

This is the moment for applicants to share their original contributions, whether developing a new app, engineering a device, conducting original research, or even initiating a community project that leverages technology for the social good.

Brainstorming Your Response: Second Short Answer Essay

To effectively brainstorm your response to Caltech’s second short answer essay, consider the following listicle approach to highlight your creative and innovative experiences:

• Inventory of Creative Endeavors: List all instances where you’ve demonstrated creativity, inventiveness, or innovation. This can include projects, inventions, unique solutions to problems, or any creative work in various academic, personal, or extracurricular contexts.
• Impact and Originality: For each item on your list, consider the impact and originality of your work. How did your creation or innovation address a need or improve upon existing ideas or methods?
• Challenges and Overcoming Them: Reflect on the challenges you faced during these endeavors and how you overcame them. This can reveal your problem-solving skills and resilience.
• Skills and Learning: Think about the skills you developed or the knowledge you gained through these experiences. How did they contribute to your growth as a creator or innovator?
• Personal Significance: Assess the emotional significance of these experiences. Why are they meaningful to you, and how do they align with your aspirations or interests in STEM?

Structuring Your Answer for the Second Short Answer Essay

Aim for a narrative that engages and reflects your innovative spirit when structuring your answer for Caltech’s second short answer essay. Start by introducing one or two of the most significant creative or innovative experiences you’ve identified. Briefly set the scene to give context to your involvement and the nature of the project or challenge.

Then, delve into the specifics of your creative process. Please describe the problem or need you addressed, the original idea or solution you developed, and how you implemented it. Be sure to highlight any unique or inventive aspects of your approach. Next, discuss your challenges and how you overcame them, showcasing your problem-solving skills and determination.

Conclude by reflecting on what you learned from the experience and its impact on you. How did it shape your understanding of innovation or creativity? How does it reflect your potential as a future Techer? Remember, with a 250-word maximum, clarity and conciseness are key.

Third Short Answer Essay

The third short answer essay within the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 asks applicants to reflect deeply on their values and how these intersect with the ethos of Caltech.

Caltech’s mission – to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracing fundamental Caltech values:

• Openness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged
• Respect and appreciation for the idea that, while we are all members of the same community, the opportunities we’ve had to develop, showcase, and apply our talents have not been equal
• Passion for the ideal that science can and should meaningfully improve the lives of others

Share what one or more of these values evokes for you. (Min: 200 / Max: 400)

Understanding the Third Short Answer Essay

The third short answer essay in the Caltech Supplemental Essays 2023-2024 is designed to gauge applicants’ alignment with the core values of Caltech. This question delves into the philosophical and ethical dimensions of a student’s approach to learning and science. It’s not just about academic achievements or technical skills; it’s about how applicants perceive and engage with the world around them.

This question seeks to uncover the depth of the applicant’s commitment to openness in thought, respect for diverse backgrounds and opportunities, and a passion for using science as a tool for positive societal impact.

Brainstorming Your Response: Third Short Answer Essay

To brainstorm effectively, consider the following listicle approach:

• Personal Reflections on Openness: Recall instances where you had your preconceptions challenged. How did these experiences open your mind to new ideas or perspectives?
• Experiences of Diversity and Respect: Consider when you recognized and appreciated the unequal opportunities among your peers. How did this awareness influence your interactions or decisions?
• Instances of Science for Social Good: Identify moments when you used or observed science being used to improve lives. What impact did these experiences have on your view of the role of science in society?
• Alignment with Caltech Values: Reflect on how these experiences demonstrate your alignment with Caltech’s values. How do they show your readiness to be part of a community that values openness, respect, and a passion for impactful science?

Structuring Your Answer for the Third Short Answer Essay

When structuring your response, clearly state which Caltech values you are addressing. If you focus on multiple topics, ensure a cohesive thread ties your essay together. Begin with a brief anecdote or example illustrating your engagement with the selected value(s). This could be a personal experience, a project you worked on, or an observation that significantly impacted you. Elaborate on how this experience reflects the value and what you learned. Describe how it shaped your understanding or approach to learning and science.

Conclude by connecting these reflections to your aspirations at Caltech. How do these values resonate with your goals, and how do you envision contributing to the Caltech community? Remember, with a 400-word maximum, your essay should be concise yet rich in detail, providing a clear and compelling picture of how your values align with Caltech’s values.

What are the optional Caltech Supplemental Essay Short Answer Questions for 2023-2024?

The optional Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 allow applicants to share more personal aspects of their lives, offering a fuller picture of who they are beyond their academic achievements.

These questions are designed to uncover the richness of the applicant’s personality, unique interests, and the diverse experiences that have shaped their identity. While optional, these essays can be instrumental in differentiating one applicant from another by highlighting individuality and personal narratives that might not be evident in the rest of the application.

Optional Short Answer Question 1

The first optional short answer question in the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 invites introspection and self-disclosure, asking applicants to discuss aspects of their life, social, or personal identity that have not been captured elsewhere in the application.

This question recognizes that every individual is more than the sum of their academic records and extracurricular activities. It allows for the acknowledgment of the unique journey that has led them to this point, whether it be cultural heritage, personal challenges overcome, or distinctive experiences that have imparted valuable life lessons.

Optional Short Answer Question 2

For the second optional short answer question, the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 ask applicants to share a favorite interest or hobby that brings them joy.

This prompt acknowledges that Caltech students are defined not just by their academic pursuits but also by their activities for personal fulfillment and happiness. Whether it’s an artistic endeavor, a sport, a quirky hobby, or a leisure activity, this question allows applicants to showcase another dimension of their personality.

Optional Short Answer Question 3

The third optional short answer question in the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 acknowledges the multifaceted nature of students’ interests and the difficulty of choosing just one to discuss.

This prompt allows applicants to mention another hobby or interest, further illuminating the breadth of their pursuits. With a concise limit of 50 words, applicants must be brief and expressive, capturing the essence of an additional activity that occupies their time and energy.

Take the Next Step Towards Your Caltech Dream with AdmissionSight

Ready to elevate your Caltech application with compelling essays that stand out? AdmissionSight guides you through crafting responses that resonate with Caltech’s values and showcase your unique strengths. Our expertise in college admissions consulting has consistently helped students gain admission to top-tier institutions like Caltech.

Let’s work together to highlight your passion for STEM, your innovative spirit, and the personal journey that makes you an ideal candidate for one of the world’s leading scientific and technological institutions.

Want to assess your chances of admission? Take our FREE chances calculator today!

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California Institute of Technology | Caltech’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Additional info short response.

Have you had any extenuating circumstances (such as limited course selection, inconsistent grades, or disruptions), that have affected your coursework, but that are not described elsewhere in your application? If so, tell us about them here.

STEM Awards Short Response

Some Caltech applicants engage in STEM competitions locally, nationally, or internationally (e.g., AIME, Science Olympiad, International Science Olympiads). If you have received any STEM honors or awards, list them here (with scores, if applicable).

Creativity Short Response

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech‘s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars. But Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D print dorm decor. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life?

Caltech Mission Short Response

Caltech‘s mission – to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracing our Mission-Based Values, which include:

1. Openness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged 2. Respect and appreciation for the idea that, while we are all members of the same community, the opportunities we‘ve had to develop, showcase, and apply our talents have not been equal 3. Passion for the ideal that science can and should meaningfully improve the lives of others

Share what one or more of these values evokes for you.

