California Institute of Technology

Caltech Applicant Portal Activation: QuestBridge will send Finalists’ applications to Caltech on October 19, and Caltech may need a couple days to import them into their system. Once processed, Caltech will then email you instructions to log in and activate your Caltech applicant portal, where you can track the status of the materials you submit to Caltech.

1

Caltech-QuestBridge Supplement Member Questions, and all supporting documents

QuestBridge teacher recommendations should include one from a Humanities or Social Science teacher AND one from a Math or Science teacher. 

Once Caltech receives the applications from Finalists who want to participate in the Match they will be emailed with instructions on how to access their student portal where they will access, complete, and submit the Caltech-QuestBridge Supplement.  Sample questions include:

• Have you previously applied to Caltech?
• Though not binding, please indicate two of your proposed areas of study at Caltech.
• Describe three experiences and/or activities that have helped you develop your passion for a possible career in a STEM field? (Each description of your experience/activity should range between 10-120 words.)
• 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.)
• 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.)
• 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.)

2

Official Transcript(s)

Students must submit official transcripts from their high school(s) and any other institution where they have taken courses. Caltech’s academic preparedness expectations for admissions are aligned with the breadth and depth of the academic lives of their undergraduates. You must have either completed the following courses or be enrolled in them at the time of your application.

• 4 years of Math (including the highest level of Calculus offered at your school)
• 1 year of Physics
• 1 year of Chemistry
• 3 years of English (4 years recommended)
• 1 year of U.S. History/Government

Caltech is looking for students to engage with the most advanced and rigorous coursework available at their School.

3

Test Scores

Caltech has implemented a 2-Year Moratorium on requirement and consideration of SAT and/or ACT test scores.

• As of June 2020, Caltech had enacted a two-year moratorium on both the requirement and consideration of SAT and ACT test scores as the undergraduate admissions process. This change was made in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic and its continuing impact on access to these exams for the students across the country and globe, will be in effect for all first-year students applying to Caltech for Fall 2021 and Fall 2022. 

• The Caltech Undergraduate Admissions Office will not be accepting or reviewing any standardized test submitted. 

Elimination of the requirement for SAT subject Tests

• As of January 2020, Caltech eliminated the requirement for applications to submit two SAT Subject Tests. These sections will not be considered in the application review process.

4

2022-2023 FAFSA

FAFSA code: 001131
Available: Oct. 1

US Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens only.

5

2022-2023 CSS Profile

CSS code: 4034
Available Oct. 1

Please select "Early Action" as your admission application type. 

If your parents are divorced or separated:

• Each parent will need to complete their own CSS Profile application. It is recommended that the student and custodial parent start the CSS Profile application first. To keep their financial information private, your parents should not share their College Board log-in credentials with each other.
• Your non-custodial parent must submit the online Non-Custodial Profile after creating a separate College Board account.
• If you do not have any contact with your non-custodial parent, then you may submit a request to waive the requirement of their financial information. Your request must include a statement from a third party who can verify your situation. Download the Non-Custodial Parent Waiver Petition and submit directly to the Financial Aid Office (See Contact Information below).

6

2020 IRS Tax Return Transcript and Forms for Custodial and Non-Custodial Parent (if applicable) 

(Only submit if you are Matched to Caltech)

Submit the following to the College Board's IDOC service:

• Signed copy of your custodial and non-custodial parents' 2020 IRS Tax Return Transcript and W-2 Forms.
• Caltech Supplemental Application
• Verification Worksheet
• Parents' & Student's Income Tax Transcript

If your parents own a business or farm:

• Business/Farm Supplement

If applicable:

• Student Non-Tax Filer's Statement
• Parent Non-Tax Filer's Statement

Please note that the IDOC service does not become available until October 1, 2021.

7

Cal Grant GPA Verification Form

(Only submit if you are Matched to Caltech)

 For Residents of California, please submit the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form.

Early Action

Finalists who do not match cannot be considered for admission through Early Action to Caltech, but instead can be considered in the Regular Decision process.

Regular Decision

Follow the instructions below to apply through Regular Decision. 

Finalists who ranked Caltech and submitted all materials (but did not match to a binding college)

Finalists who did not rank Caltech

Choose one of the following to apply: QuestBridge Application with Caltech QuestBridge Supplement, Common Application, or Coalition Application. 

Students can use their QuestBridge application with Caltech’s QuestBridge Supplemental Application (only if Caltech was selected in the QuestBridge Regular Decision Form).

If students choose to apply through the Coalition or Common Application, select “Regular Decision” as the admission round.

Students can use their QuestBridge application with Caltech’s QuestBridge Supplemental Application (only if Caltech was selected in the QuestBridge Regular Decision Form).

If students choose to apply through the Coalition or Common Application, select “Regular Decision” as the admission round.

Recommendations

Caltech requires the submission of 2 teacher recommendations with your chosen application platform: 1 from a Humanities or Social Science teacher AND 1 from a Math or Science teacher.

If a student applies through the QuestBridge Application, Caltech will consider the letters of recommendation that were sent from QuestBridge. 

If a student applies through the Common Application or Coalition Application, then their recommender can submit a copy of the letter of recommendation that was submitted to QuestBridge to ugadmissions@caltech.edu. Please ask the recommender to include the applicant’s full name and date of birth in their email.

Caltech requires the submission of 2 teacher recommendations with your chosen application platform: 1 from a Humanities or Social Science teacher AND 1 from a Math or Science teacher.

If a student applies through the QuestBridge Application, Caltech will consider the letters of recommendation that were sent from QuestBridge. 

If a student applies through the Common Application or Coalition Application, then their recommender can submit a copy of the letter of recommendation that was submitted to QuestBridge to ugadmissions@caltech.edu. Please ask the recommender to include the applicant’s full name and date of birth in their email.

Midyear Report

Official Transcript(s)

Update including recent grades

Students must submit official transcripts from their high school(s) and any other institution where they have taken courses. You must have either completed the following courses or be enrolled in them at the time of your application. Students who have not completed these courses will not be properly prepared for Caltech's core curriculum.

• We are looking for students to engage with the most advanced and rigorous coursework available at their School
• 4 years of Math (including the highest level of Calculus offered at your school) 
• 1 year of Physics 
• 1 year of Chemistry 
• 3 years of English (4 years recommended) 
• 1 year of U.S. History/Government

Whenever possible, electronic submissions are preferred and should be directed to ugadmissions@caltech.edu.  Please ask a school official to include the applicant’s full name and date of birth in their email. Caltech does not accept transcript submissions from applicants.

Finalists who ranked Caltech and submitted all materials (but did not match to a binding college)

Finalists who did not rank Caltech

2022-2023 FAFSA

FAFSA code: 001131
Available: Oct. 1
Deadline: Mar. 2

US Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens

2022-2023 CSS Profile

CSS code: 4034
Available: Oct. 1
Deadline: Feb. 1

Non-Custodial Parent Profile
(if applicable)
Deadline: Mar. 16

2020 IRS Tax Return Transcript and Forms
Deadline: Mar. 16

(Submit the following materials once you are admitted to Caltech)

Submit the following to IDOC. Please note that the IDOC service does not become available until October 1, 2021.

• Signed copy of your parents' 2020 IRS Tax Return Transcript and W-2 forms.
• Caltech Supplemental Application
• Verification Worksheet
• Parents' & Student's Income Tax Transcript

If your parents own a business or farm:

• Business/Farm Supplement

If applicable:

• Student Non-Tax Filer's Statement
• Parent Non-Tax Filer's Statement

Cal Grant GPA Verification Form
Deadline: Mar. 2

(Submit once you are admitted to Caltech)

For Residents of California only