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How to Write Amazing Caltech Essays

College Essays

The California Institute of Technology—or Caltech, as it's more commonly known—is a highly exclusive college. If you want to join the Beavers, you'll need not just top grades and standardized test scores, but strong writing supplements to support them as well.

Caltech accepts around 6% of students who apply, making it an extremely competitive school . The more you know about the Caltech essay prompts before you start, the better prepared you are to answer them.

Read on to learn about 2021's essay prompts, as well as some tips and tricks for maximizing their potential to impress!

Feature Image: Canon.vs.nikon /Wikimedia Commons

BREAKING: Caltech Application Changes Due to COVID-19

As a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, many colleges have made the decision to at least temporarily stop requiring SAT and ACT scores. In June 2020, California Institute of Technology announced that they will stop considering SAT and ACT scores of applicants for the next two admission cycles (those applying in fall 2020, 2021, and 2022). This means that, not only are SAT and ACT scores not required, but, even if you submit them, they won't be reviewed and they won't be considered as part of your application. (This is what we refer to as a "test blind" policy.) Additionally, international students can now meet Caltech's English proficiency requirement by submitting either TOEFL or Duolingo scores.

Because of SAT and ACT cancellations , as well as the difficulty some students are having preparing or paying for the tests, Caltech made the decision to temporarily stop requiring standardized test scores to make admissions as fair and equitable as possible. Because test scores aren't being considered, there will be an increased emphasis on classes students took and the grades they received in them.

What Do I Need to Know About the Caltech Essays?

Caltech accepts four different applications: Coalition, Common App, Powered by Scoir, and Questbridge. In addition to the required Coalition,  Common Application, and powered by Scoir essays, Caltech also requires three short essays. ( Questbridge applicants only need to write these if they become Match Finalists and have ranked Caltech.)

You’ll write one required academic question and three required short answer questions, but you’ll also have the option to answer three supplemental short answer questions and one supplemental academic question, if you want.

Altogether, you'll be writing up to 1100 words for the required essays, and 300 words for the optional short answer questions. These essays are fairly short, so you'll want to spend a good amount of time honing your argument to its most efficient. Start early so you have plenty of time to plan, refine, revise, and proof before you submit!

Do a little preparation and you can look this happy when writing your Caltech essays, too!

What Are the Caltech Essay Prompts?

The Caltech essay prompts are fairly standard, though each one is tailored to the college's specifications. You'll see the usual "Overcoming Obstacles” and “Defining Your Fit” essay questions, but always keep in mind that you're applying to Caltech specifically, and your essays should reflect that.

Required Academic Question

Because of the rigorous core course curriculum, Caltech students don't declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore. If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose that area of interest? (Max: 200 words)

The first essay asks you share your academic passion (or passions), and how you discovered them. Many colleges understand that students change their majors throughout the course of their careers, and Caltech doesn’t want you to have to choose a major until you’re a sophomore. But they still want you to have a good idea of what you want to focus on and why it matters to you.

The key here is to be specific about your area of interest. Note that they don’t mention a major, but instead an overall field. In other words, now isn’t the time to say that you want to major in biology because you’ve always done well in school. Instead, focus on something more specific, like a problem you want to solve or an experience that changed the way you see your career. Maybe your physical science egg-drop challenge inspired a desire to create safer structures, or maybe a field trip to a NASA location made you realize you had to be in that control room one day.

Whatever the case, be as specific as you can with what you want to study, and remember that multiple majors could get you there. For example, visiting NASA could have inspired you to study mathematics, physics, or engineering. There are multiple paths to reach the same goal; do your homework, look at the different programs Caltech offers, and choose one or two that align with your dream.

Caltech is, in their own words, “an unapologetic STEM institution.” Whatever you do, make sure that your chosen area fits within these parameters.

Required Short Answer Question #1

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100/Max: 200 words for each experience)

This prompt is asking you to discuss something you're passionate about. Your interests and activities outside of school and work can reveal a lot about the kind of person you are. As such, this prompt is a great opportunity to show how you exhibit the characteristics of the perfect Caltech candidate in your life experiences that don’t show up in your test scores and GPA.

Hopefully, thinking of a topic for this essay will be easy for you. You should write about a situation, story, or topic that gets you so engrossed and excited that it’s tough to tear yourself away from learning about it! Whether that’s reading up on the psychology of conspiracy theories or bird watching with your little brother, the most important thing is that you choose something that you’re deeply interested in. When you do that, admissions counselors will be able to feel your passion too!

Even though you probably could write pages and pages about the topic you choose, it’s important to keep things clear and concise here. Remember: you only have 200 words per topic to work with! To keep your essay focused, tell the story of how these experiences piqued your curiosity into the subject (or subjects) you’ve chosen to write about. You can describe your learning process, even if it’s quirky or unconventional. This is your chance to show Caltech how you choose to expand your mind when left to your own devices.

And that’s the most important thing to emphasize in your essay. Caltech is looking for students who don’t stop learning when the semester ends. The people who make a difference in the world are passionate, lifelong learners. This essay is your chance to show off your niche interests and prove to Caltech that you’re a lifelong learner too.

This guy would fit right in at Caltech.

Required Short Answer Question #2

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech's students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars , but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm decor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)

This question is a great way for you to show off your skills! Maybe your insight helped your school’s robotics team take home first place, or maybe you found a way to streamline some part of your family’s day-to-day routine. You have a lot of options here, but make sure to keep your topic focused on STEM-related subjects. This is an excellent topic for a problem-and-solution essay: after all, your innovation will have improved a situation, right? You only have 250 words, so you’ll need to make them count! Caltech wants to see how your mind works : why were you driven to your chosen innovation? Were there any obstacles? What was the end result, and how was it received?

Remember:  you'll need to give the admissions counselors enough information that they can understand your innovation and  its impact. Be sure to answer both parts of this question so that you're fully addressing the prompt. 

It probably wasn't one of these kids who wrote these successful Caltech essays.

Required Short Answer Question #3

The process of discovery is best advanced when people from diverse backgrounds come together to solve the greatest challenges in their fields. How do your past experiences and present-day perspectives inform who you have become and how you navigate the world? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)

This is your chance to show Caltech what makes you tick, and how you’ve become who you are. Think back on the formative experiences in your life: your home, your family, your cultural background. How have they shaped you into who you are now and what you want? Show Caltech how you see the world, and why.

As always, you should remember to gear this toward STEM as much as you can: Caltech isn’t kidding when they tell you to “lean all the way in on the STEMiest of STEMmy topics.” The trick here is to show how your own lived experiences have informed your interest and perspective on the STEM subject that you’re most drawn to. Maybe you come from a family of artists, and their sense of aesthetics informs the way you design and present your projects. Maybe you have a different cultural background than most of your peers, which influences your thought processes.

Be sure to tell a story here so that you can connect with admissions counselors. For example, was there a formative experience in your childhood or youth that made you realize you stand out from your peers in some way? Was a family member or cultural tradition particularly influential?

CalTech Short Answer Questions

Along with longer essays, you'll also have to tackle a few short answer responses, too. We'll break them down below! 

Supplemental Short Answer Question #1

If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (Max: 150 words)

This is a pretty broad prompt! Unlike Required Question 3, which asks about your background, or Supplemental Question 2, which asks about your hobbies, this is about your identity, which includes both of those things and more! You have a lot of options here: think of past experiences that made you realize more about who you are and what you stand for. Maybe you stood up to a bully. Maybe you went stargazing with family or friends, and found yourself overwhelmed by the vastness of the universe. Just like with the other prompts, remember to be as specific as possible, and give examples.

Supplemental Short Answer Question #2

When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy? (Max: 100 words)

This is a great prompt to answer, because it gives you the chance to show the admissions counselors more about who you are not just as a budding scholar but as a person. Here’s a chance to open up about, say, your passion for rock climbing or your increasingly-large collection of succulents. You only have 100 words, but try to go into as much detail as possible about how your hobby makes you feel. This is the place to be descriptive, and to show rather than tell.

Supplemental Short Answer Question #3

Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (Max: 50 words)

You've probably got more than one hobby you love. This is your chance to share that with admissions counselors at CalTech. You don't have much space, but help your readers understand why you're passionate about the hobby you choose. 

Caltech Essays That Worked

All this information is great, but it can still be tricky to understand exactly what Caltech wants to know until you've seen it demonstrated. Check out this accepted essay—and some tips from someone who took a serious risk—to learn more about what Caltech hopes to see in your essay!

Even though the example essays below respond to old essay prompts, there’s still a lot you can learn from them about how to write successful Caltech essays.

Martin Alternburg's Essay

I cross over the bridge into Minnesota. Out of my three sports, cross country is definitely my worst — but I continue to be hooked on it. Unlike swimming and track, my motivation to run is heavily intrinsic. I live for the long runs I take on by myself. While they rarely happen during our season, we were assigned a long run to complete over our first weekend of cross country. In reality, I was supposed to go six miles, but felt eight gave me more time to explore the home I had just returned to. My mind begins to wander as I once again find my rhythm. My train of thought while running is similar to the way one thinks in the minutes before sleep — except one has more control over how these thoughts progress and what tangents they move off of. While special relativity would be the "proper" thing to think about, especially at MITES, I revive the violin repertoire I had turned away from for so long and begin playing it in my head. I'm now at the edge of town in between the cornfields. The streaming floodlights on the open road give me a sense of lonely curiosity, reminiscent of the opening lines of Wieniawski's first violin concerto. I come up with adaptations of the melody in my head, experimenting with an atonality similar to Stravinsky's.

Martin Altenburg's essay is well-structured, using the narrative of a morning run to demonstrate all the things that run through his head, and, more importantly, all the unique traits that make him who he is.

From just these two paragraphs, we know he's a runner, that he's driven, that he strives for more than he thinks he's capable of, and that he knows music and composition. Because the essay is in a narrative format, we're able to follow this line of thinking and have it all wrapped up neatly at the end. We're drawn in by energetic and purposeful writing that also delivers us all the information we need.

Throughout the essay, Altenburg discusses his interests and his growth. His strategic use of locations in his hometown allows readers to understand where he comes from both literally and figuratively, especially the part about his beliefs and how the community he's grown up in have impacted them. All this is valuable information to an admissions office, who wants to see how you see yourself and why.

One thing to note about this essay is that it doesn't include any reference to Caltech. In fact, Altenburg used the same essay to apply to—and get into—eight different Ivy Leagues as well as some other schools. The essay was likely written as part of the Common or Coalition Application rather than as part of Altenburg's Caltech supplement, hence the lack of specificity. Your essays for the Caltech supplement should contain more specificity than this, as these essays are unique to Caltech and want to know exactly what draws you to that school above others.

Michelle Fan's Essay Reflection

"How do you believe Caltech will best fuel your intellectual curiosity and help you meet your goals?" If I had a few weeks, I might have done enough research to namedrop a few professors, rave about the strength of their computer science programs, and come up with a compelling story about all my professional goals. But I didn't have those few weeks, so I told them the unembellished, wholehearted truth: I said I have no idea what I want to do in life. All I knew was that I liked making calculator games and explosions and wanted to participate in the bread-throwing, water-dumping congregations otherwise known as Caltech house dinners. As it turns out, being yourself actually works. Shocker, I know. Colleges really do want to like you for you.

Michelle Fan doesn't post her Caltech essay directly, but she does talk about her process and what she discovered between her highly planned essays and the ones she wrote the day they were due.

Fan points out that her last-minute essays, the ones that she wrote from her heart rather than from her head, are the ones that got accepted. Though I definitely don't advocate for waiting until the same day that your essay is due to start writing it, it's a good message to keep in mind—when you're faced with an imminent deadline and you just need to get something out, your writing is probably more genuine than if you've been editing and revising it for ages.

But the big takeaway here should not be to wait until the last second to write your essay (please, don't do that!). The real lesson is that you should write in a way that is true to yourself, not a way that you think will impress admissions offices. You should be authentic and genuine, letting your personality and interests tell Caltech why you're a good fit.

If your essay looks like this, that's a good thing!

4 Key Tips for Writing a Caltech Essay

Like all college essays, there are some general things to keep in mind when working on your Caltech writing supplement. The earlier you get started, the better—take a little time to make sure that your essay is as polished as possible!

Brainstorming before you start writing will help you pick a topic that's both meaningful and impressive. Jotting down a list of ideas for each topic, no matter how silly they might feel at first impression, gives you options. Spend a little time away from your options so that you can pick the one that you feel most strongly about with less bias!

#2: Get People to Read Your Essays for You

Feedback is an important tool as a writer. Getting someone else to look at your work—preferably someone who will be honest about its shortcomings—will help you find logical holes, weird phrasing, and other errors that may creep into your work. When you feel like your essays are as polished as you can make them is a good time to hand them off to someone else. Remember, you don't have to make every change they suggest exactly as they suggest it, but if your reader is confused about something, see what you can do to make it clearer!

#3: Edit and Revise

Take that feedback you got from your reader and turn it into gold. Again, don't feel like their suggestions are always the right move, but do consider what's causing their confusion or dislike for parts of your essays. Fix them in your own voice, and re-read your essay, especially out loud, to catch any additional errors. The more time you can spend revising, the better!

#4: Be Authentic

Always remember that you're not just trying to impress Caltech with a bunch of statistics—you're trying to impress them as you. That means always staying true to yourself and striving for authenticity. Give Caltech an essay that showcases what it means to be you, not an essay that gives them what you think that they want to hear.

What's Next?

Need an even more in-depth guide to how to write a college essay ? Those tips will help you write a stellar essay from start to finish!

A strong essay is just one part of a successful Caltech application. Also look into Caltech's SAT scores and GPA requirements so you can draft an effective academic plan!

Before you send in your Caltech application, it's a smart idea to figure out how much money it's going to cost you to attend. How do Caltech's financial aid offerings measure up to tuition costs?

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Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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How to Write the Caltech Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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California Institute of Technology , also known as Caltech, is a renowned university that focuses on providing a rigorous STEM education to its students. Caltech’s living alumni include 17 Nobel Laureates, such as Richard Feynman. Other notable Caltech alumni include Stephen Wolfram, Fei-Fei Li, Adam D’Angelo, and David Brin. If you’re an aspiring Techie, you’ve come to the right place. The Caltech supplemental essays include six required and four optional prompts for prospective applicants to answer. Let’s dive in.