If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below.

Interest/Hobby Short Response 1

When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy?

Interest/Hobby Short Response 2

Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest!

Why This Major Short Response

Please indicate your proposed area of interest at Caltech. If you have one, please indicate your second area of interest at Caltech. Why did you choose that area of interest?

Select-A-Prompt Short Response

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further?

STEM experience/activity #1

STEM experience/activity #2

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Supplemental Essay Guide 2024-25

What do the 2024-25 supplemental essay prompts really mean, and how should you approach them? CEA's experts are here to break them all down.

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Caltech Supplemental Essays 2022-2023

Caltech supplemental essays 2022-23, quick facts- caltech essays.

• Caltech acceptance rate:   7%— U.S. News ranks Caltech as a most selective school.
• 1 (650 word) Personal Statement
• 1 (~200 word) Academic essay
• 1 (~200 word) Short answer essay
• 2 (~250 word) Short answer essays
• Caltech application: The Caltech application can be submitted via the Common App , Apply Coalition , Powered by Scoir , or through Questbridge . Make sure to check all of the Caltech application requirements. 
• Caltech supplemental essay tip: Your responses to the Caltech essay prompts are your chance to show your love of STEM . Use the opportunity to show how you would thrive in a STEM-focused environment. 

What are Caltech’s supplemental essays?

The Caltech supplemental essays are listed on the Common App website . You can also find the Caltech supplemental essays listed on Caltech’s website , alongside brief explanations of each prompt. 

Required Caltech supplemental essays and short answer questions:

1. Because of the rigorous core course curriculum, Caltech students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore.If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose that area of interest? (200 words )

2. At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (100-200 words for each experience)

3. The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars, but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm décor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (200-250 words)

4. The process of discovery is best advanced when people from diverse backgrounds come together to solve the greatest challenges in their fields. How do your past experiences and present-day perspectives inform who you have become and how you navigate the world? (200-250 words)

Optional Caltech supplemental essays:

1. If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (150 words)

2. When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy? (100 words)

3. Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (50 words)

4. Have you had any extenuating circumstances regarding your coursework (such as limited course selection or disruptions) not described elsewhere in your application? If so, tell us about them here.

5. Some Caltech applicants engage in STEM competitions locally, nationally, and internationally (such as AIME, Science Olympiad, International Science Olympiads.) If you have received any STEM honors or awards, list them here (and scores, if applicable).

You’ll notice that the first thing stated on the Caltech supplemental essays page is that Caltech is “unapologetically STEM.” So, Caltech admissions wants to read all about your STEM-specific experiences . When considering how to write Caltech essays, look first to the “what we look for” page on the Caltech site. This is a cohesive list of what admissions looks for in applicants. 

Notably, the Caltech supplemental essays do not ask students to write a “Why Caltech essay.” However, just because there is no “Why Caltech essay” doesn’t mean that you can’t show the admissions team why you belong at a science and engineering powerhouse like Caltech . So, think of these essays as your chance to show how you’ll contribute to the Caltech community. 

Whenever possible and relevant, reference specific Caltech programs, classes, professors, and organizations that you would take advantage of. The Caltech admissions process extends beyond the admissions office alone. In fact, the Caltech supplemental essays are read directly by faculty. With a 3:1 student to faculty ratio at Caltech, it may not be a surprise that students closely interact with their professors. 

Later in this guide, we will break down each of the Caltech essay prompts in more detail. This should give you an idea of Caltech supplemental essay examples, both required and optional.

How many essays does Caltech require?

Caltech requires students to complete four Caltech essay prompts .

These Caltech essay prompts ask students to reflect on their experiences, interests, and character. You should also use the Caltech essay prompts to discuss your STEM experiences. Prime Caltech supplemental essay examples will encompass who you are within the context of STEM programs . 

Additionally, there are five optional Caltech essay prompts that students can respond to. Caltech stresses that these Caltech essays are optional. We’ll get into specifics later about these optional Caltech essays. This may help you determine if and when to respond to each of the optional Caltech supplemental essays. 

How to Write Caltech Essays

So, how do you answer the Caltech supplemental essays?

Since each of the four required Caltech essays has a 200-250 word maximum, you will want to focus on both content and execution in your writing process. As we’ll discuss, each of the Caltech supplemental essays asks students to reflect on a particular experience or interest. 

To maximize your Caltech essays, you’ll want to offer a brief summary of each experience of an event. Then, use the bulk of your essay to reveal how this experience or event influenced your broader character. Specifically, when focusing on how to write Caltech essays, reflect on your STEM experiences. You may want to write about STEM research in your Caltech supplemental essays. The admissions committee should come away from your Caltech supplemental essays with a clear conception of who you are and the kind of community member you would be on the Caltech campus. 

Caltech Essay Prompts #1 

If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose why did you choose that area of interest (200 words).

The first of the four required Caltech essay prompts asks applicants to write “why major essays.” Caltech makes it clear that students aren’t expected to know their major. In fact, students actually can’t declare a major until after their first year. So, undecided students shouldn’t stress too much about their choice of major in these “why major essays.” Students are in no way obligated to study the major in which they reference in their why major essays. 

To answer the first of the Caltech supplemental essays, students should reflect on why they want to attend a STEM-forward university such as Caltech. Think about more than just the Caltech ranking and Caltech acceptance rate. What made you first fall in love with STEM? What specific programs are offered at Caltech and nowhere else? Are you planning to go pre med and hoping to study science at one of the best institutions for STEM? Do some research on the Caltech website in order to reference specific details on programs, internships, research, or faculty.  

Think about the “why”

After having decided an area of interest to write about in this Caltech supplemental essay, focus on the “why” part. Successful “why major essays” will explain why you need to study that major in that particular school. They’ll draw from both personal and academic experiences. Students should also discuss how studying this major would influence their future career goals. 

Let’s say you decide to focus on chemistry. You could discuss how your AP Chemistry course challenged your previous understanding of science. Or maybe a specific experiment stands out in your mind as the point when you knew chemistry was for you. Or perhaps it was the teacher that made an impact on your life. Whatever the reason, reference an academic or personal experience that told you this was the major for you. If you can get more specific than just “chemistry,” such as organic or inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, theoretical chemistry, etc., that’s even better.

Reflection Questions for Caltech Essays:

• Do you choose an area of interest that genuinely excites you?
• Does your essay talk about Caltech specific programs and offerings?
• Do you tie your study interest to your future and career goals ?

Caltech Essay Prompts #2

Identify and describe two stem-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. what about them made you want to learn more and explore further (100-200 words per experience).

Similar to the “why major essays,” successful Caltech supplemental essays for this prompt will show applicants’ love of STEM. However, the difference between these two Caltech essay prompts is that the first should focus on a specific area of interest offered at Caltech. The second, however, asks students what sparked their interest in STEM in general during high school. 

We probably don’t have to mention that figuring out how to get into Caltech should start with a passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering , Math ) programs. That being said, students will likely have a number of experiences to reference in their Caltech essays. Start by brainstorming some of the most impactful STEM moments of your high school career. 

Are you in the robotics club and spend your free time tweaking your newest room cleaning robot? Or have you just led your team to the finals of your state’s math competition? Did you participate in a STEM summer program ? Or, maybe it’s nothing too outwardly dramatic. It could be something as simple as an experiment in biology class that ignited your curiosity. 

