Hello! I'm considering applying to California Institute of Technology, but not really sure about their admissions process. Do they focus more on grades, extracurriculars, or both? Any info about this would be great.
CalTech's admissions process is quite holistic, meaning they review all parts of your application and no single factor alone will guarantee or deny admission. However, as a highly selective STEM-focused institution, CalTech does place a strong emphasis on academic rigor and your performance in math and science classes. They will pay special attention to how you've challenged yourself in these areas, particularly through honors, AP, or IB courses.
Your performance on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT can also be influential in CalTech's admissions decisions. As of the 2023-2024 application cycle, CalTech has reverted to requiring submission of SAT or ACT scores. These scores are valuable to the admissions team as another measure of your academic ability, particularly in relation to math and science.
Extracurricular activities also play a significant role in admission decisions. In particular, CalTech values students who have demonstrated genuine interest and achievement in STEM-related fields outside of the classroom. This could be through research opportunities, internships, independent projects, or even leadership in relevant clubs or competitions.
Additionally, they will consider factors like the essays and letters of recommendation you provide. They are interested in getting to know you as a person, not just as a student, so they'll be looking at these components for insight into your personality, interests, and potential fit with the CalTech community. They appreciate intellectual curiosity and dedication to exploring complex, challenging issues.
To summarize, while there's definitely a strong academic focus in CalTech's admissions process, the committee also deeply considers your extracurricular engagement, personal qualities, and potential for contributing positively to the CalTech community. As always with such selective schools, it's a good idea to present a well-rounded application that exhibits both strong academics (particularly in STEM) and personal uniqueness.
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