caltech’s website states that you submit all scores at which point a super score is created. Do I have to submit all my scores even if I am not super scoring? And will a negative trend affect my app?

(Also, is the schoolhouse.world certification that beneficial or does like no one do it bc I’m tryna determine whether or not it’s worth my time)

What's good guys, recently sent a app to caltech. Issue rn is my grades are all messed up and SAT is pretty average but I got good ECs.

Should I redact my app or do I got a shot (list of ECs on my prev posts)

Edit: GPA is a 3.1 not 2.9

Ad astra

I am looking for MS in Computer Science (Fall 2025) with a focus on AI & ML/Data Science. Want to know if Caltech provides any specialized tracks for them or any separate courses/programs? Or are they just available as electives in main CS program?

Also will the final degree show any specialization?

I have applied caltech REA and I am unsure about how to go about SAT scores. I added my SAT scores on the common app when I was making my application. But on my beaver breakroom it says I can confirm/add another score. On the caltech website about deadlines it says that the dealine for submitting SAT scores is 30th of November, however on the beaver breakroom it says that it is the 6th of November. I want to add another score but I will receive it after 6th of November? Which deadline is right?

currently working on the beaver breakroom, and have a few questions:

1. I haven't submitted a portfolio yet and judging by the looks of what they want, how does it work? it seems like you can only write a description for one thing at a time. are you supposed to upload multiple files at a time for each thing you've done? or should I explain each individual thing all once and upload a giant folder with everything?

2. i have a ~23 page research paper where me and a team of 2 others formulated our own math models to model global warming and stuff related to it. we conducted it with a professor at a local university, but it is not published nor submitted anywhere, and it is done, meaning it doesn't qualify as any of the options for submitting research. I saw somewhere you can put this in the portfolio, would this be acceptable?

3. for non-stem portfolio, would it be acceptable to include a baseball highlight reel? (for background I received a verbal offer to play baseball here so idk if it would help).

Thanks in advance for the help!

I read from a couple website sources that they do not offer it as a bachelors, but it is a graduate program for those in the mechanical engineering field. Since they do have general ed before a selection of major, I was just wondering the extent to which their Nuclear Engineering program is hosted.

I am applying to Caltech REA. I'm just wondering if I can ask my guardian in the host family to write the LOR for me. We have lived together for 5 years and she knows me well. Will it be seen as cheating or something?

Okay, firstly, this is not just about what scholar programs are available, obviously, I can just look it up on the website but the thing is, I am not from the US and I don't have a strong financial background too so I will have to rely on Scholarships. Caltech is literally the college of my dreams but it is crazy expensive for an overseas student too, I would want to know, what is the highest scholarship that I can get and how hard would it be, like if there will be tests, applications or something like that?

I went to Caltech a few years ago.. came back to visit. Wanted to go to Rounds. Is it closed? I saw a new place called Smash Burger or something close to that.. What happened to Rounds?

Hi. I'm applying to Caltech REA this year for the 2024-2025 cycle. I have a few research papers that I want to submit as part of my research supplement but I read somewhere that Caltech requires a Letter of Recommendation for each paper you submit.

I wanted to confirm if this was true with previous students at Caltech. If so how would students be able to submit independent research projects?

For context, I did an independent ML research with some friends, an astrophysics paper as part of a program, a computational essay when I attended Wolfram Summer camp and an abstract for a math research project that I worked on. All of these projects are "published" (IEEE, JDSO, Wolfram Website :skull:, AMS)

I don't have LORs for each of these projects so I was wondering if I could submit it or not.

I am looking into Caltech for a Bachelor of Science in CS rn, but I am very confused... For some reason, I could not find a course or a research institute related to social media and its ethics.

Please help if you know anything semi-related. Thank you so much.

When my husband was at Caltech back in the early 80s, Ricketts had an extensive SciFi library.

Looking online, it seems to have morphed into SPECTRE and changed locations, and an article from 2019 said the Science Fiction and Fantasy Club was trying to revamp it.

The reason this matters is that my husband has several boxes of SciFi paperbacks that he'd like to donate, but he can't figure out who to contact.

He's tried going through admin for student clubs, and through the alum office, but hasn't gotten anywhere.

Can anyone suggest a direct contact at the SciFi library?

I'm trying to help the process along, as we could use the garage space!

Hello,

I’m planning to apply for a PhD at caltech and would love to have a chat with someone that is already doing or did their PhD there (preferrably in engineering)

I have some questions on the topic so if you feel like helping me please feel free to dm Thanks

I took the October sat and got a 1440. This was my 5th time taking it and my best was 3rd time where I got a 1540.

Before you go and yell at me for taking it that many times my parents unwillingly signed me up for the 4th and 5th times and I had zero motivation to study. it was only after I took it this last time that I realized that this was a possibility.

I know caltech requires all scores but their website says it’s to super score. Does this lower my chances of getting in?

Thanks for the help

I swear everyone I have met that went to undergrad here is so sus. I have yet to meet a single crewmate from Skeldtech please provide insight, impostors.