Make a list and choose two experiences that evoke emotion surrounding choosing STEM. Caltech admissions wants to see serious STEM applicants in these Caltech supplemental essays. Show through your two chosen experiences that you are passionate and committed to a STEM education.

When writing, you’ll also need to show why you want to further study STEM. How have these experiences shaped your future goals and intellectual curiosity? California Institute of Technology seeks students who will pursue their interests, contribute to a thriving intellectual community, and still love learning even when classes get difficult. 

• Does your draft sincerely convey your inspiration and excitement?
• Do you choose two specific STEM related experiences?
• Do you show how these experiences have affected your future studies?

Caltech Essay Prompts #3

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won nobel prizes and put rovers on mars , but techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3d printing dorm décor. how have you been an innovator in your own life (200-250 words).

When planning how to write Caltech essays, you may think that you only need to focus on STEM-related topics and experiences. Of course, Caltech admissions shamelessly states that they want to hear about as much STEM topics as possible in students’ Caltech supplemental essays. However, they also look for critical thinkers with the ability to problem solve. This prompt asks applicants to think about times when they had to create their own innovative solutions to problems. 

If you can think of STEM related instances, great. However, if not, don’t stress. Successful Caltech essays responding to this prompt will just show how you creatively found solutions to an issue you were facing. 

Let’s say your doorbell was broken for months. No one in your household seemed too concerned about it, but one day you miss an important package that you’d been looking forward to receiving. You decide to take matters into your own hands and fashion your own doorbell with some tips from the employee at your local hardware store. Problem solved. 

Solving problems

Any version of that hypothetical story will work in this Caltech supplemental essay. There’s a problem that needs to be solved, and you do so. If you’re stuck, try to focus on your strengths. Are you hard-working, creative, motivated, or curious? Highlight these strengths in the examples you come up with for this essay. 

You have to fall within 200-250 words, so you can use multiple anecdotes here. However, keep it focused—limit yourself to one or two topics. Make a list and choose the instances that show your most innovative, creative, and unique solutions to personal problems while highlighting your strengths. 

Reflection Questions for Caltech Essay:

• Does your essay show that you are innovative and creative?
• Do you discuss specific examples and solutions that you came up with?
• Does your essay give Caltech admissions a better picture of who you are and what you would bring to the campus?

Caltech Essay Prompts #4

The process of discovery is best advanced when people from diverse backgrounds come together to solve the greatest challenges in their fields. how do your past experiences and present-day perspectives inform who you have become and how you navigate the world (200-250 words).

Think about the most important parts of who you are. What makes you you? How have you become that way? Focus on your background and how it has shaped you. Are you about to be a first generation college student? Do you come from a small, close knit town? Has a certain culture or language greatly influenced your upbringing? What communities do you belong to? 

Background can refer to endless things; choose something that resonates deeply with you. It should be something that has greatly impacted you and how you maneuver through the world. Try to avoid cliche topics when writing this essay. Remember that your background can mean anything.

Maybe your mom is a chef at a five-star restaurant and you grew up in the kitchen. Paint a picture of life in a chaotic, fast-paced environment and what it taught you. Successful Caltech essays will be creative while answering the Caltech supplemental prompts. Start with a hook and then expand on how it has impacted you. 

• Do you draw on personal experiences from your background?
• Is it evident what an impact those experiences have had on who you are today?
• Do you show how your background affects your worldview or experiences?

Caltech Supplemental Essays: Optional Short Answer Questions

On their website, Caltech prefaces these optional essays by saying that they are “optional opportunities to show us more of your personality.” Before even getting into the optional Caltech essay prompts, admissions reiterates that they are in fact optional by stating: “Optional. We Promise.”

Basically, you can choose whether to answer these Caltech essay prompts or not. However, there are certain optional Caltech essay prompts that you should opt to answer if you want your Caltech application to be as competitive as possible. 

Optional Caltech Essays #1

If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (150 words).

If you struggled to fit all of your meaningful, personality-forming experiences and background information into the last Caltech supplemental essay, then this is your opportunity to add more. 

Continuing with our last example in the previous Caltech supplemental essay, let’s say that you wrote about growing up in a fancy restaurant’s kitchen because of your mom’s profession. Maybe in the last essay, you wrote about how you learned to think on your feet in a high-pressure environment, which has made you the decisive person that you are today. You may want to add onto this by talking about the different cultures that you experienced in the kitchen. Did you become close with the sous chef who was from Italy? Did it inspire a gap year or summer trip to Italy that changed your life?

Or maybe you want to talk about a completely different community that has shaped you. Maybe you’ve grown up training ballet in every moment of your spare time, which has built discipline and pushed you to achieve. If you can talk about how a certain community has formed you, and your story will add value to your Caltech application, then answer this prompt. 

However, if you were struggling with the last of the Caltech essay prompts that touched on background and feel as though you have nothing to add, then feel free to skip this essay.  

Optional Caltech Essays #2

When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. what is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy (100 words).

While the first of the optional Caltech supplemental essays is actually optional, we recommend considering the second of the Caltech essays as required. The goal of this Caltech supplemental essay is to see who you are outside of STEM-related hobbies and interests. While admissions wants to see that you love all things STEM, they also want to learn about your other interests. They understand the importance of having some sort of outlet from academics or work. 

Use this Caltech supplemental essay to talk about a hobby that you haven’t mentioned elsewhere. Basically, don’t just repeat your extracurricular activities. That certainly won’t do anything to help you beat the Caltech acceptance rate and impress admissions. Talk about something that will demonstrate a new skill or interest. Don’t forget to mention why this activity is worth writing about. What impact has it had on your life?

To start writing this essay, make a list of all of your activities. Hone in on the ones that are most important to you. Make sure they haven’t been mentioned elsewhere in your Caltech application. Then, choose the topic that interests you the most. 

Consider the following questions:

• Which activity elicits the most emotion? 
• What hobby could you not live without? 
• Which interest has made an impact on who you are today?

Successful Caltech essays will not only mention the activity but also explain why it brings joy. Feel free to get creative when responding to this prompt. Make sure that admissions can feel your passion for this topic. 

Optional Caltech Essays #3

Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby we understand – caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest (50 words).

This is another of the optional Caltech supplemental essays that is definitely optional. No tricks here. If you are a true hobbyist and have various activities that define you, then feel free to take on this Caltech supplemental essay. 

Was your list of interests from the last essay spilling onto multiple pages? Great. Students writing their Caltech supplemental essays shouldn’t skimp on passion. However, these Caltech supplemental essays will have to be more succinct, as you only have 50 words. 

Stay creative, just as you were with your last essay. Show why this activity brings you such joy and how it has been such a formative part of your being. Just be sure to do so concisely. 

Caltech Supplemental Essays: Optional Academic Short Answer Questions

The optional academic Caltech supplemental essays are completely optional. Students should only submit Caltech essays for this section if they truly feel the need to. 

There is no word count listed on these Caltech essay prompts, so these Caltech supplemental essays should be concise. This isn’t the time to write a novel. Answer these Caltech supplemental essay prompts succinctly and comprehensively. 

Caltech Essay Prompts #1

Have you had any extenuating circumstances regarding your coursework (such as limited course selection or disruptions) not described elsewhere in your application if so, tell us about them here..

