About

See what students say:

Academics

Beyond arguably one of the most rigorous undergraduate educations in science out there, Caltech is a small, tight-knit community that is “geared towards training tomorrow’s leaders and pioneers in the field of science.” There may be a heavy emphasis on scientific learning and research, but “not to the point where students can do nothing else,” as the core curriculum “exposes each student to a broad range of subjects” beyond the stereotypical fare. At Caltech, passionate researchers “work together to solve the problems of tomorrow, while enjoying great weather.” Or to put it in the parlance of collegiate times: “Cross collaboration of ideas and ingenuity leads to epic-ness!” Academics are understandably “intense” at Caltech: “The work can be hell but you’ll love what you learn.” Fortunately, “classes are small and it’s often easy to form tight bonds with the professors.” The quality of teaching can vary—“just because they’re Nobel Prize winners, does not make them good lecturers”—but the extremely low student to faculty ratio “makes it easier to interact on a personal basis with professors.” “My academic experience here has been an extremely difficult whirlwind of humbling and fascinating knowledge,” says a student. Much learning is done through the homework sets, on which students are encouraged to collaborate. The dedication Caltech has for training the researchers of tomorrow is renowned, and is evident in the accessibility to research for all students, even freshmen. The academic experience isn’t just in the classroom; there are “lots of funding opportunities (for instance, the Housner and the MHF) for projects outside of the classroom.” “One professor took me on for research after freshman year (we formulated an improved way to rank basketball players and teams), and I’m very good friends with him in what is now my junior year,” says a mathematics major. Undergraduate student representation and self-government are happily welcomed here, and the school “really cares about the undergrads and wants to keep us happy.” The school also does “a really good job of keeping students occupied and entertained while at the same time cramming a ridiculous amount of information into our heads.”

Student Body

“Everyone knows each other” at this “beautiful, small campus,” and there’s “no way around it”: students here are “smart” and “nerdier than average,” but “there is a wide range in personality within the student body.” Most everyone has “an odd sense of humor and a serious hobby, whether it be Minecraft, building lasers, or rock climbing.” There is “complete trust within the student body” at Caltech, and the house system provides “a family-like support network for students,” which is a welcome respite from “extreme academic pressures.”

Campus Life

Modeled after the Oxford college system (and “very similar to Harry Potter”), the Caltech house system is the basis for undergraduate life, offering both a place to live and a social center for students. Freshmen are placed into one of eight houses after the first week of school, and “immediately are integrated into a close social network/ safety net. Basically, each student automatically gets ~100 friends.” Each house has “a slightly different culture, and most people find that they identify strongly with at least one of the cultures”; as one student says, “My house has a tool room and turned down the housing office’s offer to buy us a TV,” says a senior electrical engineering major. In keeping with the one big happy family vibe, “undergraduates and grad students play Frisbee together, students and faculty play together in music groups, grad students go to undergraduate parties...and the students have a lot of unexploited trust from the faculty because of the Honor Code.” Caltech has lots of fun traditions such as Halloween, when students “freeze pumpkins in liquid nitrogen and drop them off of Millikan library as a ‘pumpkin-drop experiment.’” However, some feel that some of the new administrators “are trying to circumvent various student traditions and freedoms.” The cherry on top of the Caltech sundae is “the fantastic SoCal weather, which is hard to beat anywhere in the world.” Time is at a premium, but students “take trips to the beach and LA” over the weekend; during the week, “[problem] sets and extracurriculars keep us pretty close to campus.”

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Address
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
1200 E. California Boulevard; M/C 10-90
Pasadena, CA 91125

Phone
626-395-6341

Email
ugadmissions@caltech.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
Caltech Bookstore
Moore Laboratory
Mead Chemistry Laboratory
Broad Center for the Biological Sciences
Red Door Cafe

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Old Towne Pasadena
South Lake Avenue Shopping District
Huntington Library
Norton-Simon Museum
L.A. County Museum of Art
Santa Monica Pier Venice Beach Disneyland Universal Studios

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center
Monday-Friday
8am-5pm
626-395-6341

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
No

Information Sessions
Available

Times
Monday - Friday 11:00-12:00

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Year-round

Arrangements
Contact Coach Directly

Advance Notice
1 week

Contact Email Address for Visit
coaches@caltech.edu

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Varies

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Limitations
N/A

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Los Angeles International Airport is less than 30 miles away. Shuttle vans, taxis, and rental cars are available at the airport; contact the airport to make arrangements. Burbank Airport is 20 minutes from Caltech. Amtrak trains and Greyhound/Trailways buses serve Los Angeles.

Driving Instructions to Campus
Take the 210 Freeway to the Hill Ave. off-ramp. Turn south on Hill Ave. Turn right into the parking behind our office at 383 S Hill or use street parking.

Local Accommodations
Courtyard by Marriott 626.403.7600 Pasadena Hilton 626.577.1000 Saga Motor Hotel 626.795.0431 Sheraton Pasadena Hotel 626.449.4000 Vagabond Inn 626.449.3170 Westin Hotel Pasadena 626.792.2727

Admissions

Applicants: 8,208
Acceptance Rate: 7%






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