(Applying REA)

I play piano and violin, so I was going to submit a non-STEM portfolio. However, I'm a bit confused about what the portfolio format should be. Is it just that you submit one video? Or can you submit multiple files? My original plan was to submit a Word doc in which I have YT links to vids of all my performances, but I'm not sure if that's allowed. And for a STEM portfolio, could I submit like a description of something I made or a STEM competition that I participated in? How does that work?

Aaand I will also be submitting a research project, so when it asks for a recommendation for that, do I just add my professor's email there and then he can fill out a recommendation?

Sorry for so many questions, just making sure I'm doing everything right.

I swear everyone I have met that went to undergrad here is so weird. I have yet to meet a single normal person from Caltech please provide insight, nerds.

I am applying REA to Caltech this application cycle and marked my interests as aerospace & mechanical engineering. I have conducted research that was published, which I hope will be a very large positive for my application. However, I currently do not have a STEM or non-STEM video. How big of a part of my application is it and should I try to create one before Nov. 1st?

I want to instacart my freshman a bunch of snacks. Can I send this to the mailroom at the Keith Spalding building or should I arrange pickup with my student at his dorm or elsewhere on campus?

When is the next one? Thx!

https://www.caltech.edu/campus-life-events/calendar/caltech-up-close-1

With what Caltech charges for housing, the least they could do is not supply us with useless 1-ply toilet paper. My butt deserves to be wiped with nothing but the finest cellulose.

Hi! I'm a visiting student for Caltech Up Close, and I'm delighted to be at this school! The people here are so friendly, and everyone I've met is so excited about being CUCed! However, I think that I've been slightly misinformed about some of the fun activities that are possible at Caltech. When talking to the upperclassmen, many suggested that I "jerk it" in Kerkhoff (one upperclassman even even talked about his "peanuts"). However, isn't Jerk the third derivative of position, thus being a physics concept? If so, we should all clearly "jerk it" in Downs and Lauritsen. Furthermore, I don't think that any establishments on campus serve "peanuts", and I wanted to clarify this.

I love being a CUC on campus, thanks for the great experiences :)

I am looking for masters in Aerospace engineering programs, and naturally Caltech has come up.

I notice it is a one year program instead of the traditional two-year program. They also don’t mention any research requirements.

It seems like one year is short to fit in all coursework and also try to make use of CalTech’s great research opportunities. Am I missing something as far as how the program usually works? Do most people stick around after their year of courses to do more research, etc.?

Some excellent reporting from The Tech here. Like all bureaucracies, the athletics department grew from recruiting "very few" students to over 25%, while the faculty, who are ultimately responsible for admissions, slept on it: "Professor Tamuz [faculty admissions chair] stated that this shift towards athletics happened slowly through changes made organically within the system, and the faculty were not really aware of it." Translated from academic administration-ese, that sounds like "Athletics behaved like a rogue organization for a decade and purposely hid from faculty oversight."

There is a lot of copium from the AD about how athletes do just fine academically, etc., but isn't it a little weird that a dozen or so coaches, hired with little to no faculty or board oversight, selected over a quarter of the student body of the most selective school in the country?

I'd be interested in hearing from current undergraduates about what it's like to have this large proportion of recruited athletes in the student body. 25% is approaching places like Amherst, which exist mainly to populate the LAX bro to investment banking pipeline. Is that what we want? Would current students and alumni agree that "The positive school spirit that emerges from the 25% of the student body who represent the Institute in competition is a joy to be associated with."? Is it really the best use of resources for a school that's so cash-strapped it needs to whore itself out in scam bootcamps (see the recent NY Times article and coverage in the same issue of The Tech).

I'll also draw parallels to the CTME fiasco here: a rogue group of non-faculty build a little empire within the institute, until one day someone (the faculty, newspapers) wakes up and says "WTF is going on here?" The board needs to step up and demand better governance in every dimension. These situations are the ones we outsiders see because they're too big to cover up. Who knows how many petty emperors are making life miserable for students or piling on risks that we can't see?

Hi guys, I would be interested in applying for the SURF program at CalTech this summer as an international student. I didn't get from the "Contact mentor tips" page if I should contact a potential mentor with a precise research topic in mind, or I can just contact a professor whose research is in a field that interests me, and he will suggest potential topics. Maybe someone that has done it in the past knows what's the most appropriate way to go? Thanks

On the website, it says TOEFL is waived if you study for 2+ years in the US but it doesn't specify if the requirement is during application or admission? I completed one year in US and will be applying for Fall 2025 at Caltech. Can someone please confirm if I need to take TOEFL again? I contacted the grad office but with no luck.

I am a TA. If I want to go vent in the vents (venting as in entering the vents like the impostor characters do in the hit social deduction game Among Us) during my office hours, can I do so? I hold office hours in the Kerckhoff sub basement, near the E-Waste room. I just don’t want to get in trouble for not being accessible for 10-15 minutes during office hours while I'm venting all over the place.

I am a TA. If I want to go poop during my office hours, can I do so? I hold office hours in the Kerckhoff sub basement, near the E-Waste room. I just don’t want to get in trouble for not being accessible for 10-15 minutes during office hours.