Successful essays to the previous optional Caltech supplemental essays are creative, captivating, and passionate . These final Caltech supplemental essays don’t need to tick the same boxes. These Caltech essays serve to fill any mysterious gaps in the rest of your Caltech application. 

This Caltech supplemental essay specifically asks you to explain any extenuating circumstances that may be noticeable in the coursework noted in your application . If you’ve had access to all the STEM, AP, and IB courses, then there’s no need to respond to this prompt. However, if you attended a school with limited resources and offerings, then you should mention that here. 

Some Caltech applicants engage in STEM competitions locally, nationally, and internationally (such as AIME, Science Olympiad, International Science Olympiads.) If you have received any STEM honors or awards, list them here (and scores, if applicable).

While these Caltech supplemental essays are included with the other Caltech essays, they’re not really essays. They actually want you to list your honors or awards related to STEM here. 

Only respond to this Caltech supplemental essay if you have received STEM related honors or awards. Don’t set the scene of the science competition where you won first place. There are other Caltech supplemental essays where you can do that. Simply list your specific STEM accomplishments.

How much does Caltech care about essays?

Through the Caltech essays, the admissions committee gains a glimpse into who you are as a student, peer, scientist, and individual. Keep in mind that they don’t know what you don’t tell them. Look at your application as a whole—including your Common App essay —and think critically about whether you have included as many facets of yourself as you can. Your Caltech application requirements should do more than just check boxes; they should tell your story , showing why you belong at Caltech. 

The Caltech ranking is #9 on U.S. News’ Best National Universities list. With the Caltech ranking so high, it makes sense that the Caltech acceptance rate is 4% . Every applicant will have an above average GPA and impressive extracurriculars. So, the Caltech supplemental essays are a chance to stand out . Successful Caltech supplemental essays will add to students’ application narratives. Planning how to get into Caltech involves thoughtfully and carefully answering the Caltech supplemental essays.  

Beyond the numbers

The Caltech essay prompts seek to understand who you are rather than just what’s on your resume. This demonstrates the value of the Caltech essays. Since Caltech is test-blind until 2025, you should maximize each essay as an opportunity to help the admissions team get to know you. Test blind schools, unlike test-optional schools, don’t want any ACT/SAT test scores submitted. Basically, Caltech won’t even look at standardized test scores. However, they will pay close attention to the Caltech supplemental essays. 

Check out this webinar to make sure you stand out as a STEM applicant. 

Five Tips for Writing Caltech Essays

Writing comprehensive and meaningful Caltech essays doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We’ve compiled our top 5 tips for how to write Caltech essays that impress admissions. 

Five Tips for Writing Caltech Essays: 

#1- meet the deadlines.

This may seem obvious, but there’s no way that you will figure out how to get into Caltech if you don’t submit your Caltech application requirements by the deadlines . The Regular Decision deadline is January 3rd . The Restrictive Early Action deadline is November 1st . Learn more about applying Early Action in our article .

#2- Don’t rush the writing process

Yes, you know you have to write and submit your Caltech essays by the deadline. However, that doesn’t mean that you should be scrambling to brainstorm, draft, edit, and revise your Caltech supplemental essays the night before they’re due. 

#3- Carefully choose your topics

This is why it’s important to give yourself plenty of time to write your Caltech supplemental essays. You only have one chance to impress the admissions committee. You should have various topics to choose from after brainstorming. Write essays on the topics that you are most passionate about. 

#4- Get creative

The greatest scientists are extremely creative innovators. Use your essays to creatively write on the topics you’re given. As long as you comprehensively and thoughtfully answer the prompt, a creative writing style will only bolster your Caltech essays.

#5- Ask for help

You certainly don’t have to take on your Caltech essays completely alone. Have someone else look at your completed Caltech essays. While they should check mechanics, also ask them for feedback on what they’ve learned about you through your Caltech essays. When implementing their feedback, maintain your own voice and style. 

Caltech Supplemental Essays — Final Thoughts

The Caltech supplemental essays are a key part of your application. The Caltech acceptance rate is low. Maximizing your admissions odds will take acing every part of the application process, including the Caltech supplemental essays. 

Remember to be clear, concise , and specific while telling authentic stories in your essays. Reference STEM-related subjects as much as possible. However, do so in a natural manner. Use the essays as a chance to supplement the quantitative parts of your application such as your grades and GPA with qualitative attributes of who you are as a student, person, and peer.

This Caltech essay guide on was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeA d visor.com can support you in the college application process.

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What Is the Purpose of the Caltech Supplemental Essay?

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 7/10/24

When it comes to writing the Caltech supplemental essays, there are reliable strategies and approaches you can apply to improve the process. Let’s get into them.

Supplemental essays are an integral part of the college application process. For applicants looking to attend Caltech , the California Institute of Technology, these essays are your chance to show your passion for STEM and how well you align with Caltech's values and mission.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the nuances of Caltech's supplemental essays . Keep reading to explore these essays and learn how to make your application stand out in the competitive field of Caltech admissions.

Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023-2024

Get ready to dive into the Caltech supplemental essay prompts for the 2023-2024 application cycle.

“At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100/Max: 200 words for each experience)”

“The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech's students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars . But Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D print dorm decor. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)”

Caltech's mission – to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracing fundamental Caltech values :

• Openness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged
• Respect and appreciation for the idea that, while we are all members of the same community, the opportunities we've had to develop, showcase, and apply our talents have not been equal
• Passion for the ideal that science can and should meaningfully improve the lives of others

Share what one or more of these values evokes for you. (Min: 200 / Max: 400)”

To sum it up, when tackling Caltech's essay prompts, remember there are more essays to explore beyond the required ones we've discussed. 

These optional essays give you extra room to showcase who you are and how you connect with Caltech's mission. So, don't hesitate to write these optional essays to let your personality shine through in your application.

How to Write Each Essay Prompt For Caltech

In this section, we'll discuss how to write Caltech essays, providing guidance on how to craft thoughtful and engaging responses for each prompt. Quick tip before we get into it - Caltech is all about STEM, so embrace it in your supplemental essays. Dive deep into STEM-related topics, and don't be afraid to geek out.

How to Write Caltech Supplemental Essay #1 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #1 : This Caltech application prompt invites you to explore your areas of interest, explain your passion for them, and describe how Caltech aligns with your academic goals. It's a chance to highlight your curiosity and demonstrate your fit with Caltech's values and resources.

• Engaging Introduction : Your essay should kick off with a captivating introduction that grabs the reader's attention. Consider starting with a personal story, a thought-provoking question, or a brief anecdote that relates to your chosen areas of interest. 
• Introduce Your Interests : Use the following paragraphs to introduce your chosen areas of interest. For each area, explain what specifically intrigues you about it. Share any personal experiences, encounters, or pivotal moments that sparked your interest. 
• Motivation and Connection : Beyond introducing your interests, get into why you've chosen these particular areas and why they resonate with you today. This is where you should explore the deeper motivations behind your choices. 
• Connect to Caltech: Demonstrate your knowledge of Caltech and how it aligns with your academic aspirations. Mention specific resources, faculty members, research opportunities, or programs at Caltech that are relevant to your chosen areas of interest. 
• Strong Conclusion : Wrap up your essay with a powerful conclusion that reinforces your passion for your chosen fields and your eagerness to explore them at Caltech. Leave the reader with a memorable statement that underscores your commitment to your academic journey. Be concise but impactful.
• Word Limit : Keep in mind the 200-word limit. Be succinct and make every word count to convey your message effectively.