Caltech’s 2024-2025 Prompts

Required caltech supplemental essays, your stem future – stem academic interests: caltech has a rigorous core curriculum and students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. however, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore. if you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose why did you choose your proposed area of interest if you selected ‘other’, what topics are you interested in pursuing (100-200 words), your stem present – stem curiosity: regardless of your stem interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever stem rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into. be as specific or broad as you would like. (50-150 words), your stem past – stem experiences: tell us how you initially found your interest and passion for science or any stem topic, and how you have pursued or developed this interest or passion over time. (100-200 words), your stem past – stem experiences (continued): tell us about a stem-related experience from the last few years and share how and why it inspired your curiosity. (100-200 words), creativity in action question: the creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won nobel prizes and put rovers on mars . but techers also imagine smaller-scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3d-print dorm decor to experimenting in the kitchen. how have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life (200-250 words), caltech values question: caltech’s values include respect for a diversity of thoughts and ideas. how have you cultivated this value in your own life (50-200 words), optional caltech supplemental essays, if there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below. (150 words or fewer), when not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through coding marathons, caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing, reading, yoga, playing musical instruments and theater arts, to solving puzzles, hiking, painting, and building or inventing new gadgets. we understand that everyone needs an outlet or two. what is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy (200 words or fewer), did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby we understand – caltech students like to stay busy, too. tell us about another hobby or interest (150 words or fewer), have you had any extenuating circumstances (such as limited course selection or disruptions), that have affected your coursework, but that are not described elsewhere in your application if so, tell us about them here..

General Tips

While Caltech is unusual in offering ten essay prompts for applicants to answer, these essays don’t have to be difficult. Before you begin writing the first essay, read through all the prompts. That way, you can pace yourself. If a topic has multiple facets that could be discussed in different essays, versus getting jammed into one essay, then go for it. What might seem like an excessive number of essays to write is actually just an abundance of opportunities to show Caltech who you are.

Moreover, the optional essay prompts are really just that: optional. In order to be effective and boost your chances of admission, your Caltech supplemental essays need to be thoughtful, organized, proofread, and specific. If you only have the bandwidth to bring your best writing talents to the required prompts, you should feel no pressure to write a few more rushed essays. In addition, not all of the optional prompts will relate to all applicants. In other words, don’t try to write responses to the optional prompts if they don’t speak to you. Instead, consider all of the parts of yourself you’d really like Caltech to know, and do your best to incorporate them into the essays you are required to write.

That said, let’s dive in.

Required Caltech Short Essay Questions

Although you’re not bound to study whatever major or area of interest you describe in this essay, you should answer authentically. Through the Caltech supplemental essays, the admissions team seeks curious, driven individuals who already know they want to pursue STEM. Because of this, you’ll want to let your passion shine through.

In addition, whether you have a particular origin story behind your academic interest(s), or you simply enjoy pursuing the questions behind your interest(s), this essay response will benefit from specific details. For example, you hope to study computer science, explain to the reader what kind of computer science you’re interested in, how you became interested in this subfield, and, if you have space, what you hope to do with this degree. Don’t be afraid to sound nerdy!

If there were any details or interests you couldn’t fit into the answer above, here’s your opportunity to explore them further. Note that the wording of the prompt indicates that you should only discuss one rabbit hole in this essay. Instead of discussing all your interests in one place, focus on one topic you’ve regularly been Googling, reading about, watching YouTube videos on, or otherwise researching. Remember, there are quite a few Caltech essays. Therefore, you should aim for depth instead of breadth in this essay. Any topics you wish you could have addressed here, you’ll likely have the opportunity to address in another essay.

This essay prompt has some overlap with the first prompt, which could also involve the origin story of a STEM interest of yours. That said, this prompt could be about any STEM interest, not just your intended area of study. In addition, you could focus this essay on a more specific interest, topic, or subfield than your area of study. In fact, you could focus on a singular, specific topic that is included within your area of study. You could even get as specific as a single question you’ve sought to answer over the years.

If you’re having trouble coming up with topics for this essay, consider focusing on whatever interest has the best story behind it. Note that the prompt expects a singular topic , not multiple topics. This prompt expects you to provide the past, present, and future of a particular interest. Therefore, if you have been pursuing any particular topic for a while, then that topic might fit well into this essay.

This prompt, which is under the same subheading as the previous prompt (”Your STEM Past – STEM Experiences), opens the door for you to discuss extracurricular activities or coursework. For instance, you could describe a lab project in school that inspired your interest in biology. You could focus on an independent research project you have pursued, a summer camp you have attended, a lecture you have heard, or even a book you have read.

The prompt asks you to discuss an “experience,” so be sure to keep your narrative concrete, not abstract. Your essay should clarify that the topic of your essay involved a real-life experience. Then, you should explore how that experience has impacted you and your interest(s).

This essay is your space to describe a project you’ve undertaken, a way you’ve optimized your daily life, a practical idea you’ve come up, or something along these lines. The more creative, the better. Consider the times when you’ve worked with your hands, solved practical problems for your family or friends, or used your technical skills to create something new and unexpected.

The admissions team set this prompt in order to gauge their applicants’ level of creativity and drive to be industriousness in their daily lives. Creativity is great to demonstrate here, but you can also highlight the ways you’ve served others. Not only will you be a student at Caltech, but you will be a peer, a roommate, a community member, and a friend. Therefore, if you have created, invented, or innovated on behalf of others, then you might want to focus on one of those projects here.

Following on the last prompt, Caltech seeks students who will also be thoughtful community members, peers, and friends. Most likely, Caltech’s community will be more diverse than your hometown, given that your classmates will be from around the world. Therefore, the admissions team looks for students who will thrive in communities of great diversity. This diversity not only encompasses identity but also perspectives and life experiences.

Consider times when you have exercised humility, worked to build community, and/or engaged with people who have very different worldviews from your own. Describe who you were in those moments, and feel free to bring up multiple moments as long as you have room to describe each one with specificity.

Optional Caltech Short Essay Questions

Like all of the optional Caltech supplemental essays, this prompt provides applicants with the opportunity to discuss topics otherwise unmentioned in their applications. For instance, if your Caltech application explores your academic and extracurricular interests and achievements but ignores your cultural identity, you might want to write about that topic in this essay. In other words, if there are parts of who you are and how you present yourself to the world that aren’t addressed elsewhere in your application but feel important to you to mention, here’s your chance.

The word “identity” can be treated expansively here. Your identity can include your gender, ethnicity, immigration status, sexual orientation, Myers-Briggs type, political party, religion, and more. Remember, the admissions team has posed this prompt in order to get to know you better. If you were meeting someone for the first time, what would you hope they understood about you? This essay is the right place to answer that question.

The key word in this prompt is “joy.” While brainstorming for this prompt, think about the ways you spend your time. When are you most joyful? What excites you? What do you look forward to doing in your spare time? Here’s your opportunity to elaborate on a source of joy for you.

A “favorite interest or hobby,” in the context of this prompt, should be something that you do simply because you like to. In other words, this activity should not be solely driven by your desire to pad your resume, earn money, or please your parents. This activity should be self-driven and self-motivated.

In addition, this should be a singular activity (see the next prompt). Because most people can write at lengths about their passions, it is important to keep this essay focused on one topic, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Before you begin to write, consider structuring your essay around an anecdote. You could also write this essay about how your interest/activity/hobby has changed you as a person, a structure which would give your essay a clear narrative arc. However you choose to organize your thoughts in this essay, pay attention to the narrative structure, make sure every sentence relates back to your overarching topic, and be sure to let your joy shine through.

If you found yourself struggling to decide on which hobby or interest to write about while brainstorming the last essay, consider giving one of the runner-ups a chance to shine in this essay. Note that you should only choose to respond to this prompt if you have already responded to the last prompt.

Like in the previous essay, cohesion is essential to making this essay stand out. Don’t mention all your other interests here; the prompt is clear that you’re only supposed to bring up one more interest in this essay. And, once again, joy is key to making this essay feel authentic. Feel comfortable discussing an interest that is similar to the one you already wrote about, or write about a completely different type of hobby if that feels more right to you. Regardless, focus on an activity you pursue that genuinely makes you happy, and your essay will read just as genuinely

This essay prompt gives an applicant the opportunity to bring up a topic otherwise untouched in their application. If your GPA was affected by factors outside your control, your AP exams disturbed or unexpectedly canceled, or another similar issue, then you don’t have to be burdened by that situation in your college application process. Instead, you can elaborate on your unique circumstances here, in an essay with no official word limit.

Be as specific, humble, and honest as you can be here. Moreover, don’t write more than you need to. Although there’s no official word limit on this essay, the admissions officers at Caltech are busy individuals. As briefly as you can, provide the details of your extenuating circumstances, but don’t provide more information than necessary.

If you need help polishing up your Caltech supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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Supplemental 3/2 Application Essays

When you apply to Caltech, you will be required to submit supplemental application essays. These essays are an opportunity to tell us about yourself in your unique voice. There are no right or wrong answers but we do have some advice:

• Remember, Caltech is an unapologetic STEM institution . Literally, there is no way to write about too much STEM in your supplemental questions. So lean all the way in on the STEMiest of STEMmy topics (yep, those are made-up words but totally appropriate). Review our What We Look For page before you get started.
• Faculty at Caltech review files of the most competitive applicants. So don't worry that your science won't make sense to a lay-person because our faculty with PhDs conducting research that will change the world will understand what you're saying. We promise.
• If there is anything important about who you are, what you've done, or how you've experienced your life - we want to know about it. Holistic review means whole person review. We're here for whatever you want to share.
• We don't want essay writing to be intimidating, but we know it often is. We have put together some advice to help you get started writing your Caltech supplemental essays, so you can worry less and enjoy the application process.

All Fall 2024 applicants will be asked to review Caltech's guidelines on the ethical use of AI before submitting their supplemental essays.

Required Academic Question

3/2 students declare their majors by the start of their first term at Caltech, after which they take major specific courses. Dual degrees cannot be in the same major unless the programs differ substantially.

If you had to choose a major today, what would you choose? Why do you think Caltech is the right place to pursue this interest? Why did you choose that area of interest? (Max: 200 words)

Required Educational Background Question

Why do you want to continue your studies through the 3/2 program at Caltech? What are you hoping to accomplish that you cannot do at your current institution? (Min: 200/Max: 400 words)

Required Short Answer Questions

• At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from the last three years , either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100/Max: 200 words for each experience)
• The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech's students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars . But Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D print dorm decor. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)
• Openness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged
• Respect and appreciation for the idea that, while we are all members of the same community, the opportunities we've had to develop, showcase, and apply our talents have not been equal
• Passion for the ideal that science can and should meaningfully improve the lives of others

Optional Short Answer Questions

We know, we know ... you see optional and start to wonder if we mean it. but in this section, we truly do see these as completely optional opportunities to show us more of your personality., optional. we promise..

• If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below. (Max: 150 words)
• When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy? (Max: 100 words)
• Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (Max: 50 words)

Optional Academic Short Answer Questions

OPTIONAL: Have you had any extenuating circumstances (such as limited course selection or disruptions), that have affected your coursework, but that are not described elsewhere in your application? If so, tell us about them here.

Some Caltech applicants engage in STEM competitions locally, nationally, or internationally (eg., AIME, Science Olympiad, International Science Olympiads). If you have received any STEM honors or awards, list them here (with scores, if applicable).

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How to Ace the 23/24 Caltech Supplemental Essays

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Deciding to go to the California Institute of Technology is the dawn of a new academic adventure! Caltech is a highly selective private research university with a 4% acceptance rate . With such a competitive application pool, your very best writing is required. In this guide, we’ll go over each prompt and help you break the Caltech essays down so you’ll know exactly what is being asked. Let’s get started!

The Caltech essays

Caltech’s supplemental essay prompts are a way for you to show the admission’s readers exactly who you are and why you should be part of the next undergraduate class. Even responding to the optional prompts (Essays #5 through #9 are optional) shows Caltech that you want to be there and are willing to go the extra mile to prove that. Remember, applicants should emphasize STEM in their essays as much as possible since that’s one of the primary focuses of Caltech. 

Keep reading below to learn more about Caltech supplemental essay prompts!

“If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose that area of interest? (Max: 200 words)”

Applicants should see this prompt as an opportunity to discuss their passions in STEM or any other Caltech program. However, it’s important to discuss more than just what  your desired major is; be sure to talk about how Caltech plays a part in whatever interests are shared. What’s so unique about this major/interest that you can’t stop thinking about it? Is it daring? Are you the only one in your family to do it? Use this essay to show your drive and initiative. 

Questions to consider:

• Why do you want to study your major at Caltech?
• What is something unique about the majors that Caltech offers?
• What do you imagine when you think of studying your major at Caltech?

“At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words for each experience)”

Caltech is clear in this prompt that the focus is on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). While your experiences might seem similar to other applicants, try to set yourself apart by incorporating a personal aspect to your essay. Explain to the reader where your love of STEM started or grew during your time in high school and how that might contribute to your desire to attend Caltech. 

Applicants should also explain what they want to learn more about or explore further and why. Doing so further demonstrates your interest in Caltech if you’re able to make a connection between what you’re curious about and what you love about this specific university. 

• Who motivated you to get involved in STEM? Was it a mentor or a family member?
• What about this experience made you want to pursue STEM at Caltech?
• What are you most curious or excited about in STEM?

“The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars, but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm decor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)”

The definition of innovation is the introduction of something that’s never existed before. Remember, innovation doesn’t have to be some large, spectacular creation. Your innovation can be something new you’ve added to your life or doing something that you’ve never heard of. Even being the first person in your family to go to college could be a form of innovation–you just have to get creative! 

• Are you the first person to do something in your family?
• Have you created something that you think is fresh or different?
• Do you consider yourself a trailblazer? Why?

“The process of discovery is best advanced when people from diverse backgrounds come together to solve the greatest challenges in their fields. How do your past experiences and present-day perspectives inform who you have become and how you navigate the world? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)”

Use this prompt to consider how your background and/or cultural experiences have shaped your life. Have you had a chance to experience other cultures and learn from them? Has your background empowered you to further pursue STEM? These are questions you should think about as you write your Caltech supplemental essay.

The world has advanced from a collection of ideas from various different sources, so it would be good to share how a collaborative effort from people different from yourself has allowed you to grow and learn new things. Try to show your open-minded side as well as your intelligent one.

