Applying to Caltech
As you might expect, admission to Caltech is competitive.
We usually welcome approximately 215 new freshman and 10 to 15 new upperclass students to campus each fall.
They come to Caltech from all over the
United States and all over the world.
What they share is an unusual interest in and an extraordinary aptitude for science.
There is no “trick” to gaining admission. There are no formulas that assure success, and even for experienced application readers it is impossible to predict the outcome for a particular applicant without reading the entire application. There are no automatic cutoffs for any criteria that we might consider, and every application submitted for admission to Caltech is read.
The best advice I can offer you is to take your time on the application. Answer all the questions fully, make sure that you spend time on your writing, and be sure that the application accurately reflects your interests and accomplishments.
Caltech’s admissions process is unusual in the way in which faculty and students are involved. Virtually every student who is offered admission to Caltech has had their application read by a Caltech faculty member and an undergraduate student, as well as by one or more members of the admissions staff.
The admissions staff is available to you as you learn about Caltech and navigate the admissions process. Please feel free to contact us by phone or e-mail at any time when questions arise.
Best wishes,
Rick Bischoff
Director of Admissions