How to Write Caltech Supplemental Essay #2 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #2 : Prompt #2 asks you to reflect on your high school STEM-related experiences and demonstrate your curiosity, enthusiasm, and commitment to these fields. You should discuss two distinct experiences and explain what sparked your curiosity in each of them. Additionally, you can connect these experiences to Caltech's mission and values.

• Identify Two Experiences: Begin by identifying and describing two significant STEM-related experiences from your high school years. These experiences should be distinct and reflect different aspects of your engagement with STEM.
• Detail and Curiosity Activation : For the first experience, provide a detailed account of how and why it activated your curiosity. Dive into specific elements of this experience that ignited your interest, such as a challenging problem, a compelling concept, or the guidance of an inspiring mentor.
• Transition to the Second Experience : Transition smoothly to the second experience, repeating the process. Describe what sparked your curiosity in this instance and why it prompted you to delve deeper into the subject matter. Showcase Enthusiasm and Dedication : Throughout your response, aim to showcase your genuine curiosity, enthusiasm, and commitment to STEM. Share specific details or aspects of each experience that genuinely intrigued you, reinforcing your dedication to these fields.
• Clear and Concise Writing : Ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and well-structured while staying within the word limit.
• Connect to Caltech : In the concluding paragraph, consider tying back your experiences to Caltech's mission and values. Express how these experiences have prepared you to contribute to the Caltech community's spirit of scientific inquiry and innovation. 

How to Write Caltech Supplemental Essay #3 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #3 : This prompt encourages you to think about your role as a creator, inventor, or innovator in your life and share your experiences. It's important to create a clear and engaging story that showcases your innovative mindset and how it aligns with Caltech's values.

• Captivating Introduction : Begin your essay with a captivating opening that introduces the theme of innovation. Use an anecdote, question, or thought-provoking statement to grab the reader's attention. The introduction should set the stage for your discussion of innovation in your life.
• Detailed Description of Innovation : In the following section, provide a detailed description of the specific innovation or project you want to highlight. Explain the context or problem that led to this innovation and how you approached it. Use vivid language to create a clear picture for the reader.
• Your Role in the Process : Share your role in the innovation process. Discuss the actions you took, the challenges you faced, and the decisions you made. Highlight your unique contributions and creative thinking that played a crucial part in the project's success.
• Impact of Innovation : Explain the impact of your innovation. Discuss what changed as a result of your work, whether it was a tangible product, a positive transformation, or valuable insights gained. Mention any recognition or awards you received for your innovation.
• Connection to Caltech : Draw a connection between your experience as an innovator and Caltech's values and culture. Explain why your innovative spirit aligns with Caltech's ethos of creativity and scientific exploration. Express your excitement about contributing to the Caltech community.
• Conclusion : Conclude your essay by summarizing your innovative experience and emphasizing the broader significance of creativity and innovation in your life. End on a forward-looking note, expressing your enthusiasm for continuing to explore innovative ideas at Caltech.
• Word Limit and Proofreading : Remember to stick to the specified word limit and carefully proofread your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammar. Your essay should not only showcase your innovative mindset but also engage the reader and leave a lasting impression.

If you need help writing your Caltech supplemental essays, our customized admissions counseling is here for you. Our team of specialists knows what Caltech looks for in applicants and will help make your application documents impactful. 

We support students from grades 6 through 12, helping them position themselves as strong candidates. With one-on-one guidance and profile development, we'll help you stand out in the competitive admissions process.

Ready to see your chances of getting into Caltech? Try our quiz !

Examples of Caltech Supplemental Essays That Worked

By exploring Caltech essays that worked, you get useful ideas and inspiration to improve your own application essays. Let’s get into them. 

Sample Essay #1

Prompt : “How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity of Caltech’s community? (Your response should range between 250-400 words.)”

Take a look at one of the example essays responding to this prompt: 

It’s not uncommon for universities to ask applicants to talk about what “different” element they’d bring to campus. People sometimes assume this means applicants must write about what makes them ethnically, racially, socioeconomically, or religiously distinct from “the norm.”

That’s never the case, and it’s certainly not the case here. You should encourage your child to think broadly about what diversity can mean. What makes them unique? What might make them unique on Caltech’s campus? And how will that unique attribute serve the community?

Roberto, for instance, might also have written about comedy here, arguing that his ability to fail publicly would make him a looser and more creative scientist. Here’s how Kendall, an Indian American applicant from Nashville, answered. He took this prompt as an opportunity to discuss his family’s genetic predisposition to cancer and how that has influenced him to pursue immunotherapy.

"Even though many family members live thousands of miles apart from each other, we have done everything from sharing knock-knock jokes to talking about a movie we just watched. Just as our love for one another connects us, our genes do as well. Although many traits that show up in these genes are desirable, there are many undesirable traits as well, including a high predisposition to cancer.

Cancer has affected the lives of many of my relatives across generations on both sides of my family. It seemed that with every year came a new diagnosis. However, the fear that accompanied my realization of our genetic proneness to cancer quickly turned into curiosity, and then a fuel for my passion of researching better and more effective treatments for this merciless disease.

Having cancer run through my family means that I have first-hand experience of the effect a diagnosis can have on a patient’s family. When my aunt was diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer, I learned that chemotherapy and  radiation is grueling and painful for a patient and their family.

The nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and anemia appalled me. How could this treatment be the only option? With nearly two million diagnoses in 2018, that meant a lot of chemotherapy and pain. This realization pushed me to look further into alternative forms of treatment.

After some searching, I came across the term “immunotherapy,” which used the power of the human body’s immune system to kill cancer cells. This type of treatment caught my interest, as it addressed the use of genetics in medical treatment.

My familial background of cancer has led me to want to help solve the problem of finding better treatment options for cancer in the form of immunotherapy, which I will explore in an internship this fall at UC San Diego. In the future, I would like to research the effects of immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer, to see if our immune system can beat this disease.

At Caltech, I will share my family’s story to inspire my peers as they spend long hours conducting research and studying biochemical pathways. My family’s story will remind them that their inventions and discoveries will have a direct impact on ordinary people who know nothing about genomes or thermodynamics. Together, my peers and I can find more effective treatments and solutions so that next generations can not just survive, but thrive.”

Why Essay #1 Worked

This essay effectively tackles the diversity prompt by taking an unconventional and inclusive approach to diversity, moving beyond traditional factors like race or ethnicity.

By sharing Kendall's personal story related to his family's genetic predisposition to cancer, the essay adds authenticity and depth to the narrative. It illustrates how personal experiences can shape an individual's intellectual and career path.

What sets this essay apart is its ability to connect Kendall's personal journey to broader societal implications. It highlights his interest in immunotherapy as a potential solution to address genetic factors in cancer treatment, emphasizing the real-world impact of scientific research.

Furthermore, the essay underscores the importance of sharing personal narratives to inspire peers and emphasizes how scientific innovations can directly affect people's lives.

Overall, this essay offers a compelling narrative that presents a unique perspective on diversity and a clear sense of purpose in contributing to the Caltech community.