• What opinions have you formed about the world as a result of your experiences?
• How does your background influence who you are today and who you hope to become?
• What is the difference between how you navigate the world and how other applicants might?

“ Optional: If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (Max: 150 words)”

This prompt should take the Caltech admissions office on an exploration of the unknown, aka you. You could approach this essay in a unique way and push conventional boundaries. Alternatively, you could take a straightforward approach that positions you as an ideal candidate. Either way, the goal is to differentiate yourself from all other applicants, especially since this is one of the first optional essays that Caltech offers. 

• Why do you want to share this with the admissions office?
• How will this aspect of your identity make your application stand out?
• What should be the key takeaway from this optional essay?

Also see: How to write an essay about yourself

“ Optional: When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy? (Max: 100 words)”

As an optional prompt, it may be tempting to skip over this essay. However, completing it can make your application more interesting while showing that you’re willing to go the extra mile to attend Caltech. Telling the admissions office about a unique interest or hobby reveals a lot about your personality and whether you fit in at the university. You could be especially interested in plants and bugs, which might show that your love of science goes deeper than just in the classroom. The same can be true for any other activity that you find joy in. 

The word count for this prompt is relatively short, but don’t over-generalize your interests. Just saying a particular aspect of STEM isn’t going to cut it, so try to dig a little deeper to highlight something different and new to your application. 

• What is an activity that you haven’t mentioned anywhere else in your application?
• What does this interest or hobby say about you and your personality?
• Why do you enjoy this experience? 

“ Optional: Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (Max: 50 words)” 

This prompt is for applicants that have multiple unique hobbies or interests. If you completed the initial prompt mentioned above, then don’t feel pressured to write about another hobby if you can’t think of one right away. However, you’ll have to simplify this interest a lot more than the first, so be sure to pick the most important one for the longer prompt.

• Why do you want to write about this additional hobby?
• Does this interest build on your first one and the rest of your application?

“ Optional: Have you had any extenuating circumstances regarding your coursework (such as limited course selection or disruptions) not described elsewhere in your application? If so, tell us about them here.”

Everyone doesn’t have the same journey when it comes to pursuing education. Sometimes, we hit bumps in the road, and Caltech offers this prompt for you to explain your story. Applicants don’t have to share every detail of their circumstances, but disclose enough that Caltech can understand what the conditions at the time were and how they affected you. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and transparent since doing so shows that you’re taking your application seriously. It can also prove your tenacity and determination if you include how you overcame this difficulty in your life and how you’ll continue to progress.

• Is there anything that you feel you need to explain about your grades or courses?
• Was there anything notable and impactful that affected your school performance?
• How have you grown or what did you learn from this experience?

“ Optional: Some Caltech applicants engage in STEM competitions locally, nationally, and internationally (such as AIME, Science Olympiad, International Science Olympiads.) If you have received any STEM honors or awards, list them here (and scores, if applicable).” 

Use this prompt as your opportunity to share your STEM accomplishments with Caltech. Don’t be afraid to include all the awards that you’re proud of! Let your accomplishments speak for themselves, and try not to exaggerate. 

There also isn’t a word limit, which can tempt you to go on and on for page after page. So, show Caltech that you still have tricks up your sleeve by giving them a small piece of what’s next. This means knowing when to bring an end to your essay, even if you haven’t listed every award.

• What are some of the awards I’ve won throughout high school?
• Why do I want Caltech to know about this specific award?
• How does this award relate to attending Caltech?

Final thoughts for applicants

As you wrap up your Caltech essays, it’s important to keep a couple of things in mind. One of the most important things is noticing word count for each prompt. A majority of the prompts are 100-200 words with only a few exceptions. This means it’s ideal to get to the main point of your essay as soon as possible. 

Potential Caltech students should also take time to read through each essay submission to check for errors or any weird issues with the flow and readability of your essays. It can be helpful to ask your teachers, peers, or family members to read over your submission and get feedback to improve on your writing and storytelling skills. The world wasn’t built in a day, so don’t overwhelm yourself! There are resources here to help.

Additional resources

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Caltech Supplemental Essays 2022-2023

Caltech supplemental essays 2022-23, quick facts- caltech essays.

• Caltech acceptance rate:   7%— U.S. News ranks Caltech as a most selective school.
• 1 (650 word) Personal Statement
• 1 (~200 word) Academic essay
• 1 (~200 word) Short answer essay
• 2 (~250 word) Short answer essays
• Caltech application: The Caltech application can be submitted via the Common App , Apply Coalition , Powered by Scoir , or through Questbridge . Make sure to check all of the Caltech application requirements. 
• Caltech supplemental essay tip: Your responses to the Caltech essay prompts are your chance to show your love of STEM . Use the opportunity to show how you would thrive in a STEM-focused environment. 

What are Caltech’s supplemental essays?

The Caltech supplemental essays are listed on the Common App website . You can also find the Caltech supplemental essays listed on Caltech’s website , alongside brief explanations of each prompt. 

Required Caltech supplemental essays and short answer questions:

1. Because of the rigorous core course curriculum, Caltech students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore.If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose that area of interest? (200 words )

2. At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (100-200 words for each experience)

3. The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars, but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm décor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (200-250 words)

4. The process of discovery is best advanced when people from diverse backgrounds come together to solve the greatest challenges in their fields. How do your past experiences and present-day perspectives inform who you have become and how you navigate the world? (200-250 words)

Optional Caltech supplemental essays:

1. If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (150 words)

2. When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy? (100 words)

3. Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (50 words)

4. Have you had any extenuating circumstances regarding your coursework (such as limited course selection or disruptions) not described elsewhere in your application? If so, tell us about them here.

5. Some Caltech applicants engage in STEM competitions locally, nationally, and internationally (such as AIME, Science Olympiad, International Science Olympiads.) If you have received any STEM honors or awards, list them here (and scores, if applicable).

You’ll notice that the first thing stated on the Caltech supplemental essays page is that Caltech is “unapologetically STEM.” So, Caltech admissions wants to read all about your STEM-specific experiences . When considering how to write Caltech essays, look first to the “what we look for” page on the Caltech site. This is a cohesive list of what admissions looks for in applicants. 

Notably, the Caltech supplemental essays do not ask students to write a “Why Caltech essay.” However, just because there is no “Why Caltech essay” doesn’t mean that you can’t show the admissions team why you belong at a science and engineering powerhouse like Caltech . So, think of these essays as your chance to show how you’ll contribute to the Caltech community. 

Whenever possible and relevant, reference specific Caltech programs, classes, professors, and organizations that you would take advantage of. The Caltech admissions process extends beyond the admissions office alone. In fact, the Caltech supplemental essays are read directly by faculty. With a 3:1 student to faculty ratio at Caltech, it may not be a surprise that students closely interact with their professors. 

Later in this guide, we will break down each of the Caltech essay prompts in more detail. This should give you an idea of Caltech supplemental essay examples, both required and optional.

How many essays does Caltech require?

Caltech requires students to complete four Caltech essay prompts .

These Caltech essay prompts ask students to reflect on their experiences, interests, and character. You should also use the Caltech essay prompts to discuss your STEM experiences. Prime Caltech supplemental essay examples will encompass who you are within the context of STEM programs . 

Additionally, there are five optional Caltech essay prompts that students can respond to. Caltech stresses that these Caltech essays are optional. We’ll get into specifics later about these optional Caltech essays. This may help you determine if and when to respond to each of the optional Caltech supplemental essays. 

How to Write Caltech Essays

So, how do you answer the Caltech supplemental essays?

Since each of the four required Caltech essays has a 200-250 word maximum, you will want to focus on both content and execution in your writing process. As we’ll discuss, each of the Caltech supplemental essays asks students to reflect on a particular experience or interest. 

To maximize your Caltech essays, you’ll want to offer a brief summary of each experience of an event. Then, use the bulk of your essay to reveal how this experience or event influenced your broader character. Specifically, when focusing on how to write Caltech essays, reflect on your STEM experiences. You may want to write about STEM research in your Caltech supplemental essays. The admissions committee should come away from your Caltech supplemental essays with a clear conception of who you are and the kind of community member you would be on the Caltech campus. 

Caltech Essay Prompts #1 

If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose why did you choose that area of interest (200 words).

The first of the four required Caltech essay prompts asks applicants to write “why major essays.” Caltech makes it clear that students aren’t expected to know their major. In fact, students actually can’t declare a major until after their first year. So, undecided students shouldn’t stress too much about their choice of major in these “why major essays.” Students are in no way obligated to study the major in which they reference in their why major essays. 

To answer the first of the Caltech supplemental essays, students should reflect on why they want to attend a STEM-forward university such as Caltech. Think about more than just the Caltech ranking and Caltech acceptance rate. What made you first fall in love with STEM? What specific programs are offered at Caltech and nowhere else? Are you planning to go pre med and hoping to study science at one of the best institutions for STEM? Do some research on the Caltech website in order to reference specific details on programs, internships, research, or faculty.  

Think about the “why”

After having decided an area of interest to write about in this Caltech supplemental essay, focus on the “why” part. Successful “why major essays” will explain why you need to study that major in that particular school. They’ll draw from both personal and academic experiences. Students should also discuss how studying this major would influence their future career goals. 

Let’s say you decide to focus on chemistry. You could discuss how your AP Chemistry course challenged your previous understanding of science. Or maybe a specific experiment stands out in your mind as the point when you knew chemistry was for you. Or perhaps it was the teacher that made an impact on your life. Whatever the reason, reference an academic or personal experience that told you this was the major for you. If you can get more specific than just “chemistry,” such as organic or inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, theoretical chemistry, etc., that’s even better.

Reflection Questions for Caltech Essays:

• Do you choose an area of interest that genuinely excites you?
• Does your essay talk about Caltech specific programs and offerings?
• Do you tie your study interest to your future and career goals ?

Caltech Essay Prompts #2

Identify and describe two stem-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. what about them made you want to learn more and explore further (100-200 words per experience).

Similar to the “why major essays,” successful Caltech supplemental essays for this prompt will show applicants’ love of STEM. However, the difference between these two Caltech essay prompts is that the first should focus on a specific area of interest offered at Caltech. The second, however, asks students what sparked their interest in STEM in general during high school. 

We probably don’t have to mention that figuring out how to get into Caltech should start with a passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering , Math ) programs. That being said, students will likely have a number of experiences to reference in their Caltech essays. Start by brainstorming some of the most impactful STEM moments of your high school career. 

Are you in the robotics club and spend your free time tweaking your newest room cleaning robot? Or have you just led your team to the finals of your state’s math competition? Did you participate in a STEM summer program ? Or, maybe it’s nothing too outwardly dramatic. It could be something as simple as an experiment in biology class that ignited your curiosity. 

Make a list and choose two experiences that evoke emotion surrounding choosing STEM. Caltech admissions wants to see serious STEM applicants in these Caltech supplemental essays. Show through your two chosen experiences that you are passionate and committed to a STEM education.

When writing, you’ll also need to show why you want to further study STEM. How have these experiences shaped your future goals and intellectual curiosity? California Institute of Technology seeks students who will pursue their interests, contribute to a thriving intellectual community, and still love learning even when classes get difficult. 

• Does your draft sincerely convey your inspiration and excitement?
• Do you choose two specific STEM related experiences?
• Do you show how these experiences have affected your future studies?

Caltech Essay Prompts #3

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won nobel prizes and put rovers on mars , but techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3d printing dorm décor. how have you been an innovator in your own life (200-250 words).

When planning how to write Caltech essays, you may think that you only need to focus on STEM-related topics and experiences. Of course, Caltech admissions shamelessly states that they want to hear about as much STEM topics as possible in students’ Caltech supplemental essays. However, they also look for critical thinkers with the ability to problem solve. This prompt asks applicants to think about times when they had to create their own innovative solutions to problems. 

If you can think of STEM related instances, great. However, if not, don’t stress. Successful Caltech essays responding to this prompt will just show how you creatively found solutions to an issue you were facing. 

Let’s say your doorbell was broken for months. No one in your household seemed too concerned about it, but one day you miss an important package that you’d been looking forward to receiving. You decide to take matters into your own hands and fashion your own doorbell with some tips from the employee at your local hardware store. Problem solved. 

Solving problems

Any version of that hypothetical story will work in this Caltech supplemental essay. There’s a problem that needs to be solved, and you do so. If you’re stuck, try to focus on your strengths. Are you hard-working, creative, motivated, or curious? Highlight these strengths in the examples you come up with for this essay. 

You have to fall within 200-250 words, so you can use multiple anecdotes here. However, keep it focused—limit yourself to one or two topics. Make a list and choose the instances that show your most innovative, creative, and unique solutions to personal problems while highlighting your strengths. 

Reflection Questions for Caltech Essay:

• Does your essay show that you are innovative and creative?
• Do you discuss specific examples and solutions that you came up with?
• Does your essay give Caltech admissions a better picture of who you are and what you would bring to the campus?

Caltech Essay Prompts #4

The process of discovery is best advanced when people from diverse backgrounds come together to solve the greatest challenges in their fields. how do your past experiences and present-day perspectives inform who you have become and how you navigate the world (200-250 words).

Think about the most important parts of who you are. What makes you you? How have you become that way? Focus on your background and how it has shaped you. Are you about to be a first generation college student? Do you come from a small, close knit town? Has a certain culture or language greatly influenced your upbringing? What communities do you belong to? 

Background can refer to endless things; choose something that resonates deeply with you. It should be something that has greatly impacted you and how you maneuver through the world. Try to avoid cliche topics when writing this essay. Remember that your background can mean anything.

Maybe your mom is a chef at a five-star restaurant and you grew up in the kitchen. Paint a picture of life in a chaotic, fast-paced environment and what it taught you. Successful Caltech essays will be creative while answering the Caltech supplemental prompts. Start with a hook and then expand on how it has impacted you. 

• Do you draw on personal experiences from your background?
• Is it evident what an impact those experiences have had on who you are today?
• Do you show how your background affects your worldview or experiences?

Caltech Supplemental Essays: Optional Short Answer Questions

On their website, Caltech prefaces these optional essays by saying that they are “optional opportunities to show us more of your personality.” Before even getting into the optional Caltech essay prompts, admissions reiterates that they are in fact optional by stating: “Optional. We Promise.”

Basically, you can choose whether to answer these Caltech essay prompts or not. However, there are certain optional Caltech essay prompts that you should opt to answer if you want your Caltech application to be as competitive as possible. 

