Caltech supplemental application essays


For the second optional short answer question, the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 ask applicants to share a favorite interest or hobby that brings them joy.


In my essay, I focused on an activity I genuinely did for fun – I had no competitions, no awards, no group activity, and honestly, no reason for its inclusion in my application. But I had a story. I chose to write about singing and taking voice lessons. This is not a unique activity, clearly – plenty of students sing, and many are in award-winning choirs and competitions. I wrote about the vocal exercises that students practice – shouting the funkiest words out the window to improve flexibility and vocal strength. I spoke about what it meant for me to learn to sing, how it has impacted who I am, and mentioned specific examples: my early love of musicals and the alto female voices found on Broadway.

Many are curious about how to get into Caltech undergrad programs. The Caltech admissions committee does not require any additional application materials from homeschooled students than it does from their traditionally educated peers. Caltech reviews each applicant within the context of their experiences.Â

Read on for more detailed advice on your Caltech supplemental essays!

The Supplement consists of required questions that require 200-250 words max. Fall 2024 applicants will be asked to review Caltech’s guidelines on the ethical use of AI before submitting the required and optional essays listed . Experiencing writer’s block? Check out Caltech's

Use these supplemental essays to give the admissions team a real sense of who you are. They want to hear your unique voice and see how your experiences have shaped your interests. Be specific, bring your stories to life with details, and don’t just stick to general statements. Connect your experiences directly to Caltech’s focus on STEM and innovation.

The California Institute of Technology, fondly known as Caltech, commands a rich history and a sterling reputation. Founded in 1891, it has consistently been at the forefront of scientific research and technological innovation, earning an unmatched reputation in disciplines like physics, engineering, and computer science. Caltech has garnered countless accolades for its academic rigor and innovative spirit, and regularly ranks among the world's top universities. Its close-knit community of groundbreaking scientists and driven students continually push the boundaries of knowledge, seeking answers to the most complex questions of the universe.

The California Institute of Technology, fondly known as Caltech, commands a rich history and a sterling reputation. Founded in 1891, it has consistently been at the forefront of scientific research and technological innovation, earning an unmatched reputation in disciplines like physics, engineering, and computer science. Caltech has garnered countless accolades for its academic rigor and innovative spirit, and regularly ranks among the world's top universities. Its close-knit community of groundbreaking scientists and driven students continually push the boundaries of knowledge, seeking answers to the most complex questions of the universe.


Caltech supplemental essays 2021-2022

The California Institute of Technology, fondly known as Caltech, commands a rich history and a sterling reputation. Founded in 1891, it has consistently been at the forefront of scientific research and technological innovation, earning an unmatched reputation in disciplines like physics, engineering, and computer science. Caltech has garnered countless accolades for its academic rigor and innovative spirit, and regularly ranks among the world's top universities. Its close-knit community of groundbreaking scientists and driven students continually push the boundaries of knowledge, seeking answers to the most complex questions of the universe.

Caltech supplemental essays 2021-2022

If you choose to use your QuestBridge application, you must submit a Caltech-QuestBridge Supplement (only if Caltech was selected in the QuestBridge Regular Decision Form). Through the Beaver Breakroom, you can access, complete, and submit a new Caltech-QuestBridge Supplement.

Caltech supplemental essays 2021-2022

The diversity essay is one that stumps many a student. Maybe you come from a community where mostly everyone acts like you, or thinks like you. That’s a majority of the population! With this question, California Institute of Technology wants to know: what perspective do you bring to the table? How do you add to the community in your own way?

Caltech supplemental essays 2021-2022

"Equity at Caltech is about ensuring that we are continuously thinking about where talent lies and how we can make Caltech more accessible to the most brilliant STEM students in the world," says Ashley Pallie, executive director of undergraduate admissions and chief admissions officer. "We know that everyone has different educational opportunities, but a student's intellectual capacity should not be limited by the opportunities available at their local high school. The problems the world faces are greater than those limits, so Caltech Admissions is thinking beyond those limits too."

Caltech supplemental essays 2020-2021

The first optional short answer question in the Caltech supplemental essays 2023-2024 invites introspection and self-disclosure, asking applicants to discuss aspects of their life, social, or personal identity that have not been captured elsewhere in the application.