Sample Essay #2

Prompt : “If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose that area of interest? (Max: 200 words)”

Check out this sample supplemental essay: 

“If I had to choose an area of interest or two today, my top choices would be artificial intelligence (AI) and renewable energy. AI's potential to transform industries and improve lives is incredibly exciting. Its interdisciplinary nature, combining computer science, neuroscience, and ethics, offers endless possibilities for innovation.

One example that illustrates my interest in AI is my involvement in a machine learning project during my undergraduate studies. We developed an AI-based system to predict disease outbreaks, which showed me the profound impact AI can have on public health. Renewable energy is equally compelling. Addressing climate change is a pressing concern, and 

I believe that sustainable energy solutions are a critical part of the solution. My involvement in a solar energy community project further fueled my passion for renewable energy.

These choices align with my passion for using technology to solve real-world problems and my belief in the ethical responsibility of scientists and engineers. Both AI and renewable energy represent the future of innovation, and I'm eager to be part of that journey.”

Why Essay #2 Worked

This essay works because it directly and concisely addresses the prompt. The applicant clearly states their areas of interest—artificial intelligence (AI) and renewable energy—and provides solid reasons for their choices.

Their enthusiasm for AI's transformative potential and the interdisciplinary nature of the field shines through, backed by a real-life example of a machine learning project they were involved in during their undergraduate studies.

Likewise, their passion for renewable energy is evident, driven by the urgency of addressing climate change and a hands-on experience in a solar energy community project. These interests are not only personally meaningful but also align with broader societal and environmental concerns.

The essay also emphasizes the ethical dimension, highlighting the applicant's belief in the responsibility of scientists and engineers to address real-world issues. Overall, it's straightforward, genuine, and effectively communicates the applicant's motivations and aspirations within the given word limit.

Sample Essay #3

Prompt : “At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100/Max: 200 words for each experience)”

Consider this essay as an source of inspiration for tackling this prompt:

“ During high school, two experiences in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) ignited my curiosity and passion for these fields.

First, in a physics class, we explored electromagnetism by building electrical circuits. Witnessing a light bulb illuminate when I connected wires was a eureka moment. It revealed the power of understanding the fundamental laws governing our universe and their role in shaping technology. This experience deepened my interest in physics and its practical applications.

Outside the classroom, I participated in a robotics competition. Collaborating with a team to design, build, and program a robot was exhilarating. It demanded creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills. Seeing our robot successfully tackle challenges highlighted the synergy between engineering and computer science. This competition showcased the endless possibilities in STEM and motivated me to explore the field further.

These experiences made STEM tangible, showing its real-world implications. They convinced me that STEM isn't just theoretical but has practical applications. This drove me to pursue a STEM-focused education at Caltech and to contribute to solving the intriguing challenges these fields present.” 

Why Essay #3 Worked

This essay works because it clearly addresses the prompt by discussing two specific STEM-related experiences from the applicant's high school years.

In the first experience, the applicant talks about a physics class experiment with electromagnetism, where they had a "eureka moment" upon seeing a light bulb illuminate. This vividly illustrates their fascination with the practical applications of fundamental scientific principles.

The second experience involves participating in a robotics competition, which showcased the applicant's enthusiasm for engineering and computer science. They emphasize the creative and problem-solving aspects of this activity, which are essential skills in STEM fields.

The essay effectively links these experiences to their motivation to pursue STEM education at Caltech, highlighting the real-world implications of these fields and their desire to contribute to solving complex challenges. It's a concise and well-structured response that directly addresses the prompt's requirements.

Got questions? We've got answers! Check out these FAQs to get the lowdown on Caltech supplemental essays.

1. Is It Acceptable to Write a Creative or Unconventional Essay for Caltech?

Yes, it is acceptable to write a creative or unconventional essay for Caltech. In fact, Caltech encourages applicants to be authentic and innovative in their responses. They want to get to know you as an individual, so if a creative or unconventional approach helps you express your personality and ideas effectively, it can be a great choice.

2. What Qualities or Characteristics Is Caltech Looking for in Applicants Through This Essay?

​​Caltech is looking for applicants with a passion for STEM . It’s also interestewd in individuals with intellectual curiosity, problem-solving skills, and personal qualities like resilience, collaboration, and creativity. They want to know how you'd contribute to their community.

3. Can I Reuse an Essay from Another College Application for Caltech Application?

Reusing essays for Caltech or any other school is not advised. Different institutions have specific prompts to assess fit. Tailoring your essays to Caltech's unique aspects and values is crucial to show your alignment with their mission and culture.

4. Is There a Recommended Structure or Format for the Caltech Supplemental Essay?

For the Caltech supplemental essay, there's no strict format, but clarity, conciseness, and organization are crucial. Begin with a compelling introduction, present ideas logically, and use specific examples. Address the prompt directly and demonstrate your passion for STEM and alignment with Caltech.

5. How Many Essays Caltech Required?

Caltech's application consists of one required academic question, two required short answer questions, and one question about Caltech's values. In addition, there are two optional short answer questions and two optional academic short answer questions for applicants to choose from.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re applying to Caltech or MIT , Harvard or Stanford, your essay matters. So do your best to write one that stands out from the crowd. 

When it comes to the Caltech supplemental essays, follow the tips and advice provided in this blog to craft strong, STEM-focused narratives that reflect your identity and experiences. These essays are your chance to stand out and make a lasting impression on the admissions committee. Good luck with your Caltech application!

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How to Write the California Institute of Technology 2024-2025 Supplemental Essays

Applying to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) means you're gearing up for a rigorous academic challenge. Caltech’s new essay prompts for 2024-2025 are designed to uncover your STEM passions, creativity, and personal identity. Let’s dive into how you can effectively approach these prompts to make your application stand out! And remember, tools like Sups AI can be instrumental in brainstorming and refining your responses.

Essay Prompts Overview

Here are the Caltech supplemental essay prompts and word limits you’ll need to tackle:

If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose your proposed area of interest? If you selected ‘other’, what topics are you interested in pursuing? (200 words max)

Regardless of your STEM interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever STEM rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into. Be as specific or broad as you would like. (150 words max)

Tell us how you initially found your interest and passion for science or any STEM topic and how you have pursued or developed this interest or passion. (200 words max)

Tell us about a STEM-related experience from the last few years and share how and why it inspired your curiosity. (200 words max)

How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (250 words max)

How have you cultivated the value of respect for a diversity of thoughts and ideas in your own life? (200 words max)

Optional: If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below. (150 words max)

What is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy? (100 words max)

Optional: Tell us about another hobby or interest! (150 words max)

How to Approach Each Essay Prompt

Prompt 1: choosing your area of interest (200 words).

This prompt invites you to discuss your academic interests. Whether you're passionate about physics, computer science, or bioengineering, clearly articulate why these fields excite you. Reflect on any formative experiences or influences that sparked your curiosity. Utilizing tools like Sups AI can help you brainstorm and organize your thoughts effectively.

Prompt 2: Nerd Out About STEM (150 words)

This is your chance to showcase your deep dive into a STEM topic. Whether it's quantum mechanics, machine learning, or a specific engineering challenge, be engaging and detailed. Explain how this topic caught your interest and what you've learned. For some added flair, connect with current Caltech students through Sups AI to gather insights on how to present your “nerd-out” topic authentically.

Prompt 3: Your Initial STEM Passion (200 words)

Dive into your origin story. How did your love for a particular STEM field begin? Was it a school project, a family influence, or an inspiring book? Be specific about how you’ve nurtured this interest. Consider reflecting on any clubs, competitions, or personal projects you've undertaken. Don’t forget that Sups AI offers personalized feedback to ensure your story shines.