Optional Caltech Essays #1

If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (150 words).

If you struggled to fit all of your meaningful, personality-forming experiences and background information into the last Caltech supplemental essay, then this is your opportunity to add more. 

Continuing with our last example in the previous Caltech supplemental essay, let’s say that you wrote about growing up in a fancy restaurant’s kitchen because of your mom’s profession. Maybe in the last essay, you wrote about how you learned to think on your feet in a high-pressure environment, which has made you the decisive person that you are today. You may want to add onto this by talking about the different cultures that you experienced in the kitchen. Did you become close with the sous chef who was from Italy? Did it inspire a gap year or summer trip to Italy that changed your life?

Or maybe you want to talk about a completely different community that has shaped you. Maybe you’ve grown up training ballet in every moment of your spare time, which has built discipline and pushed you to achieve. If you can talk about how a certain community has formed you, and your story will add value to your Caltech application, then answer this prompt. 

However, if you were struggling with the last of the Caltech essay prompts that touched on background and feel as though you have nothing to add, then feel free to skip this essay.  

Optional Caltech Essays #2

When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. what is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy (100 words).

While the first of the optional Caltech supplemental essays is actually optional, we recommend considering the second of the Caltech essays as required. The goal of this Caltech supplemental essay is to see who you are outside of STEM-related hobbies and interests. While admissions wants to see that you love all things STEM, they also want to learn about your other interests. They understand the importance of having some sort of outlet from academics or work. 

Use this Caltech supplemental essay to talk about a hobby that you haven’t mentioned elsewhere. Basically, don’t just repeat your extracurricular activities. That certainly won’t do anything to help you beat the Caltech acceptance rate and impress admissions. Talk about something that will demonstrate a new skill or interest. Don’t forget to mention why this activity is worth writing about. What impact has it had on your life?

To start writing this essay, make a list of all of your activities. Hone in on the ones that are most important to you. Make sure they haven’t been mentioned elsewhere in your Caltech application. Then, choose the topic that interests you the most. 

Consider the following questions:

• Which activity elicits the most emotion? 
• What hobby could you not live without? 
• Which interest has made an impact on who you are today?

Successful Caltech essays will not only mention the activity but also explain why it brings joy. Feel free to get creative when responding to this prompt. Make sure that admissions can feel your passion for this topic. 

Optional Caltech Essays #3

Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby we understand – caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest (50 words).

This is another of the optional Caltech supplemental essays that is definitely optional. No tricks here. If you are a true hobbyist and have various activities that define you, then feel free to take on this Caltech supplemental essay. 

Was your list of interests from the last essay spilling onto multiple pages? Great. Students writing their Caltech supplemental essays shouldn’t skimp on passion. However, these Caltech supplemental essays will have to be more succinct, as you only have 50 words. 

Stay creative, just as you were with your last essay. Show why this activity brings you such joy and how it has been such a formative part of your being. Just be sure to do so concisely. 

Caltech Supplemental Essays: Optional Academic Short Answer Questions

The optional academic Caltech supplemental essays are completely optional. Students should only submit Caltech essays for this section if they truly feel the need to. 

There is no word count listed on these Caltech essay prompts, so these Caltech supplemental essays should be concise. This isn’t the time to write a novel. Answer these Caltech supplemental essay prompts succinctly and comprehensively. 

Caltech Essay Prompts #1

Have you had any extenuating circumstances regarding your coursework (such as limited course selection or disruptions) not described elsewhere in your application if so, tell us about them here..

Successful essays to the previous optional Caltech supplemental essays are creative, captivating, and passionate . These final Caltech supplemental essays don’t need to tick the same boxes. These Caltech essays serve to fill any mysterious gaps in the rest of your Caltech application. 

This Caltech supplemental essay specifically asks you to explain any extenuating circumstances that may be noticeable in the coursework noted in your application . If you’ve had access to all the STEM, AP, and IB courses, then there’s no need to respond to this prompt. However, if you attended a school with limited resources and offerings, then you should mention that here. 

Some Caltech applicants engage in STEM competitions locally, nationally, and internationally (such as AIME, Science Olympiad, International Science Olympiads.) If you have received any STEM honors or awards, list them here (and scores, if applicable).

While these Caltech supplemental essays are included with the other Caltech essays, they’re not really essays. They actually want you to list your honors or awards related to STEM here. 

Only respond to this Caltech supplemental essay if you have received STEM related honors or awards. Don’t set the scene of the science competition where you won first place. There are other Caltech supplemental essays where you can do that. Simply list your specific STEM accomplishments.

How much does Caltech care about essays?

Through the Caltech essays, the admissions committee gains a glimpse into who you are as a student, peer, scientist, and individual. Keep in mind that they don’t know what you don’t tell them. Look at your application as a whole—including your Common App essay —and think critically about whether you have included as many facets of yourself as you can. Your Caltech application requirements should do more than just check boxes; they should tell your story , showing why you belong at Caltech. 

The Caltech ranking is #9 on U.S. News’ Best National Universities list. With the Caltech ranking so high, it makes sense that the Caltech acceptance rate is 4% . Every applicant will have an above average GPA and impressive extracurriculars. So, the Caltech supplemental essays are a chance to stand out . Successful Caltech supplemental essays will add to students’ application narratives. Planning how to get into Caltech involves thoughtfully and carefully answering the Caltech supplemental essays.  

Beyond the numbers

The Caltech essay prompts seek to understand who you are rather than just what’s on your resume. This demonstrates the value of the Caltech essays. Since Caltech is test-blind until 2025, you should maximize each essay as an opportunity to help the admissions team get to know you. Test blind schools, unlike test-optional schools, don’t want any ACT/SAT test scores submitted. Basically, Caltech won’t even look at standardized test scores. However, they will pay close attention to the Caltech supplemental essays. 

Check out this webinar to make sure you stand out as a STEM applicant. 

Five Tips for Writing Caltech Essays

Writing comprehensive and meaningful Caltech essays doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We’ve compiled our top 5 tips for how to write Caltech essays that impress admissions. 

Five Tips for Writing Caltech Essays: 

#1- meet the deadlines.

This may seem obvious, but there’s no way that you will figure out how to get into Caltech if you don’t submit your Caltech application requirements by the deadlines . The Regular Decision deadline is January 3rd . The Restrictive Early Action deadline is November 1st . Learn more about applying Early Action in our article .

#2- Don’t rush the writing process

Yes, you know you have to write and submit your Caltech essays by the deadline. However, that doesn’t mean that you should be scrambling to brainstorm, draft, edit, and revise your Caltech supplemental essays the night before they’re due. 

#3- Carefully choose your topics

This is why it’s important to give yourself plenty of time to write your Caltech supplemental essays. You only have one chance to impress the admissions committee. You should have various topics to choose from after brainstorming. Write essays on the topics that you are most passionate about. 

#4- Get creative

The greatest scientists are extremely creative innovators. Use your essays to creatively write on the topics you’re given. As long as you comprehensively and thoughtfully answer the prompt, a creative writing style will only bolster your Caltech essays.

#5- Ask for help

You certainly don’t have to take on your Caltech essays completely alone. Have someone else look at your completed Caltech essays. While they should check mechanics, also ask them for feedback on what they’ve learned about you through your Caltech essays. When implementing their feedback, maintain your own voice and style. 

Caltech Supplemental Essays — Final Thoughts

The Caltech supplemental essays are a key part of your application. The Caltech acceptance rate is low. Maximizing your admissions odds will take acing every part of the application process, including the Caltech supplemental essays. 

Remember to be clear, concise , and specific while telling authentic stories in your essays. Reference STEM-related subjects as much as possible. However, do so in a natural manner. Use the essays as a chance to supplement the quantitative parts of your application such as your grades and GPA with qualitative attributes of who you are as a student, person, and peer.

This Caltech essay guide on was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeA d visor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Blog > Essay Advice , Private University , Supplementals > How to Write the Caltech Supplemental Essays

How to Write the Caltech Supplemental Essays

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Alex McNeil, MA Admissions Consultant

Key Takeaway

The California Institute of Technology, or Caltech for short, is a small but highly selective school that focuses primarily on STEM disciplines.

The Caltech supplemental essays are divided into two groups: required and optional. You’ll have five required essays to write (that’s quite a few!) and three optional essays to choose from.

Let’s start with the required essays.

Required Caltech Essays

Before you write anything, Caltech asks you to use a drop-down menu to choose an academic area that interests you. Don’t worry—this isn’t a declaration of your major. In fact, at Caltech, you don’t have to declare a major until the end of your first year.

But your first essay question revolves around the academic area you select, so choose whatever calls most to you right now.

Here’s the first prompt:

Why did you choose that area of interest? (200 words)

In this why this major or academic interest essay, you’ll want to be clear about the why behind your interest in that particular area.

Were you inspired by an experience or person? Is there a question that fascinates you? Is it related to a career goal?

In your answer, feel free to highlight any relevant accomplishments you have. For example, if you chose chemical engineering and you spent your junior year summer helping a chemistry professor with research, then bring it up!

This is also a place to draw upon any related references to Caltech itself. What about their program entices you? Are there any specific opportunities you’re interested in?

The next two questions go hand in hand. You’ve got 200 words to answer each of them. Here’s the main prompt:

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity.  What about them made you want to learn more and explore further?

STEM experience/activity #1

STEM experience/activity #2

These essays are your opportunity to highlight special projects or accomplishments that show magnitude, reach, and impact .

Because Caltech asks for STEM-related experiences or activities, you’ll need to choose something that relates to science, technology, engineering, or math. This isn’t the time to take a creative twist on the prompt (”Writing poetry was like science to me!”) because your essays will be read alongside applications from some of the best high school scientists in the world.

As you answer, don’t forget to address the three main questions of the prompt:

Identify and describe the experience. It can be in or out of the classroom.

Explain how it “activated your curiosity.”

Explain how it made you want to learn and explore more.

Feel free to nerd out a little and go in-depth on a topic you’re passionate about. It can complement, be related to, or be completely different from your answer to prompt #1. Just think about how all of your supplemental essays will work together to form one overall narrative .

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won  Nobel Prizes  and put  rovers on Mars , but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm decor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (250 words)

In your essay, you can take “innovator” literally or figuratively. Either way, you’ll want to balance your answer to this question with your answers to the previous two.

If you’ve literally innovated something, now’s your time to shine. Did you create an app to help your classmates study for your French final? Did you design a website for your mom’s small business or develop a code to count cars ? Draw out the key points for your admissions officers, and make sure it’s clear why your innovation mattered (to you and to those around you).

Or, if you haven’t literally innovated something, you might think about innovation more metaphorically and use this prompt to show admissions officers a softer or more creative side of yourself. Maybe you innovated a new way to teach algebra to your tutee or rediscovered the design for The Apple Picker 5000 that you drew up when you were five years old. Just be sure to draw out what it all means for who you are as a technical innovator now.

The process of discovery is best advanced when people from diverse backgrounds come together to solve the greatest challenges in their fields. How do your past experiences and present-day perspectives inform who you have become and how you navigate the world? (250 words)

By this point, you’ve shown Caltech admissions officers your academic and technical side and maybe let them in on a few important stories from your life.

With this final required prompt, it’s time to dig a little deeper. This is a diversity essay .

Caltech admissions officers will know from the rest of your application why you’ll make a good scientist. Now you need to show them who you are as a person.

Feel free to write about any area of your identity that has shaped your perspectives. Also pay attention to the wording of the prompt: admissions officers want to know about your past experiences AND present-day perspectives. What’s more, they specifically want to know how they inform 1) who you’ve become, and 2) how you navigate the world.

You could write about a particular part of your upbringing, what it’s like to live in the world with a particular identity, or even an impactful experience you had that changed your perspective.

Optional Short Answer Questions

Here’s what Caltech says about the “optional” designation: “Optional. We promise.”

Take their word for it. Choosing not to answer these questions won’t automatically get your application tossed into the reject bin.

But choosing not to answer them is also a choice not to add to your cohesive application narrative . Answering the questions can give admissions officers more information to get to know you with (and therefore more data to base an admissions decision on!).

Let’s take a look at the optional prompts.

If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (150 words)

You may have covered everything you needed to cover in the last required prompt, but this prompt gives you more space if there’s something else you want to convey.

Applicants answering this prompt might choose to write about gender identity or sexuality, race or ethnicity, ability or disability, class, or general background information.

Whatever you write about, make sure there’s a clear takeaway for admissions officers.

When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speedcubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy? (100 words)

The other required and optional prompts are all pretty straightforward. But this one gives you leeway to show some personality.

Note the emphasis on “joy” in the prompt. This isn’t just about a hobby that you’ve excelled at or participated in for a long time. It’s about describing something that makes you genuinely happy, even if it’s not a world-changing activity.

Think of your answer to this prompt as the sprinkles on top of your application. It’s a way to have some fun and add a little narrative diversity.

Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest!  (50 words)

And here you can elaborate just a little more on a secondary hobby if you’d like. Just make sure it’s actually adding valuable information to your file, otherwise admissions officers may simply skim it and move on.

And with that, you’ll have written all your Caltech supplemental essays! Remember: you have to answer the first four, but you aren’t required to write any in the last set unless you want to.

Whichever ones you write will all work towards your cohesive application narrative , so think about them each as an opportunity to advocate for your admission. Make them count.

You’ve got this!

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What Is the Purpose of the Caltech Supplemental Essay?

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 7/10/24

When it comes to writing the Caltech supplemental essays, there are reliable strategies and approaches you can apply to improve the process. Let’s get into them.

Supplemental essays are an integral part of the college application process. For applicants looking to attend Caltech , the California Institute of Technology, these essays are your chance to show your passion for STEM and how well you align with Caltech's values and mission.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the nuances of Caltech's supplemental essays . Keep reading to explore these essays and learn how to make your application stand out in the competitive field of Caltech admissions.

Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023-2024

Get ready to dive into the Caltech supplemental essay prompts for the 2023-2024 application cycle.

“At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100/Max: 200 words for each experience)”

“The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech's students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars . But Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D print dorm decor. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)”

Caltech's mission – to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracing fundamental Caltech values :

• Openness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged
• Respect and appreciation for the idea that, while we are all members of the same community, the opportunities we've had to develop, showcase, and apply our talents have not been equal
• Passion for the ideal that science can and should meaningfully improve the lives of others

Share what one or more of these values evokes for you. (Min: 200 / Max: 400)”

To sum it up, when tackling Caltech's essay prompts, remember there are more essays to explore beyond the required ones we've discussed. 

