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 Five of the 2027 Supplemental Essay Questions
This year's essay questions are designed to help you show how you would thrive at Caltech. We want to hear from you, in your own words, about the kind of person, student, and scientist you are.
These 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've got this!
Essay One - Understanding Your 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? (Min: 150 / Max: 200 words)
Why are we asking this?
Although we don't require you to pursue the major you write down on your application, we want to know that you're able to articulate your academic interests and the depth of your curiosity. It gives you a chance to help the admissions committee understand your motivations, and commitment to the mission of Caltech. By sharing more about your authentic interest and future plans, we begin to understand how and why you would thrive at Caltech.
Tips for answering this question:
- Be honest, don't tell us what you think we want to hear. This is a chance to demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm for your desired field of study.
- Research and explain why this is the right program for you and how it aligns with your research and/or career goals.
- Do not try to game the system by choosing other fields to hopefully stand out. This will make your answer less sincere and will reflect poorly on your candidacy to the admissions committee.
Essay Two - Scholarly Character
How do you learn when there is no easy answer? Caltech's learning environment asks students to work through difficulty, collaborate around hard ideas, and contribute to one another's understanding. Use these responses to show us how you learn and grow.
Choose one of the following prompts: (Max: 200 words)
Option 1 -- COLLABORATION: STEM as shared learning
Tell us about a time your learning in STEM was shaped by another person or group — either because you needed help, offered help, changed your thinking through collaboration, or contributed to someone else's understanding. What did that experience teach you about learning and working with others?
or
Option 2 -- PROCESS: The thought behind the outcome
Tell us about a time your approach to a STEM problem, concept, or project mattered as much as the outcome. How did you work through uncertainty or persist creatively in tackling the problem? What would you still defend about your process, regardless of the outcome?
Why are we asking this?
The second question asks you to share more about how you learn when there is no easy answer. In other words, when the work gets hard, what kind of student do you become? Are you someone who embraces collaboration in the face of a tough problem? Do you bring integrity to the learning process and persist when answers don't reveal themselves on the first try? We give you the choice to talk about STEM, either as a shared learning endeavor or a time when the process mattered as much as, if not more than, the outcome.
Tips for answering this question:
- Both prompts ask for you to reflect on what kind of student you are, and we encourage you to draw on recent high school experiences from the last few years.
- Make sure to be specific about collaboration and give concrete examples of the way that the exchange changed your perspective or strengthened the group's learning.
- Reflect beyond the event by explaining how the experience changed the way you approach future STEM challenges or work with others.
- Caltech values students who embrace failure, as failure is inherent to the scientific process. If you choose to talk about your scientific process, we encourage you to be honest about the difficulties you experienced and give specific details about what persisting through challenges taught you. How have you implemented these lessons learned in future projects?
Essays Three & Four - Scientific Drive
How does STEM come alive in your life through learning, pursuing, or making? Caltech faculty review applications, so feel free to get technical in your response!
Choose two of the following prompts: (Two Essays, Max: 200 words each)
Option 1 -- LEARNING: STEM as a never-ending rabbit hole
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.
Option 2 -- PURSUING: STEM as sustained intellectual engagement
Tell us about a STEM question, problem, idea, or project that has held your attention over time. What drew you to it, how have you pursued it, and what do you still want to understand?
Option 3 -- MAKING: STEM as creation
Tell us about something you created, tested, repaired, modeled, coded, built, or redesigned. What problem were you trying to solve and what did the process reveal to you?
Why are we asking this?
We want to learn more about what you've pursued, and why you've pursued it. We are interested in the depth of your STEM engagement, the choices you've made within the opportunities available to you, and the evidence that you've relentlessly and purposefully pursued questions, problems, and discovery. Your STEM experiences help us understand who you are as a scientist, mathematician, or engineer on a deeper, more personal level, and help us see your potential to thrive here at Caltech.
Tips for answering this question:
- Don't just list the activities you've done! We care more about the depth of the engagement you've had than the number of STEM experiences you talk about.
- Remember that there is no way to "out-STEM" us. When we say "nerd out", we mean it!
- Remember: Not all STEM experiences will look the same (and imagine how boring that would be!). You should choose to talk about something you are genuinely interested in or passionate about. Authenticity matters and will come through in your response.
- 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.
- Be sure to be specific by mentioning the aspects and concepts that fascinate you and let us know why. Do not worry about being "too technical" in your response!
Essay Five - Just for Fun!
Caltech students bring more than academic ability to the communities they join. What is something you would be excited to do, share, teach, make, start, or contribute as part of the Caltech community? (Min: 100 / Max: 150 words)
Why are we asking this?
We aren't just looking for what you'll study here at Caltech. Caltech is about more than the classroom; it's about the communities you build in your houses, with your clubs, and on the field. We want to hear more about what you're excited to do outside of the classroom and we truly believe you'll add something special to our unique campus community. What would you be excited to build, share, teach, organize, or create with the people around you? What hobby, tradition, or quirky obsession would you introduce to your fellow Techers?
Tips for answering this question:
- Be specific, be genuine, and let your enthusiasm do the talking
- Don't just list your interests or hobbies. Highlight why you're excited to bring those specific interests to Caltech.
- Have fun with this one! There isn't a single "right" answer. We're looking for authentic enthusiasm and a genuine sense of how you'll help make the Caltech community even more vibrant.