Prompt 4: A Recent STEM Experience (200 words)

Highlight a recent STEM endeavor that fueled your curiosity. This could be anything from a challenging course to a research project. Emphasize what you learned and why it was significant. Remember, specificity is key. Sups AI can assist you in polishing your narrative to make the strongest impact.

Prompt 5: Innovation and Creativity (250 words)

Caltech values innovation. Discuss an instance where you’ve been a creator or inventor. This could range from a school project to a personal hobby. Explain your process, the obstacles you faced, and the outcome. Use this space to showcase your problem-solving skills and creative thinking. For added refinement, submit your essay for feedback on Sups AI .

Prompt 6: Respect for Diverse Thoughts (200 words)

Caltech is looking for students who value different perspectives. Reflect on how you have respected and embraced diverse viewpoints. This can include experiences from group projects, leadership roles, or community involvement. Your goal is to demonstrate your openness and appreciation for diversity. Sups AI can offer valuable tips to elevate your response.

Optional Prompts

If these optional prompts apply to you, be sure to take advantage of them:

Aspects of Identity (150 words)

Share unique aspects of your identity or background that are not covered in other parts of your application. This could include cultural, social, or personal experiences that have shaped who you are.

Favorite Hobby (100 words)

Discuss a hobby that brings you joy. Explain why this activity is meaningful and how it contributes to your overall well-being.

Another Interest (150 words)

Share another hobby or interest you are passionate about. Describe what you gain from this activity and how it complements your academic pursuits.

Writing compelling supplemental essays is crucial for your Caltech application. With these tips and the support of Sups AI , you'll be well on your way to crafting essays that resonate with the admissions committee. Good luck!

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Command Education Guide

How to write the caltech supplemental essays, updated for 2024-2025, prompt 1: your stem future: academic interests.

Caltech has a rigorous core curriculum and students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore.

If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose?

*Note that you are under no obligation to follow this choice if admitted.

Why did you choose your proposed area of interest? If you selected ‘other’, what topics are you interested in pursuing? (Min: 1 / Max: 200 words)

Explanation:

This prompt invites you to share the reason behind your interest in an academic field. Your response doesn’t need to be particularly groundbreaking, but it should be truly authentic. Is there a project from high school that developed your interest in this subject? A book that ignited your curiosity in this area? A summer program that introduced you to this field of study? Draw on some unique experience to show rather than tell your reader how you arrived at this interest. A word to highlight in this prompt is “excite.” Don’t hold back on expressing your intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm!

I want to be a fortune teller.

No, I don’t need a crystal ball; my computer will suffice. My fascination with forecasting impending events has made me fall in love with economics and quantitative analysis.

In high school, I worked with my economics teacher to develop an independent study in econometrics, where I attempt to predict the unpredictable. While my project is specifically about discovering the determinants of success in the Major League Baseball playoffs, what it really seeks to understand is how to better measure labor performance—in this case, that of professional athletes—which may be overlooked. Sports, specifically baseball, are a terrific sampling ground for labor analysis and prejudice regarding labor. In baseball, scouts historically value simplistic factors like players’ win-loss records or 40-yard dash times; however, the “Moneyball revolution” helped teams to discover that there are players who struggle in traditional aspects of evaluation but possess undetected, often incredible, traits with their own inherent value. At Caltech, through courses like “Introduction to Econometrics and Applied Mathematics,” I hope to develop the analytical capabilities and data-driven approaches that would allow me to eschew orthodoxy in favor of identifying the “diamonds in the rough.”

Required Short Essay Questions

Your STEM Present: Curiosity

Regardless of your STEM interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever STEM rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into. Be as specific or broad as you would like. (Min: 50 / Max: 150 words)

Just like in the previous prompt, Caltech wants to know what excites and stimulates you intellectually. Because of how similar this prompt is to the first one, make sure to use this space to reveal something new or to show a different side of you to the admissions committee. Is there a niche topic you’re obsessed with? Is there a problem or question you have spent days wondering about? What subject could you talk about for hours? This prompt is intentionally broad and gives the opportunity for eccentricities and personalities to shine! Once again, do not hold back on enthusiasm. Caltech should read your response and be able to tell how passionately you care about a certain topic, subject, or other intellectual pursuit. A successful essay would likely also demonstrate how you’ve interacted with this interest in your own life and how you might continue to do so on campus at Caltech.

Upon waking, I immediately roll over and grab my pen and notepad from my nightstand and begin scribbling, my eyes barely open. Ever since I was little, I have been obsessed with decoding dreams and uncovering the messages behind their vivid imagery. Learning about lucid dreaming and REM sleep fuels my curiosity about the mind, and stacks of “Dream Dictionaries” frequently litter my nightstand.

As I’ve grown up, this obsession has flowed into other areas of neurobiology and psychology, from memory retention to goal-setting. I initiated “Thriving Tools” at my high school, an educational series aimed at empowering fellow students with science-backed strategies for improving memory, motivation, and effective learning. Friends’ successes—better sleep, information retention, and increased classroom confidence—were the ultimate reward.

At Caltech, I hope to further my scientific understanding of biology and to then utilize this information to create a community where people feel healthier and more empowered.

Your STEM Past: Prior Experiences

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We are interested in learning more about your engagement with STEM.

Please share two STEM-related experiences:

Tell us how you initially found your interest and passion for science or any STEM topic, and how you have pursued or developed this interest or passion. (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

Note that this prompt is two-pronged—it first asks you to describe what inspired your STEM-related interests, then they ways you have actively pursued those interests. The first half allows you to narrativize your beginnings in the STEM field, and as such, consider beginning with an engaging story to illustrate your burgeoning interest. The next thing that admissions officers want to see is a demonstration of initiative. Admissions officers want to not only read about how you first dipped your toe in this topic or passion, but how you then went above and beyond in pursuing this passion. How did you explore it beyond the classroom? How has this passion grown and what has it culminated in? The more specific you can be in your writing, the better. Finally, how will you continue to develop this passion and show initiative on Caltech’s campus?

Crouching in the corner of my mom’s office, I lifted the lid of the Tupperware container, eager to see what awaited. A gigantic smile spread across my face as I saw the treasure beneath: oozing strawberries covered with a fuzzy layer of white mold!

While this may sound like many people’s worst nightmare—my mother included—this moment was pivotal in my development as a scientist. I was in fifth grade when I became troubled by how strawberries in our fridge grew moldy in a matter of days. Determined to find the storage method that ensured the longest freshness, I placed strawberries in four different types of containers and tracked the mold growth.

Seven years later, not much has changed—just replace the Tupperware with Petri dishes and the moldy strawberries with incubated bacterial colonies. My internship with a local clinical laboratory has only deepened my passion for microbiology. Hands-on experiences like plating Petri dishes, culturing bacterial strains, and counting colonies probe me to ask even more questions. I am proud that my fifth grade strawberry experiment was just the first of many, and I hope to take advantage of Caltech’s extensive research opportunities to continue exploring my beloved biology.