These optional essays give you extra room to showcase who you are and how you connect with Caltech's mission. So, don't hesitate to write these optional essays to let your personality shine through in your application.

How to Write Each Essay Prompt For Caltech

In this section, we'll discuss how to write Caltech essays, providing guidance on how to craft thoughtful and engaging responses for each prompt. Quick tip before we get into it - Caltech is all about STEM, so embrace it in your supplemental essays. Dive deep into STEM-related topics, and don't be afraid to geek out.

How to Write Caltech Supplemental Essay #1 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #1 : This Caltech application prompt invites you to explore your areas of interest, explain your passion for them, and describe how Caltech aligns with your academic goals. It's a chance to highlight your curiosity and demonstrate your fit with Caltech's values and resources.

• Engaging Introduction : Your essay should kick off with a captivating introduction that grabs the reader's attention. Consider starting with a personal story, a thought-provoking question, or a brief anecdote that relates to your chosen areas of interest. 
• Introduce Your Interests : Use the following paragraphs to introduce your chosen areas of interest. For each area, explain what specifically intrigues you about it. Share any personal experiences, encounters, or pivotal moments that sparked your interest. 
• Motivation and Connection : Beyond introducing your interests, get into why you've chosen these particular areas and why they resonate with you today. This is where you should explore the deeper motivations behind your choices. 
• Connect to Caltech: Demonstrate your knowledge of Caltech and how it aligns with your academic aspirations. Mention specific resources, faculty members, research opportunities, or programs at Caltech that are relevant to your chosen areas of interest. 
• Strong Conclusion : Wrap up your essay with a powerful conclusion that reinforces your passion for your chosen fields and your eagerness to explore them at Caltech. Leave the reader with a memorable statement that underscores your commitment to your academic journey. Be concise but impactful.
• Word Limit : Keep in mind the 200-word limit. Be succinct and make every word count to convey your message effectively.

How to Write Caltech Supplemental Essay #2 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #2 : Prompt #2 asks you to reflect on your high school STEM-related experiences and demonstrate your curiosity, enthusiasm, and commitment to these fields. You should discuss two distinct experiences and explain what sparked your curiosity in each of them. Additionally, you can connect these experiences to Caltech's mission and values.

• Identify Two Experiences: Begin by identifying and describing two significant STEM-related experiences from your high school years. These experiences should be distinct and reflect different aspects of your engagement with STEM.
• Detail and Curiosity Activation : For the first experience, provide a detailed account of how and why it activated your curiosity. Dive into specific elements of this experience that ignited your interest, such as a challenging problem, a compelling concept, or the guidance of an inspiring mentor.
• Transition to the Second Experience : Transition smoothly to the second experience, repeating the process. Describe what sparked your curiosity in this instance and why it prompted you to delve deeper into the subject matter. Showcase Enthusiasm and Dedication : Throughout your response, aim to showcase your genuine curiosity, enthusiasm, and commitment to STEM. Share specific details or aspects of each experience that genuinely intrigued you, reinforcing your dedication to these fields.
• Clear and Concise Writing : Ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and well-structured while staying within the word limit.
• Connect to Caltech : In the concluding paragraph, consider tying back your experiences to Caltech's mission and values. Express how these experiences have prepared you to contribute to the Caltech community's spirit of scientific inquiry and innovation. 

How to Write Caltech Supplemental Essay #3 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of prompt #3 : This prompt encourages you to think about your role as a creator, inventor, or innovator in your life and share your experiences. It's important to create a clear and engaging story that showcases your innovative mindset and how it aligns with Caltech's values.

• Captivating Introduction : Begin your essay with a captivating opening that introduces the theme of innovation. Use an anecdote, question, or thought-provoking statement to grab the reader's attention. The introduction should set the stage for your discussion of innovation in your life.
• Detailed Description of Innovation : In the following section, provide a detailed description of the specific innovation or project you want to highlight. Explain the context or problem that led to this innovation and how you approached it. Use vivid language to create a clear picture for the reader.
• Your Role in the Process : Share your role in the innovation process. Discuss the actions you took, the challenges you faced, and the decisions you made. Highlight your unique contributions and creative thinking that played a crucial part in the project's success.
• Impact of Innovation : Explain the impact of your innovation. Discuss what changed as a result of your work, whether it was a tangible product, a positive transformation, or valuable insights gained. Mention any recognition or awards you received for your innovation.
• Connection to Caltech : Draw a connection between your experience as an innovator and Caltech's values and culture. Explain why your innovative spirit aligns with Caltech's ethos of creativity and scientific exploration. Express your excitement about contributing to the Caltech community.
• Conclusion : Conclude your essay by summarizing your innovative experience and emphasizing the broader significance of creativity and innovation in your life. End on a forward-looking note, expressing your enthusiasm for continuing to explore innovative ideas at Caltech.
• Word Limit and Proofreading : Remember to stick to the specified word limit and carefully proofread your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammar. Your essay should not only showcase your innovative mindset but also engage the reader and leave a lasting impression.

If you need help writing your Caltech supplemental essays, our customized admissions counseling is here for you. Our team of specialists knows what Caltech looks for in applicants and will help make your application documents impactful. 

We support students from grades 6 through 12, helping them position themselves as strong candidates. With one-on-one guidance and profile development, we'll help you stand out in the competitive admissions process.

Ready to see your chances of getting into Caltech? Try our quiz !

Examples of Caltech Supplemental Essays That Worked

By exploring Caltech essays that worked, you get useful ideas and inspiration to improve your own application essays. Let’s get into them. 

Sample Essay #1

Prompt : “How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity of Caltech’s community? (Your response should range between 250-400 words.)”

Take a look at one of the example essays responding to this prompt: 

It’s not uncommon for universities to ask applicants to talk about what “different” element they’d bring to campus. People sometimes assume this means applicants must write about what makes them ethnically, racially, socioeconomically, or religiously distinct from “the norm.”

That’s never the case, and it’s certainly not the case here. You should encourage your child to think broadly about what diversity can mean. What makes them unique? What might make them unique on Caltech’s campus? And how will that unique attribute serve the community?

Roberto, for instance, might also have written about comedy here, arguing that his ability to fail publicly would make him a looser and more creative scientist. Here’s how Kendall, an Indian American applicant from Nashville, answered. He took this prompt as an opportunity to discuss his family’s genetic predisposition to cancer and how that has influenced him to pursue immunotherapy.

"Even though many family members live thousands of miles apart from each other, we have done everything from sharing knock-knock jokes to talking about a movie we just watched. Just as our love for one another connects us, our genes do as well. Although many traits that show up in these genes are desirable, there are many undesirable traits as well, including a high predisposition to cancer.

Cancer has affected the lives of many of my relatives across generations on both sides of my family. It seemed that with every year came a new diagnosis. However, the fear that accompanied my realization of our genetic proneness to cancer quickly turned into curiosity, and then a fuel for my passion of researching better and more effective treatments for this merciless disease.

Having cancer run through my family means that I have first-hand experience of the effect a diagnosis can have on a patient’s family. When my aunt was diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer, I learned that chemotherapy and  radiation is grueling and painful for a patient and their family.

The nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and anemia appalled me. How could this treatment be the only option? With nearly two million diagnoses in 2018, that meant a lot of chemotherapy and pain. This realization pushed me to look further into alternative forms of treatment.

After some searching, I came across the term “immunotherapy,” which used the power of the human body’s immune system to kill cancer cells. This type of treatment caught my interest, as it addressed the use of genetics in medical treatment.

My familial background of cancer has led me to want to help solve the problem of finding better treatment options for cancer in the form of immunotherapy, which I will explore in an internship this fall at UC San Diego. In the future, I would like to research the effects of immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer, to see if our immune system can beat this disease.

At Caltech, I will share my family’s story to inspire my peers as they spend long hours conducting research and studying biochemical pathways. My family’s story will remind them that their inventions and discoveries will have a direct impact on ordinary people who know nothing about genomes or thermodynamics. Together, my peers and I can find more effective treatments and solutions so that next generations can not just survive, but thrive.”

Why Essay #1 Worked

This essay effectively tackles the diversity prompt by taking an unconventional and inclusive approach to diversity, moving beyond traditional factors like race or ethnicity.

By sharing Kendall's personal story related to his family's genetic predisposition to cancer, the essay adds authenticity and depth to the narrative. It illustrates how personal experiences can shape an individual's intellectual and career path.

What sets this essay apart is its ability to connect Kendall's personal journey to broader societal implications. It highlights his interest in immunotherapy as a potential solution to address genetic factors in cancer treatment, emphasizing the real-world impact of scientific research.

Furthermore, the essay underscores the importance of sharing personal narratives to inspire peers and emphasizes how scientific innovations can directly affect people's lives.

Overall, this essay offers a compelling narrative that presents a unique perspective on diversity and a clear sense of purpose in contributing to the Caltech community.

Sample Essay #2

Prompt : “If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose that area of interest? (Max: 200 words)”

Check out this sample supplemental essay: 

“If I had to choose an area of interest or two today, my top choices would be artificial intelligence (AI) and renewable energy. AI's potential to transform industries and improve lives is incredibly exciting. Its interdisciplinary nature, combining computer science, neuroscience, and ethics, offers endless possibilities for innovation.

One example that illustrates my interest in AI is my involvement in a machine learning project during my undergraduate studies. We developed an AI-based system to predict disease outbreaks, which showed me the profound impact AI can have on public health. Renewable energy is equally compelling. Addressing climate change is a pressing concern, and 

I believe that sustainable energy solutions are a critical part of the solution. My involvement in a solar energy community project further fueled my passion for renewable energy.

These choices align with my passion for using technology to solve real-world problems and my belief in the ethical responsibility of scientists and engineers. Both AI and renewable energy represent the future of innovation, and I'm eager to be part of that journey.”

Why Essay #2 Worked

This essay works because it directly and concisely addresses the prompt. The applicant clearly states their areas of interest—artificial intelligence (AI) and renewable energy—and provides solid reasons for their choices.

Their enthusiasm for AI's transformative potential and the interdisciplinary nature of the field shines through, backed by a real-life example of a machine learning project they were involved in during their undergraduate studies.

Likewise, their passion for renewable energy is evident, driven by the urgency of addressing climate change and a hands-on experience in a solar energy community project. These interests are not only personally meaningful but also align with broader societal and environmental concerns.

The essay also emphasizes the ethical dimension, highlighting the applicant's belief in the responsibility of scientists and engineers to address real-world issues. Overall, it's straightforward, genuine, and effectively communicates the applicant's motivations and aspirations within the given word limit.

Sample Essay #3

Prompt : “At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100/Max: 200 words for each experience)”

Consider this essay as an source of inspiration for tackling this prompt:

“ During high school, two experiences in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) ignited my curiosity and passion for these fields.

First, in a physics class, we explored electromagnetism by building electrical circuits. Witnessing a light bulb illuminate when I connected wires was a eureka moment. It revealed the power of understanding the fundamental laws governing our universe and their role in shaping technology. This experience deepened my interest in physics and its practical applications.

Outside the classroom, I participated in a robotics competition. Collaborating with a team to design, build, and program a robot was exhilarating. It demanded creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills. Seeing our robot successfully tackle challenges highlighted the synergy between engineering and computer science. This competition showcased the endless possibilities in STEM and motivated me to explore the field further.

These experiences made STEM tangible, showing its real-world implications. They convinced me that STEM isn't just theoretical but has practical applications. This drove me to pursue a STEM-focused education at Caltech and to contribute to solving the intriguing challenges these fields present.” 

Why Essay #3 Worked

This essay works because it clearly addresses the prompt by discussing two specific STEM-related experiences from the applicant's high school years.

In the first experience, the applicant talks about a physics class experiment with electromagnetism, where they had a "eureka moment" upon seeing a light bulb illuminate. This vividly illustrates their fascination with the practical applications of fundamental scientific principles.

The second experience involves participating in a robotics competition, which showcased the applicant's enthusiasm for engineering and computer science. They emphasize the creative and problem-solving aspects of this activity, which are essential skills in STEM fields.

The essay effectively links these experiences to their motivation to pursue STEM education at Caltech, highlighting the real-world implications of these fields and their desire to contribute to solving complex challenges. It's a concise and well-structured response that directly addresses the prompt's requirements.

Got questions? We've got answers! Check out these FAQs to get the lowdown on Caltech supplemental essays.

1. Is It Acceptable to Write a Creative or Unconventional Essay for Caltech?

Yes, it is acceptable to write a creative or unconventional essay for Caltech. In fact, Caltech encourages applicants to be authentic and innovative in their responses. They want to get to know you as an individual, so if a creative or unconventional approach helps you express your personality and ideas effectively, it can be a great choice.

2. What Qualities or Characteristics Is Caltech Looking for in Applicants Through This Essay?

​​Caltech is looking for applicants with a passion for STEM . It’s also interestewd in individuals with intellectual curiosity, problem-solving skills, and personal qualities like resilience, collaboration, and creativity. They want to know how you'd contribute to their community.

3. Can I Reuse an Essay from Another College Application for Caltech Application?

Reusing essays for Caltech or any other school is not advised. Different institutions have specific prompts to assess fit. Tailoring your essays to Caltech's unique aspects and values is crucial to show your alignment with their mission and culture.

4. Is There a Recommended Structure or Format for the Caltech Supplemental Essay?

For the Caltech supplemental essay, there's no strict format, but clarity, conciseness, and organization are crucial. Begin with a compelling introduction, present ideas logically, and use specific examples. Address the prompt directly and demonstrate your passion for STEM and alignment with Caltech.

5. How Many Essays Caltech Required?

Caltech's application consists of one required academic question, two required short answer questions, and one question about Caltech's values. In addition, there are two optional short answer questions and two optional academic short answer questions for applicants to choose from.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re applying to Caltech or MIT , Harvard or Stanford, your essay matters. So do your best to write one that stands out from the crowd. 

When it comes to the Caltech supplemental essays, follow the tips and advice provided in this blog to craft strong, STEM-focused narratives that reflect your identity and experiences. These essays are your chance to stand out and make a lasting impression on the admissions committee. Good luck with your Caltech application!

