The California Institute of Technology has released its supplemental essay prompts for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. The school, one of the last among America’s elite universities to release their essays for applicants to the Class of 2029, asks applicants to respond to several required and optional essays as well as short answers. These essays are, of course, in addition to The Common Application’s Personal Statement. So, what are this year’s Caltech essays and how should they be approached? Let’s dive in!

2024-2025 California Institute of Technology Essay Topics and Questions

Required Essay Prompts

Your STEM Future: Academic Interests

Because of the rigorous courses in the core 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 your proposed area of interest? If you selected ‘other’, what topics are you interested in pursuing? (Max: 200 words)

This essay prompt is a straight-up-the-middle Why Major essay. Caltech’s admissions committee wants to understand the origin story of an applicant’s interest in the discipline they wish to study at Caltech. Yet, students should be sure to set that origin story during their high school years. Too often, students share stories about how they developed their academic interests as children. Admissions officers want to hear how students think now — not then.

Your STEM Present: Academic Curiosity

1. 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. (Max: 150 words)

Caltech’s admissions committee wants to discern if an applicant’s brain is overflowing with interests in STEM-related fields. This prompt is an opportunity for an applicant to show rather than tell that their cup runneth over!

Your STEM Past: Prior Experiences

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:

1. 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. (Max: 200 words)

Here’s an opportunity for an applicant to share another origin story about their interest in STEM-related fields. Of course, students would be wise to set their origin story during their early high school years rather than as children. There can be many reasons applicants realized they had a passion for STEM!

2. Tell us about a STEM-related experience from the last few years and share how and why it inspired your curiosity. (Max: 200 words)

An activity essay in a STEM-related area would work well for this prompt to showcase one of many ways an applicant has demonstrated their passion for the field.

Creativity in Action

1. 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? (Max: 250 words)

This essay is another excellent opportunity for students to share one small story about how they’ve developed something in the STEM field. And the example does not need to stem from award-winning research. It doesn’t need to be anything formal.

A great example would be seeing a problem on a bike ride to school and figuring out how to fix it. Maybe a student’s bike went over a pothole, so they designed a way to light up a grid on the road to identify when potholes were forthcoming. Caltech’s admissions committee wants to see how applicants think and how they’re creators and inventors even in life’s small moments.

Caltech’s Values

1. Caltech’s values include respect for a diversity of thoughts and ideas. How have you cultivated this value in your own life? (Max: 200 words)

We should hope so! This is an opportunity for Caltech applicants to show they’re human and will respect their peers, regardless of their backgrounds. It would be best to do so through an anecdote so the applicant shows rather than tells. After all, saying you appreciate diverse perspectives isn’t exactly convincing!

Optional Short Answer Questions

1. 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)

While the United States Supreme Court outlawed Affirmative Action, Chief Justice John Roberts penned a loophole in the majority opinion. As he wrote, “Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.”

This essay allows students to capitalize on this loophole by sharing their stories. And students do not need to be underrepresented minorities to have a story to tell here. Applicants could focus on their faith, community, sexual orientation, or gender identity — the possibilities are endless.

2. 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: 100 words)

While having a passion for the STEM fields is a prerequisite for Caltech, the admissions committee wants to know that you have interests beyond these disciplines. So here’s an excellent opportunity for applicants to showcase their love for poetry, history, foreign language, anthropology, or any other field. As long as applicants showcase their intellectual curiosity through their storytelling — ideally in an area outside of STEM — they’re on the right track.

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: 150 words)

We encourage students to write about a hobby that highlights their intellectual curiosity. So many options would work here. It doesn’t need to be a hobby in which a student changes the world. Yet, it should showcase their intellectual curiosity. If they love tie-dying t-shirts, they should focus on the mathematics of creating extraordinary patterns.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Caltech Essays

If you’re interested in optimizing your case for admission to Caltech by submitting essays that will wow Caltech admissions officers, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch to outline our college counseling services for seniors.