Freshman Applicants
Caltech typically enrolls 230 outstanding freshmen each fall term. Students who have not yet earned a high school diploma (including students enrolled in high school/college dual enrollment programs) or who have not enrolled in college courses for credit after graduating from high school will be considered as freshman candidates.
Application Forms:
Caltech uses the Common Application and our own Caltech Supplemental Application. Application Forms
Academic Preparation:
* 4 years of math (including calculus)
* 1 year of physics and 1 year of chemistry
* 3 years of English (4 years recommended)
* 1 year of U.S. history/government (waived for international students)
Testing Requirements:
SAT: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing OR
ACT: (with or without the optional writing section) AND
SAT Subject Tests: Mathematics Level 2 and one of the following Subject Tests: Biology (Ecological), Biology (Molecular), Chemistry, or Physics
If your native language is not English, and you have not studied for at least two years in an English-speaking country, we encourage (but don't require) you to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). All versions of the TOEFL are acceptable.
Official test scores must be sent by the testing agency. Please do not rush scores.
Caltech strongly recommends that students submit all SAT and SAT Subject test scores.
Admission Deadlines:
For a complete list of admission deadlines please see
Admission Deadlines.
Credit for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or College Courses:
Caltech does not grant credit for AP, IB, or college courses taken prior to enrollment. Each student will take a math and physics placement exam (and chemistry if pursuing a chemistry option), prior to enrolling. Based on the results of these exams, a student may place out of courses and be granted credit for those courses.
In some cases, Caltech faculty will grant permission to take a higher level course in other disciplines based on an evaluation of previous preparation in that discipline. These decisions are made on an individual basis after a student enrolls at Caltech. 