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Hey guys, I'm working on my Caltech supplements and I'm getting a bit overwhelmed. Do any of you have any tips or examples of successful Caltech essays? I really want to write something that stands out but also demonstrates my fit for the school.

Certainly! Caltech's supplemental essays offer a great opportunity for you to showcase your genuine interest in the school and explain why it's the best fit for you. Here are a few tips to help you craft compelling essays:

1. Be Specific: Caltech is known for its strong STEM focus, so it's essential to emphasize your passion and commitment to those fields throughout your essays. Connect your experiences and accomplishments with specific programs, research opportunities, or faculty members at Caltech to show that you've done your research and can contribute to the school's mission.

2. Demonstrate Curiosity and Intellectual Engagement: Caltech values students who are not only academically strong but also naturally curious and eager to explore new ideas. Your essays should convey your genuine intellectual curiosity, by highlighting projects or experiences where you've challenged yourself, learned from failure, or pursued knowledge beyond the classroom.

3. Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit: Caltech has a culture of collaboration, where students work together to solve complex problems. Use your essays to emphasize your teamwork skills and give examples of times when you've worked effectively with others, whether in clubs, competitions, or class projects.

4. Emphasize Problem Solving: Caltech students often tackle difficult problems and come up with innovative solutions. In your essays, include examples of your problem-solving abilities and how you approach challenges. This could be in research you've conducted, a unique solution to a homework problem, or a time when you've had to troubleshoot a complex issue.

5. Make It Personal: Admissions officers want to know who you are beyond just your impressive academic and extracurricular accomplishments. Use your essays to reveal your personality and let your authentic voice come through, by, for example, including anecdotes about your hobbies or personal experiences that have shaped your passion for STEM.

6. Edit, Edit, and Edit Again: A well-written essay requires multiple drafts and revisions. Set aside your essays for a day or two, then come back and read them from an outsider's perspective. Check for clarity, organization, and grammar, and ask for feedback from trusted individuals like teachers, family, or friends.

7. Utilize CollegeVine's resources: For more detailed guidance, you can check out CollegeVine's blog post breaking down how to respond to each Caltech supplement: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-caltech-essays. Also remember that CollegeVine offers both a free peer essay review service and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors - sometimes, getting a more objective look at your essay from someone who doesn't already know you is just the thing that takes it from good to great!

Finally, remember that a standout essay doesn't have to be about an extraordinary accomplishment or winning a prestigious award. Instead, focus on your unique experiences and perspectives, and show how they align with Caltech's values and culture. Good luck with your essays!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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Caltech Supplemental Essays 2022-2023

By Eric Eng

When it comes to applying to the top schools in the country, your application is vitally important. In order to give yourself the best chance of gaining admission, you need to make sure all aspects of your application are top-notch. In this post, we’re going to do a deep dive into how to write Caltech supplemental essays and everything you need to keep in mind as you write.

Caltech uses the common app, and this means that you will be asked to answer essay questions contained in the common app. But like many top schools, Caltech also requires that you complete an academic essay as well as additional essays about your personal or intellectual growth. The Caltech supplemental essays 2022-2023 allow applicants a certain amount of freedom when choosing their supplemental essay topics, but we’re going to look at each essay prompt and discuss the best way to respond to each topic.

Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompts 2022-2023

So, let’s start by looking at each supplemental essay prompt, and then we will discuss how to approach each one individually.

As we said, there is one standard academic question that all applicants must answer. This is followed by three required short answer questions, and finally, three optional essay prompts. At AdmissionSight, when we hear the word “optional,” we hear “write the extra essay,” so we’re going to cover all of the prompts. These are the Caltech supplemental essays 2022:

Required Academic Question

Because of the rigorous core course curriculum, Caltech students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore.

If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose that area of interest? (Max: 200 words)

Required Short Answer Questions

• At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (Min: 100/Max: 200 words for each experience)
• The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won  Nobel Prizes  and put  rovers on Mars , but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm decor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)
• The process of discovery is best advanced when people from diverse backgrounds come together to solve the greatest challenges in their fields. How do your past experiences and present-day perspectives inform who you have become and how you navigate the world? (Min: 200 / Max: 250)

Optional Short Answer Questions

• If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (Max: 150 words)
• When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy? (Max: 100 words)
• Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (Max: 50 words)

How to write the Caltech supplemental essays?

When it comes to how to write Caltech supplemental essays, creativity and academic curiosity are the main qualities you want to stress. While Caltech may be focused on sciences, they are still looking for creative thinkers, and your essays are a great place to demonstrate this.

The first required essay prompt asks you to reflect on which field of study you might choose as your major. Caltech acknowledges the fact that not all students arrive knowing which major they will pursue, but that isn’t what this essay prompt is really about. Instead, Caltech wants to see you demonstrate your commitment to learning and intellectual curiosity. If you already know exactly what you want to study, great! Write about why you became so passionate about it. If you aren’t sure which path you will take at Caltech, discuss the fields that excite you and how you will be able to continue your education at Caltech .

In the second section of the required Caltech supplemental essays 2022-2023, you will find two questions related to your academic career, and a final question about how your experiences in life have shaped you as a person.

The first short answer question is directly tied to your intellectual curiosity as it asks you to reflect on two STEM related experiences in high school that fueled your love of learning. The goal of this question is to write about experiences that opened your eyes to new aspects of STEM and motivated you to go further with it. This is where you can demonstrate that your passion for STEM is still growing.

The second short answer question asks you to think about the ways that you have been innovative in your own life. The point here isn’t necessarily to tout some impressive accomplishment, but rather to look at your life and the ways you’ve used your creativity to impact it. Again, the real focus of this question is revealing your creativity.

The third and final required Caltech supplemental essay 2022-2023 is focused on how you have worked collaboratively with people who are different from you. How have these experiences affected the way you view the world? How have these experiences affected the way you approach your fields of study? Caltech really wants to know if you are the kind of student who values collaborative work and the perspective of others.

The optional essay section—while technically optional—is an opportunity to tell Caltech more about you as a person. These questions are not focused on your academic history or your future academic plans, but rather on what makes you interesting as an individual. Again, these questions are technically optional, but at AdmissionSight we recommend taking advantage of every part of the application in order to give Caltech the most complete picture of you. With this last section, try to focus on having fun and being creative with your responses.

At AdmissionSight, our goal is to help you with every step of the college admissions process. The Caltech supplemental essays 2022 can seem daunting at first, but our experience and expertise will help you navigate the entire process with confidence. Hopefully, this guide to the Caltech supplemental essays 2022-2023 has been helpful, but if you want more information about how AdmissionSight can help you realize your dreams, set up your free consultation today.

Want to assess your chances of admission? Take our FREE chances calculator today!

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Writing the Caltech Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

Padya Paramita

August 3, 2020

If you’re planning to apply to the California Institute of Technology, one of the key ways to distinguish yourself from fellow STEM-oriented applicants is to take full advantage of the Caltech supplemental essays 2020-2021 . Use the prompts provided by this competitive Pasadena institution to show how you hope to grow as a young scientist, and to describe the ways you would contribute to the Caltech campus.

The supplemental questions are designed to learn more about your interests and goals within STEM disciplines, as well as determine how you would fit in with the collaborative and creative Caltech campus. To guide you through the four Caltech supplemental essays 2020-2021 , I’ve outlined the prompts, the dos and don’ts of your responses, and more tips to ensure a successful essay-writing process.

Prompts for the Caltech Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

Describe three experiences and/or activities that have helped develop your passion for a possible career in a STEM field. (10-120 words each)

The first question in the Caltech supplemental essays 2020-2021 may just require a short response, but that doesn’t mean your answer is any less important. Think about ways to frame your three most significant activities related to science, technology, engineering, and math. Don’t be tempted by the minimum word count of “10” and just name the activities. You need to stand out from thousands of applicants who bring a lot of experience in STEM areas. In your answer, add a sentence showing how each one helped you realize that this is the field for you. If you have space, note how you have made an impact in the activity, whether you’ve involved a greater community, and how you hope to continue your STEM education in relevance to the activity. 

While you have been asked to describe three different activities, they should have some sort of connection to each other, as you don’t have enough space to go over multiple fields you enjoy. Colleges appreciate when your interests are specialized. Moreover, a connection between the three allows you to convey a more elaborate picture of yourself, letting admissions officers know exactly how you would contribute to Caltech. Think about what the combination of your chosen entries conveys about you. This could range from highlighting your teamwork skills to reflecting on your specific niche interest in STEM. Making sure your answers aren’t all over the place is a good way to stay organized when tackling multiple supplemental essays.

Download Every Supplemental Prompt Here!

Much like the life of a professional scientist or engineer, the life of a "Techer" relies heavily on collaboration. Knowing this, what do you hope to explore, innovate, or create with your Caltech peers? (250-400 words)

Even though this question doesn’t specifically ask “Why Caltech,” admissions officers want to know that you have made a well-informed decision in applying. Your essays should be tailored to Caltech - they shouldn’t be applicable to other STEM-focused colleges such as MIT or Harvey Mudd as well. The school wants to see that you’re an ambitious individual, and they want to learn how you work in a team and where your interests within STEM lie. 400 words should be enough to get your points across, but at the same time you have to use your allotted space wisely.

Think about your favorite topics within STEM and your biggest goals. How have you worked to achieve them so far? Mention experiences which reflect your collaboration skills. However, the majority of your essay should focus on how you hope to bring your skills to the Caltech campus, and how you hope to engage the Caltech community in your endeavors. Mention any specific courses, research opportunities, and programs that appeal to you, emphasizing how working alongside your peers in these initiatives can encourage growth and help you get closer to achieving your goals. Don’t miss out on the chance to let admissions officers see that you have done the research and know about the different opportunities available at the university. 

Caltech students are often known for their sense of humor and creative pranks. What do you like to do for fun? (250-400 words)

The third prompt among the Caltech supplemental essays 2020-2021 diverts from the academic approach. Admissions officers want to know how you would fit into the community. Since the question specifically mentions sense of humor and creative pranks, Caltech would appreciate any examples which showcase a playful side of you. Now if you’re not the number one jokester in your high school, that’s okay. You could still find ways to depict your humorous and creative side.

Pick one or two activities that you enjoy the most - and bring up any anecdotes that portray you as a fun and creative individual. Remember to stay away from activities that you think the admissions officers want to hear. If you don’t spend your free time drawing portraits or making films don’t write about that. Nor should you say that you enjoy eating and sleeping unless you have a very unique take on these everyday activities. Think about what you like to do when you have a long weekend, or what you do when you have the most fun with your friends. Find innovative ways to bring light to a side of you that isn’t mentioned in the rest of your application. 

The process of discovery best advances when people from various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives come together. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity of Caltech's community? (Your response should range between 250-400 words)

The word “diversity” goes beyond your background. Yes, you can be diverse in your race and ethnicity, but you can also distinguish yourself through unique activities and experiences. Since most Caltech applicants are skilled in math and science, your answer to this question can help distinguish you from peers with similar academic interests. After all, Caltech doesn’t want every single student to bring the same attributes. To brainstorm experiences which separate you from the rest of the highly talented applicant pool, you need to jot down some standout experiences you’ve had. This could range from aspects of your identity such as your ethnicity or sexual orientation to an unusual extracurricular activity or hobby, such as calligraphy or competitive eating.

Don’t use up all of the allotted space describing the part of yourself that you’ve chosen to highlight. Discuss anecdotes which clarify to the admissions officers why this quality makes you exceptional. Finally, remember the prompt: Caltech wants to know how this trait can help you contribute to the campus. You should be specific in exactly how and where you are going to contribute, instead of broadly alluding to being a valuable Caltech community member. Will this part of you help you make standout additions to classroom discussions or extracurricular activities? Your essay should focus on connecting the way your perspective has been shaped to how you can make an impact on your fellow Techers.

Additional Tips to Answer the Caltech Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

• Make Sure You’ve Done School Research - You may have noticed that the Caltech supplemental essays 2020-2021 don’t ask an explicit “Why Caltech” question. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t thoroughly explore the Caltech website before sitting down to write your responses. You need to know what makes the school unique and which resources call out to you the most. This knowledge will come in handy when writing your essays, as you’ll know how to tailor them to demonstrate knowledge of programs and opportunities at this prestigious institution.
• Prioritize Adding New Information About Yourself - The Caltech supplemental essays 2020-2021 are geared for the reader to get to know you better. If you repeat topics you’ve already covered in your activities list or Common App personal statement, you’ll go against the whole purpose of these essays! Make sure answers to each prompt show a new side of you that admissions officers previously did not know. This helps add depth to your application, and convince the reader more and more that you could be a good fit for Caltech.
• Be as Specific in Your Interests as Possible - Here’s the thing: everyone applying to Caltech is interested in science and math. Adding generic statements about your love for STEM as a whole is far from enough. STEM covers a huge array of topics, and each category is broad in itself. In writing your Caltech supplemental essays 2020-2021 , you need to find ways to iterate which specific part of STEM you’re passionate about. Don’t just say engineering or biology. Go deeper. Is it molecular biology? Is it marine engineering? Make sure you give admissions officers the chance to understand the depth of your curiosity and knowledge.

Caltech admissions officers want to know that you’re not just applying for the sake of attending any strong STEM school. Use the Caltech supplemental essays 2020-2021 to convince admissions officers that not only have you made a well-informed decision, but you would make valuable contributions if accepted to this selective institution.

Tags : stem college applicant , applying to college with a stem major , caltech , applying to caltech , caltech supplemental essays 2020-2021

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California Institute of Technology (Caltech) 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 3

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 9 short essays ranging from 100 to 250 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community , Activity , Oddball , Why , Short Answer

Required STEM Academic Interest Question

Caltech has a rigorous core curriculum and students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. however, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore., if you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose, *note that you are under no obligation to follow this choice if admitted..

There’s only one trick to selecting a major or generating a straightforward list of your academic interests: be honest. If you already know what you want to major in or have it narrowed down to two choices, you’re set! Don’t waste time trying to strategize because choosing anything other than your true interests would be a misrepresentation of who you are and a disservice to yourself and the admissions office. This assignment will, no doubt, be most challenging for the undecideds, but ask yourself: how can I use this opportunity to reveal something about what excites me intellectually or academically? 

