Why Caltech
How I Chose My Major
I was not like some of my peers who, from the first day of entering campus, knew exactly which field they wanted to pursue. I arrived at Caltech finding everything around me intriguing.
Start with the Core
When you finally get here, you'll want to geek out and go all-in on your passion. With six Nobel laureates in residence, and an absolute playground of research opportunities in front of you, we get it. But great science crosses boundaries and demands multiple perspectives. It's why every Techer, regardless of discipline, takes multiple classes in the basic sciences, humanities, and social science. You might be a little out of your comfort zone, but that's OK—that's often where the best stuff gets done.
So. Much. Research.
Of all the reasons to study at Caltech, research may be at the top of the list. If you count faculty and postdoctoral fellows, there's a 1:1 ratio of Ph.D. researchers to students on campus. Almost all our students participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF). Before you even get in a lab for this 10-week program, you'll collaborate with a faculty member on designing a research proposal. And you'll get paid, to boot.
Small size
Caltech isn't a place to be anonymous. With just under 1,000 undergrads, we're too small, and too close, for that. You're going to be part of a community—one where everybody works hard, but that also takes a breather every now and then. In fact, the students who do best here already have some kind of outlet, such as theater, athletics or the arts.
Nine different residential communities, over 100 different student clubs, 16 NCAA Division III teams. You'll have a chance to meet more people and try more things than you think you have time for.
It's so important to look into a crowd and see other people like you. Almost half our students are women, and a third come from historically underrepresented groups. Honestly, though? We want to do better. Read on to learn how we support access, equity, and inclusion.
We have proof that we're not making this all up and you can find it on our student blog, which is written by actual Techers. Find out about everything from free time (which exists) to our rich trove of humanities courses (which also exists).
Making it through gave me the confidence and optimism to believe that so much more is possible, and I don't have to be limited by what others say if I see a different way forward.