Tell us about a STEM-related experience from the last few years and share how and why it inspired your curiosity. (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

This prompt is fairly straightforward in that it requires you to share some sort of anecdote related to a STEM experience. Make sure you are not just telling the story, but showing it through visual language and storytelling. The important thing to keep in mind is 1) to connect this to yourself and how this experience nurtured you as a curious intellectual and 2) to express how this experience aligns with Caltech or an opportunity you hope to pursue at Caltech.

Intergenerational friendships are some of the most rewarding relationships. I should know; some of my dearest friends are over a thousand years old.

Last summer, I conducted environmental research focused on forest management across California redwood forests. Through this experience, I was able to bear witness to the great beauty that lies in these ancient, towering trees. Beyond their beauty, though, I was taken aback by how much there was to learn from them. My curiosity was sparked throughout my time as a researcher as I learned more about redwoods, from their remarkably high bark moisture content that makes them fire-resistant to their incredible carbon sequestration abilities. This experience taught me that, in a society where humans are often prioritized over other living things, it is essential to raise awareness for the well-being of plants and animals, including the underlying wisdom they provide. Through Caltech’s Environmental Science and Engineering program, specifically exciting classes like “Forest Ecology” and “Climate Science,” I hope to continue pursuing this curiosity about the natural world and to equip myself with the skills necessary to create solutions to environmental challenges that keep the needs of both humans and plants in mind.

Creativity In Action

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars. But Techers also imagine smaller-scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D-print dorm decor to experimenting in the kitchen. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250 words)

This question is prompting you to highlight a time when you have thought out of the box or brought a unique idea to completion. Given that creativity is the focus of this prompt, consider how you might incorporate other disciplines into your answer, get creative with your storytelling, or select an off-the-wall anecdote to highlight your innovation. The idea of being a creator or inventor also implies a sense of initiative, grit, and leadership, so think about how you can showcase those qualities with your answer. Finally, end the essay by connecting this anecdote with how it informs the type of student or person you will be at Caltech and the impact you hope to make on the community there.

“We’ve got a breach!” the special forces leader shouts, turning on the alarm and triggering signals throughout the museum. Flashing red lights illuminate the scene. Despite the villain’s success in sneaking over the fence, his plan is ultimately foiled.

While many would recognize this as a gripping action scene, few might connect it with the body’s immune response. Yet, during an AP Biology lecture on infection, I noticed striking parallels between our reactions to pathogens and the riveting scenes of my favorite movies. The vivid imagery of pathogens as villains and components of our immune system as various layers of defenses took my understanding of these processes to a new level.

Inspired, I combined my passions for biology and writing to create a play that translated scientific concepts into compelling narratives. After presenting it in class, I noticed that my framing of the immune response as a story helped my classmates not only engage with the material on a deeper level, but also retain information more effectively.

Encouraged by this feedback, I took my play to middle schools, hoping to bridge science and arts at an earlier age. I volunteered weekly to rehearse scenes and discuss their connections to immunology. Experiencing students’ overwhelming enthusiasm proved to me the value of combining two seemingly-opposed areas like science and art.

Caltech’s focus on interdisciplinary approaches aligns perfectly with who I am as a student and creator. At Caltech, I will continue integrating my passions and inspiring others to see the interconnectedness of disparate fields.

Caltech Values

Caltech’s values include respect for a diversity of thoughts and ideas. How have you cultivated this value in your own life? (Min: 50 / Max: 200 words)

At college, you will meet people from all walks of life and from many differing perspectives. This prompt is all about demonstrating to Caltech that you are open to perspectives other than your own and that you don’t just speak, but you also listen. Is there a time you have had a difficult or uncomfortable conversation with someone who held a different belief than you? Is there a time you helped facilitate a discussion amongst people of opposing views? Can you think of an experience when you found common ground with someone incredibly dissimilar from you? This prompt, of course, should include a specific anecdote or experience.

“I don’t know if I agree with that interpretation.”

Those nine words introduced the majority of my contributions to discussions in AP American Literature. When the semester began, I worried that those words would cue a collective eye roll from my peers—that fellow students would see me only as a contrarian. However, I couldn’t resist the near-scientific impulse to investigate ideas from different angles. I have always been the “loud-mouth” in my family, and while I know it is a gift, my outspoken nature often used to feel like a curse.

Despite my initial fears, my class grew to become close friends. I soon found myself on the receiving end of those nine words, as classmates became emboldened to test their own ideas and question those of others.

The class quickly became my favorite; I learned to disagree well, examine my own preconceptions, and expand my perspectives to others’ views. My classmates helped me see that my willingness to question ideas—and openness to having my own perspectives and opinions tested—helped to foster the atmosphere of curiosity and trust that we all came to appreciate. It is this inquisitive yet open nature that I hope to bring to Caltech’s classrooms.

Optional Short Answer Questions

We know, we know … you see optional and start to wonder if we mean it. But in this section, we truly do! See these as completely optional opportunities to show us more of your personality.

Optional. We promise.

Prompt: If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below. (Max: 150 words)

Almost all of the prompts thus far have been directly related to your interest in STEM, so you should use this space as an opportunity to show off a side of yourself or a part of your identity that you haven’t been able to yet! This could be a community that has shaped you, a hobby not yet talked about, or a culture you are a part of. The prompt is very open, so it would be a good idea to use a short anecdote (remember, maximum 150 words!) to structure the flow of your essay. Make sure to connect this anecdote to how it has impacted you as a person (i.e. how you see the world, how you treat others, how you approach challenges, etc.).

Prompt: When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through coding marathons, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing, reading, yoga, playing musical instruments and theater arts, to solving puzzles, hiking, painting, and building or inventing new gadgets. We understand that everyone needs an outlet or two. What is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy? (Max: 200 words)

This prompt is the perfect place to be playful—no hobby is too big or too small! This is an opportunity to step away from writing about pure academics, and it is a great way to humanize yourself and show Caltech the nuances that make up who you are. Write about something that you haven’t talked about yet in your application, and express why this interest or hobby is so meaningful to you.

Prompt: Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too. Tell us about another hobby or interest! (Max: 150 words)

Since this prompt is so similar to the last one, be sure to choose an activity, interest, or hobby that is completely different from what you last wrote about. This is an opportunity to add further dimension to your profile, so show a side of yourself the admissions officers haven’t yet seen!

Optional Academic Short Answer Questions (Found under the “Academics” tab of the Common App)

OPTIONAL: Have you had any extenuating circumstances (such as limited course selection or disruptions), that have affected your coursework, but that are not described elsewhere in your application? If so, tell us about them here.

This is your chance to explain any difficulties or gaps in your application. Does your school only offer 2 AP classes and that’s why you didn’t have more on your transcript? Did you go through a hardship during high school that took away your focus or time from schoolwork? Did you have a younger sibling you were responsible for taking care of after school, which limited your ability to pursue certain opportunities? A good tip is to highlight instances where you were able to recover despite these challenges or show growth after these hardships.

Why did you choose your proposed area of interest? If you selected ‘other’, what topics are you interested in pursuing? (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

At college, there will be people from all walks of life and from many differing perspectives. This prompt is all about demonstrating to Caltech that you are open to perspectives other than your own and that you don’t just speak, but you also listen. Is there a time you have had a difficult or uncomfortable conversation with someone who held a different belief than you? Is there a time you helped facilitate a discussion amongst people of opposing views? Can you think of an experience when you found common ground with someone incredibly dissimilar from you? This prompt, of course, should include a specific anecdote or experience.

Optional Academic Short Answer Questions

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