Why did you choose your proposed area of interest? If you selected ‘other’, what topics are you interested in pursuing? (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

You’ve only got 200 words, but if you chose wisely in the previous question, answering this one should be easy as pie. Whether you listed one or two interests, your goal here is to tell a cohesive story about your intellectual curiosity. Ideally, you should try to recount an anecdote that illustrates your engagement with your chosen field or demonstrates your ability to link together seemingly disparate fields. Perhaps you’re interested in both philosophy and astrophysics because each offers a way for you to contemplate our place in the universe. This is a great opportunity for you to explain how your intellectual interests relate to who you are as a person. Don’t waste it!

Required Short Answer Questions

Stem curiosity question, regardless of your stem interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever stem rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into. be as specific or broad as you would like. (min: 50 / max: 150 words).

Admissions wants to learn more about a STEM topic that has monopolized your thoughts. When was the last time you went down an internet rabbit hole trying to research something? When were you extremely motivated to solve a problem or create something new? What topic are you hoping to be an expert on by the time you graduate college? Discuss an example of what truly fascinates you. Perhaps you’re really interested in the future of smart prosthetics. Maybe you’re obsessed with identifying Fibonacci sequences in the world around you. Share how you’ve already interacted with your area of interest: Did you attend a seminar about the topic? Have you read every book you can find on it? Do you have a personal connection to it? The bottom line here is to write about something that really fascinates you and share your enthusiasm for STEM. 

STEM Experiences Questions

At caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. we are interested in learning more about your engagement with stem., please share two stem-related experiences:, tell us how you initially found your interest and passion for science or any stem topic, and how you have pursued or developed this interest or passion over time. (min: 100 / max: 200 words), tell us about a stem-related experience from the last few years and share how and why it inspired your curiosity. (min: 100 / max: 200 words).

For these two short answer responses, we recommend using concrete sensory details to pull your reader into the story. For the first one, try to remember the moment your passion for science was sparked and caught fire. Was it a trip to the local observatory? Was it when you were mesmerized by a grandfather clock at your uncle’s house? Trace this initial moment to today, explaining how you have developed your interest over time. How did this experience lay the foundation for your future STEM-related pursuits? Strong responses will make the readers feel like they’re in the room where it happened (“the room where it happened” – Hamilton). As you write your response, make sure you include every detail you can remember; once it’s all on the page, you can edit it down to meet the 200-word limit. 

Now, for question two, think about a project you’ve done more recently that captured your attention and curiosity. What excited you about it? How did you develop your skills or interest in STEM as a result of your participation? If you’re applying to Caltech, we’re willing to bet you have a few experiences to choose from, so we recommend writing about the one that was most intellectually engaging for you.

Creativity Question

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won nobel prizes and put rovers on mars . but techers also imagine smaller-scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3d-print dorm decor to experimenting in the kitchen. how have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life (min: 200 / max: 250 words).

Admissions is seeking to invite movers and shakers to campus who are excited and motivated to turn their dreams into reality. Whether you’ve been experimenting with robotics or spending your summers researching ways to integrate renewable energy into daily life, this is the place to share your story. Show Admissions that you are not only planning to be an innovator, but have already taken steps to incorporate this approach in your day-to-day activities. The more specific details you can incorporate into your essay, the more sincere and personal it will feel (and be!). 

Caltech Values Question

Caltech’s values include respect for a diversity of thoughts and ideas. how have you cultivated this value in your own life (min: 50 / max: 200 words).

For this prompt, Caltech wants to know how its mission resonates with you, so think about how their values overlap with your own. This could be a great opportunity to recycle another supplemental essay you’ve written about engaging in conversation with someone who holds opposing beliefs or one you’ve written about embracing diversity and inclusion. If you don’t have any material to recycle here, don’t fret, odds are you have something to say about respect for a diversity of thoughts and ideas. Maybe you and your best friend pick a topic to debate over lunch every week so you can get deeper into both perspectives of each issue. Perhaps you started a suggestion box for your Robotics Club when you noticed that some members weren’t getting a chance to speak and share their ideas with the group. Whatever your story is, be sure to avoid generalizations and, instead, provide concrete examples. Anyone can write that they are respectful or open-minded, but not everyone is going to be able to exhibit those traits with real-life examples. Specifics are what stick in admissions’ minds!

Optional Short Answer Questions

We know, we know … you see optional and start to wonder if we mean it. but in this section, we truly do see these as completely optional opportunities to show us more of your personality., optional. we promise., if there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below. (max: 150 words).

Caltech knows that you are a multifaceted person, that your identity cannot be boiled down to nuggets of information on an application. That’s why Admissions is giving you this (albeit small) space to expand on an aspect of your identity. Scroll through your application (personal statement, activity list, major selection) and take a moment to think about what you haven’t been able to include yet. Perhaps you want to write about your identity as a first-born daughter of immigrants or the daily yoga practice that grounds you and enables you to better connect with people and places around you. Regardless of what you choose to write about, you don’t have a lot of words to play with, so we recommend brevity!

When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through coding marathons, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing, reading, yoga, playing musical instruments and theater arts, to solving puzzles, hiking, painting, and building or inventing new gadgets. We understand that everyone needs an outlet or two. What is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy? (Max: 200 words)

This is a great place to write about a hobby or interest that doesn’t relate to STEM. What do you do when you’re not busy with school, work, and other responsibilities? Do you love ‘90s sci-fi shows and their visions of what future technology could look like? Do you invent and play card games with your siblings? Do you meticulously research and select native plants to put in your garden? Don’t worry about choosing something that you think sounds good to admissions; stick with whatever truly brings you joy, and your unique qualities will shine through.  

Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too. Tell us about another hobby or interest! (Max: 150 words)

This is a great place to write about a hobby or interest that is, maybe, newer to you, one you’ve spent less time on. Have you been learning how to play guitar? Did you start taking kayaking lessons this summer? Choose something different from what you wrote about above so you can share as much about yourself as possible. For example, if you wrote about a sport in the last question, write about something artistic here. Above all, be true to yourself! 

Optional Academic Short Answer Questions

Optional: have you had any extenuating circumstances (such as limited course selection or disruptions), that have affected your coursework, but that are not described elsewhere in your application if so, tell us about them here..

This is Caltech’s version of the Additional Info essay, which means that, unless you have something crucial to explain to Admissions, and there is absolutely NOWHERE else on the application for you to write about it, you should skip this essay. Think about it: If you were an admissions officer, would you really want to read one more essay per applicant? That being said, this essay is perfect for students who have encountered extenuating circumstances and need an opportunity to explain them. In fact, we recommend saving those details for an Additional Info essay, so that you can use the rest of your application to highlight other parts of your amazing personality. So, if something has happened that affected your academic performance, this is a great opportunity to give the 4-1-1 (that means “information” because, in the Stone Age of the late 1900s, we used our rotary phones instead of the internet). 

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The Admissions Strategist

How to write the caltech essays: the marvelous guide to success.

Located in Pasadena, California, the California Institute of Technology has an acceptance rate of 8% and is a world-renowned science and engineering institute with one of the nation’s lowest student-to-faculty ratios.

Despite its small size , Caltech’s contributions in science and research have led to international recognition, including 38 Nobel Prizes.

• The school also manages NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and owns and operates large-scale research facilities and a global network of astronomical observatories.

The self-stated mission of this private university is to “investigate the most challenging, fundamental problems in science and technology in a singularly collegial, interdisciplinary atmosphere, while educating outstanding students to become creative members of society.”

If this mission statement appeals to you, you might be a great fit for Caltech.

• But earning that acceptance letter isn’t easy: Caltech accepts only about 8% of applicants, building a freshman class of just 230 new students.

Luckily, we’re here to help with one of the most challenging parts of the application: the Caltech essays.

We’ll provide all the info and tips you need to write essays that will help you stand out from the competition.

Let’s get started!

What Are the Caltech Essay Requirements?

Caltech accepts both the Coalition Application and the Common Application , with no preference between the two platforms.

No matter which of these options you choose, you’ll also need to complete the Caltech Questions.

The university explains that these questions help them evaluate “your passion for science, technology, engineering, and math.” They’re looking to find out “what excites you, what you value, and which of Caltech’s resources appeal most to you.”

This supplement consists of four short answer questions:

The short answer questions are:

Describe three experiences and/or activities that have helped develop your passion for a possible career in a STEM field. Use the separate spaces provided below, one for each STEM experience and/or activity. (120 words for each activity?) Much like the life of a professional scientist or engineer, the life of a “Techer” relies heavily on collaboration. Knowing this, what do you hope to explore, innovate, or create with your Caltech peers? (Your response should range between 250-400 words.) Caltech students are often known for their sense of humor and creative pranks. What do you like to do for fun? (Your response should range between 250-400 words.) The process of discovery best advances when people from various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives come together. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity of Caltech’s community? (Your response should range between 250-400 words.)

What Kind of Student Does Caltech Want?

When applying to an extremely selective school like Caltech, it’s important to consider what type of student admissions officers are trying to find.

The goal here isn’t to lie and tell admissions officers what they want to hear; it’s to showcase the aspects of your personality and background that fit best with Caltech’s criteria.

On the university’s website, Caltech writes of freshman applicants, “All we ask is that you share the typical Caltech student’s unbridled sense of curiosity and extraordinary aptitude for and interest in science, engineering, and technology.”

They further explain that they attempt to answer several crucial questions as they review your application:

• Are you academically prepared?
• Have you demonstrated a consistent interest in science, technology, engineering, or math? (Are you ready to push the boundaries of scientific discovery?)
• How will you impact Caltech’s campus community?

Overall, the university is looking for students who not only excel in the STEM fields but are also passionate and excited about exploring these disciplines.

They want creative, curious students who can help make innovative contributions to society.

Caltech also values students who are collaborative and trustworthy enough to work with other Techers in classrooms and labs.

General Tips for the Caltech Essays

On the school website, Caltech explains that—perhaps surprisingly—the way they evaluate applications is “more of an art than a science.”

The admissions team reads every application and every essay to get a sense of who you are and determine whether you would be a good fit for Caltech, pointing out, “You are more than a GPA and a set of test scores!” The university’s advice is to take your time preparing the short answers and essays.

And taking the information in the previous section into consideration, we’ve come up with an additional list of general tips for responding to the Caltech Questions:

• Be authentic. Your genuine voice should shine through in these essays. Many students will be focused on trying to impress admissions officers rather than on providing honest answers, so one way to stand out is to simply be yourself!
• Be specific. Another way to write memorable essays is to provide specific, meaningful details . Don’t give the same general, generic answers that admissions officers will read over and over. The more specific you are, the more you’ll stand out.
• Be enthusiastic. One of Caltech’s key requirements is passion for science, technology, mathematics, and/or engineering. Show this excitement in your essays, and don’t be afraid to “geek out” a little. You should also demonstrate enthusiasm for learning and discovery.
• Be reflective. You might think it’s obvious how you’ll contribute at Caltech, but spell it out for admissions officers. Relate your responses to the contributions you’ll make in Caltech’s labs, classrooms, and community. Give specific examples of what you’ll do and how you’ll add value to the university.

Now that you know our general advice, let’s take a look at each of the questions you’ll be asked.

Get personalized advice!

Three experiences and activities.

Essay #1: Describe three experiences and/or activities that have helped develop your passion for a possible career in a STEM field. Use the separate spaces provided below, one for each STEM experience and/or activity.

First, note the key word “develop.”

• You should be writing about hands-on experiences with STEM, rather than passive activities like watching a video or observing an interesting lecture.
• Think of a time you applied your interest or passion in STEM.
• Consider projects, activities, research, and service. You have a broad range here, as long as you’re writing about your proactive approach to STEM.

Also keep in mind that you’re limited to only 120 words for each entry, meaning you don’t have much space to explore three experiences or activities in-depth. Your best bet is to write three short paragraphs, one for each of the events you’ve selected.

• It may be helpful to choose some activities that have been mentioned elsewhere in your application or essays. You won’t need to go too in-depth, which will save you some room.

This is a pretty straightforward question, so don’t pressure yourself to think outside the box or get too creative.

You could begin by brainstorming a list of hands-on experiences and activities you’ve had relating to STEM. Then choose your three favorites to write about.

A friendly heads-up: Don’t outsmart yourself for this question. You have three separate boxes for 120 words each, so get to the point, be concise, and choose practical, hands-on experiences. Don’t risk giving background detail or providing an activity that is passive or difficult to write about. Keep it simple.

The Life of a Techer: Collaboration

Essay #2: Much like the life of a professional scientist or engineer, the life of a “Techer” relies heavily on collaboration. Knowing this, what do you hope to explore, innovate, or create with your Caltech peers? (Your response should range between 250-400 words.)

Essentially, this is the “Why Caltech?” question. You can read our guide on how to write “Why This College” essays.

The best way to accomplish this goal is to do your research.

• Look into specific programs, extracurricular activities focused on STEM, classes, professors, and so on.
• If you feel the need to address any research opportunities, be sure to do so in extremely specific terms.
• What project are you extremely excited about? Which professor would you be working with?
• Why this project and professor in particular?
• Last, ask yourself how you can pursue these opportunities with fellow Techers.

Here’s how you should go about attacking this essay:

• Start by outlining your academic and career goals, as well as your specific area of interest in STEM.
• Then explain exactly how Caltech could help you further your interest and reach your goals.
• Discuss team dynamics and how you can leverage other students’ talents and experiences to accomplish your mission.
• Make sure you’re discussing opportunities and experiences unique to Caltech, rather than qualities that many other schools share as well.

It’s vital to be extremely enthusiastic in this essay.

Are you excited about Caltech? Excited enough to be one of just 230 students who receive this opportunity? Show it.

For example, here’s a successful outline of a Why Caltech essay:

• Your community was hit by a drought last year. It made you think about how communities in developing countries or those without infrastructure can survive such harsh climates.
• Your engineering team in high school designed a national irrigation system that adjusts the supply of water over a 300-mile mile radius. This irrigation system utilizes algorithms and radars to make its decisions.
• At Caltech, you want to work with research partners to discover how you can not only bring this irrigation system to life but also implement machine learning and AI to increase its deployment accuracy. Describe how you’ll work together.

Remember, never write about location or legacy. Southern California is a beautiful place, yes, but there are other schools in SoCal besides Caltech. Demonstrate that you took the time to research Caltech and how you fit within its community.

What Do You Do for Fun?

Essay #3: Caltech students are often known for their sense of humor and creative pranks. What do you like to do for fun? (Your response should range between 250-400 words.)

