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Fall Fly-in Program: Caltech Up Close

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Are you a high-achieving student who is interested in pursuing the STEM fields in your undergraduate career?

Are you a rising high school senior attending school in the U.S.?

If your answer is yes to these questions, create an account and apply to experience Caltech Up Close (CUC)! Through Caltech Up Close, selected participants will interact with current students, faculty, and staff through informational sessions, meaningful conversations, and fun social gatherings on- and off-campus.

Deadline to apply is Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT

Caltech Up Close 2026 is open to all students that reside and will graduate from high school in the U.S. in 2027. The program is designed for students of exceptional promise and will focus on the experiences of students from disadvantaged backgrounds (e.g. rural or small town, socioeconomically diverse, etc.). This year's program will take place October 10 - 12, 2026 and, during the all-expense paid visit, selected participants will have opportunities to:

  • Explore Caltech's 124-acre campus.
  • Connect with campus community members, including faculty and current students.
  • Discover undergrad academics, research and internships, as well as student life.
  • Analyze application tips and requirements.
  • Grasp admissions and financial aid processes.
  • Experience a glimpse of life in Southern California.

*CUC is for students only, parents/guardians will not be able to attend any part of the programming.

Note: The application process will require applicants to submit unofficial high school transcripts.

CUC Application Essay Questions

  1. Caltech students have a relentless curiosity for STEM. What are you relentlessly curious about?
  2. If you won a 500-million-dollar research grant, what problem would you try to solve through the use of science, technology, or engineering and how would you do it?

Caltech Up Close is a program hosted by Caltech's Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Contact us with any questions you may have at [email protected].