Freshman Applicants
Caltech enrolls 215 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)
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). Both paper- and computer-based TOEFL are acceptable.Official test scores should be sent by the testing agency. Please do not rush 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.