Think about your hobbies, possibly putting together another brainstorm list.

• What do you do in your spare time?
• List as many activities and interests as you can.
• Then, review the list for the most “unusual” way in which you have fun.

This doesn’t have to be something tremendously unique, just something unusual that not every teenager engages in.

• Avoid obviously common hobbies like reading, listening to music, playing video games, watching TV or movies, or playing sports (unless you play cricket, curling, or something else uncommon).
• Perhaps you collect Russian nesting dolls or build elaborate forts with your friends.
• Maybe you go on fun scavenger hunts around town or devote every Saturday to browsing yard sales for the best deals.

This isn’t a serious question and doesn’t require a serious or academic answer.

For this prompt, you do have enough room to vividly describe the unusual activity you enjoy.

Tell a story and include sensory details. If possible, you may want to see if there’s a way you can continue pursuing this unique activity at Caltech.

If not, maybe you would want to start a club of your own! Colleges love proactive students.

Irrespective of the hobby you choose, be sure to select one that has had a tangible effect on your life. Choose a hobby or pursuit that has changed you. Then, explain how it’s changed you.

• Do you train Brazilian jiujitsiu? Has it changed the way you approach competition and solve problems?
• Did you create an app for your school? What did you learn about solving a community’s problem using iOS or Android?

While it doesn’t need to be STEM-related, it should be substantive.

Contributingg to Diversity at Caltech

Essay #4: The process of discovery best advances when people from various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives come together. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity of Caltech’s community? (Your response should range between 250-400 words.

This question makes it clear that diversity comes in many forms. Diversity of experience, background, and thought are specifically mentioned, but you can think of any way that you might bring an interesting or unique perspective to Caltech.

• For instance, you might choose to write about your approach to solving and analyzing problems or generating ideas.
• How does your approach differ from others?
• What problems have you been able to solve, as a result, that others haven’t?
• And how could this help you contribute at Caltech?

You might also have a unique cultural or economic background, or experiences that you think will allow you to offer a fresh perspective at Caltech. There are many different ways to answer this question.

However you decide to approach the question, try to offer a supporting anecdote (a story that demonstrates the diversity you’ve mentioned) and explain how you’ll put this diverse perspective to use at Caltech.

Brainstorming the Caltech Essays

Here’s a helpful exercise that has helped a number of our students who have gone on to study at Caltech.

List three to seven books (titles and authors) that have been meaningful to you, each with a one-sentence summary of how that book has influenced you.

These don’t have to be math, science, or even academic texts.

• If you learned a valuable lesson from a fictional character or bonded with new friends over your love for a YA novel, feel free to include it here.
• You may want to include one book title that is in some way related to STEM. After all, your passion for science, math, and technology should be the focal point of your application.
• Lastly, we recommend avoiding any potentially controversial topics. You never know who will be reading your essays, and you don’t want to offend the person who holds your fate in their hands!

This exercise will help you broaden your thoughts and keep you from writing a cookie-cutter essay. Yes, it’s important to demonstrate your academic gravitas, but it’s also critical that you leverage other important aspects of your personality.

The books you’ve chosen for this list can demonstrate how you value knowledge and the interests you’re most likely to pursue once you’re in college.

Even if your interests are likely to change, this list will jog your memory and help you raise interesting points about yourself.

We mentioned above that Caltech values students who are trustworthy. The school is a close-knit, collaborative community, so honesty and integrity are vital. Here’s your opportunity to demonstrate that you possess these qualities.

• Come up with an ethical or moral dilemma to discuss.
• It doesn’t necessarily have to be a major problem, just a time you’ve had to make a challenging decision.
• Can you think of a time, possibly within your high school community, when you were faced with a tough choice, ultimately deciding to do the right thing?

Then, explain your problem-solving process, or how you arrived at a solution.

• Briefly introduce the problem and how you felt about the situation.
• Then, explain the factors you considered and the specific steps you took to arrive at a solution.

You don’t have many words to tell the story here, but try to include a few vivid details that can bring your experience to life. Show action. What did  you  do to solve the problem or come to a solution?

This is an unorthodox brainstorming exercise, but it will help you think three-dimensionally about your life and ability to create solutions. Creating solutions is, by definition, hands-on work, so this exercise is a good way to think critically about action steps you’ve taken to change your life or someone else’s.

Conclusion: Writing the Caltech Essays

Aspiring scientists and engineers from around the world dream of becoming a Techer. When applying to such a highly selective school, your essays are among your best chances to set yourself apart from the competition.

• Use the tips we’ve provided here for your four short answer questions. Be passionate, authentic, honest, and specific. Show your aptitude and enthusiasm for STEM, as well as your profound interest in Caltech.
• Don’t forget to proofread !

You might earn the opportunity to join the brilliant and innovative minds at Caltech next fall!

And if you’re interested in gaining an edge in college admissions essay writing, check out our college essay boot camp.

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Gelyna Price

Head of programs and lead admissions expert, table of contents, write caltech essays.

Stay up-to-date on the latest research and college admissions trends with our blog team.

Interested in engineering or math? Want to go to a school just for people with the same interests? CalTech, located in Pasadena, California has 24 majors, most of which are in Science or Engineering. The most popular undergraduate majors are Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences, and Physical sciences. If this school does make your list, you’ll want to know how to approach the CalTech essays properly.

About the school

CalTech has approximately 970 undergraduate students, most of whom live in one of 8 campus houses. Instead of dorms, students are assigned a house where they form friendships for social and academic support.

Another unique element of CalTech is the honor code, which states: “No member of the CalTech community shall take unfair advantage of another member.” Students take this rather seriously and understanding it is part of the admissions process.

CalTech Essays

When you apply to California Institute of Technology, you can apply using the Common App or the Coalition App. You will also write these additional college essays for CalTech:

Please list three books, along with their authors, that have been particularly meaningful to you. For each book, please include a sentence explaining their influence upon you. Please note that your response is not limited to math, science or school assigned texts.

What you read should reveal your interests and education level. Including the phrase “their influence upon you” means you need to explain how the books either changed your understanding of a topic, changed a behavior, or led you to explore something new.

You should probably include a range of genres in your list to show you have broad interests such as historical fiction, science, and mystery instead of simply a list of recent sci-fi novels. (If you haven’t read anything but a text book, get reading!)

What three experiences or activities have helped you explore your desire to study and possibly pursue a career in STEM? (200 words)

Plan a list of science, math, or engineering experiences that helped you find a passion for STEM. A great response will have experiences that have a common thread.

For example, you might have enjoyed chemistry experiments starting with a 4th grade project, a high school class chemistry activity, and a summer visit to a science museum which allowed you to explore liquid molecules.

Members of the Caltech community live, learn, and work within an Honor System with one simple guideline; “No member shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community.” While seemingly simple, questions of ethics, honesty and integrity are sometimes puzzling. Share a difficult decision that has challenged you.What was your response, and how did you arrive to a solution? (200 words)

Question 3 asks about “ethics, honesty, and integrity” that are slightly different things. Ethics means moral behavior, honesty means not lying, cheating, or stealing, and integrity means being a good person inside. Since you only have 200 words, focus on one or two of the three terms and give clear examples that connect your decision with the principle you choose.

The question asks you to share the “challenge” of it so you should describe a transition. For example, you may have been hesitant to report a friend who copied test answers but honesty is important so you changed your hesitancy to a firm action to report him or her to the teacher.

Caltech students have long been known for their quirky sense of humor and creative pranks. Please describe an unusual way in which you have fun. (200 words)

Question 4 is a fun question you can use to reveal the lighter side of your personality, as well as a sense of appropriate humor!

In an increasingly global and interdependent society, there is a need for diversity in thought, background, and experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity of Caltech’s community? (200 words)

The words “global and interdependent” along with “diversity” means you should think of question 5 in terms of your openness to a variety of ideas and willingness to work with others in the classroom or in the lab. In your answer, you should combine your unique personal traits or experiences along with your willingness to work as a team with others. For example, your persistence helps you to make sure group projects get completed.

Scientific exploration clearly excites you. Beyond our 3:1 student to faculty ratio and our intense focus on research opportunities, how do you believe Caltech will best fuel your intellectual curiosity and help you meet your goals? (500 words)

Because question 6 asks you specifically about California Institute of Technology, you should do some research on the school to find out what will keep you energized while you attend. Be sure to connect the ideas of fueling curiosity and meeting goals. For example, living with other students in a house would help you get homework help so you keep high grades.

You Can Do It!

Be sure to use clear, concise language, active verbs, and clear examples in your college essays. Using analogies and metaphors can help add interest to what you write.   Here’s a great primer on how to succeed with all your essay writing. The CalTech essays shouldn’t scare you away. If you need more tips on writing or how to handle these prompts yourself, reach out to the Empowerly team!

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How to Write the Caltech STEM Experience Essay

Caltech’s essay prompt emphasizes its commitment to tackling some of the most challenging questions in STEM. In essence, they want to gauge your genuine curiosity, passion, and drive in these fields.

Here’s how you can write a strong response. If you want more advice on Caltech’s essays, see our full Caltech essay breakdown .

Understanding the Prompt

Prompt: At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (200 words per experience)

Caltech is looking for specific instances where you were actively engaged in STEM. This can be within a class, a club, a project, a competition, or any other related experience.

As you reflect on which experiences to mention, make sure to those that truly piqued your interest and drove you to delve deeper. It’s one thing to be curious, but taking that next step to learn more showcases initiative, drive, and passion.

Crafting Your Essay

Here are the four steps you want to take as you’re writing.

1. Start with a brief introduction of the experience. Was it a physics class experiment? A coding challenge? A robotics competition?

2. Elaborate on what you did. Be specific. Instead of saying you “worked on a project,” explain that you “designed a water filtration system using charcoal and sand.”

3. Identify the moment or aspect that triggered your curiosity. Was it an unexpected result? A challenging problem? A real-world application?

4. Discuss the steps you took post-experience. Did you read more on the topic? Join a related club? Undertake a new project? Your actions should showcase your drive.

Now, let’s get into some examples!

Caltech STEM Experience Example Essays

In my junior year, our school’s Robotics Club decided to enter the annual Robotics Challenge. From videos of past competitions, it was clear that robots could achieve some pretty amazing things, and we were eager to try our hand. I got the task of programming our robot’s pathfinding, which I thought would be a cool challenge.

Initial tests, however, were not promising. Our robot, which we affectionately dubbed ‘Rover’, seemed to have a mind of its own, often getting lost or stuck in corners. This wasn’t what I expected, and instead of feeling defeated, I got really curious. Why was our algorithm struggling?

After some deep dives online and discussions with our club advisor, I stumbled upon the A* algorithm. It was touted as one of the best for pathfinding. Many late nights were spent poring over code, making adjustments, and running trial after trial.

The moment ‘Rover’ smoothly navigated our test maze was unforgettable. Beyond just the success, this experience opened my eyes to how vast and complex robotics can be. It also sparked a newfound interest in AI and how machines can learn and adapt.

Essay 1 Feedback

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This experience effectively showcases your problem-solving skills and determination in the field of robotics. Your narrative demonstrates your curiosity and passion for learning about pathfinding algorithms. I would rate this experience a solid 8.5 out of 10. The strength of your description lies in the detailed example and your genuine interest in overcoming the challenge.

• Your experience provides a clear narrative of your involvement in the Robotics Club and the challenge you faced.
• You effectively convey your curiosity and determination to understand and improve the robot’s pathfinding algorithm.
• The experience demonstrates your ability to research, learn, and apply new concepts in a practical situation.

Suggestions

• Consider providing a brief explanation of the A* algorithm and how it improved ‘Rover’s’ pathfinding. This will help the reader understand your discovery better. (Small impact)
• Share any lessons you learned from this experience and how they may have influenced your perspective on robotics or problem-solving. (Small impact)
• Briefly mention how this experience has shaped your future aspirations or interests in the field of robotics, AI, or related areas. (Small impact)

What admissions would take away

Admissions officers would view you as a determined, curious, and resourceful student with a passion for robotics and problem-solving. Your experience demonstrates your ability to research, learn, and apply new concepts in practical situations.

In a chemistry lab during sophomore year, our assignment was to synthesize aspirin. The process, on paper, seemed pretty direct, but science in practice can sometimes be unpredictable. My first result wasn’t the expected pure white but had an off-white hue.

Rather than just accepting it, I was determined to understand why. Had I missed a step or mis-measured an ingredient? I turned to additional resources, beyond our classroom’s scope, and delved into the intricacies of the synthesis process. I found out that there are many variables at play, from temperature control to precise measurements.

Armed with new knowledge, I approached the lab again. With more attention to detail and a better understanding of the reactions, my second attempt was markedly improved.

This wasn’t just a lesson in making aspirin; it underscored how deep and layered even seemingly simple reactions can be. It made me appreciate the precision required in chemistry, especially when thinking about its implications in something as important as drug development.

Overall Feedback

This experience effectively highlights your curiosity and determination in the field of chemistry. It demonstrates your commitment to understanding the underlying processes and your ability to think critically about the subject matter. I would rate this experience an 8 out of 10. The strength of your description lies in the detailed example and your genuine interest in learning.

• Your experience provides a clear narrative of your involvement in the chemistry lab and the challenge you faced.
• You effectively convey your curiosity and determination to understand the intricacies of the synthesis process.
• The experience demonstrates your willingness to go beyond the classroom to explore complex concepts and apply them in practical situations.
• Explore how your newfound appreciation for precision in chemistry has shaped your perspective on the subject or influenced future projects. (Small impact)
• Share any lessons you learned from this experience and how they may have influenced your approach to chemistry or problem-solving. (Small impact)
• Briefly mention how this experience has shaped your future aspirations or interests in the field of chemistry or related areas. (Small impact)

Admissions officers would view you as a curious, determined, and resourceful student with a passion for learning and problem-solving in chemistry. Your experience demonstrates your ability to go beyond the classroom to explore complex concepts and apply them in practical situations.

• Be Genuine: Authentic experiences where your curiosity was genuinely activated will always come across as more sincere and impactful.
• Show Initiative: Caltech values students who don’t just stop at wondering, but take the initiative to seek answers.
• Proofread: Ensure clarity, coherence, and error-free content. You can use Ivy, CollegeVine’s AI for free feedback. 

Remember, this essay provides Caltech a glimpse into your analytical mind, your curiosity, and your proactive approach to learning.

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