The Basics About Cal Tech
Cal Tech is a private institution that was founded in 1891. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 951, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 124 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. Cal Tech's ranking in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 7. Its tuition and fees are $36,282.
Overview: California Institute of Technology
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General Information
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Institutional Control:
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Private
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Year founded:
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1891
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Religious affiliation:
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N/A
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Academic calendar:
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quarter
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Fall 2009 Total number of undergraduates:
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951
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Setting:
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suburban
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2009 Endowment:
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$1,507,703,000
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Fall Admissions
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Application deadline:
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1/1
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Application fee:
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$60
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Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
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15%
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Selectivity:
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most selective
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Expenses
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Costs:
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2010-2011 Tuition and Fees: $36,282
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Student Life at Cal Tech
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Caltech, which focuses on science and engineering, is located in Pasadena, Calif., approximately 11 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Social and academic life at Caltech centers on the eight student houses, which the school describes as "self-governing living groups." Student houses incorporate an admired Caltech tradition: dinners served by student waiters. Only freshmen are required to live on campus, but around 80 percent of students remain in their house for all four years. The Caltech Beavers have a number of NCAA Division III teams that compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Integral to student life is the Honor Code, which dictates that "No member of the Caltech community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community."
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Other Facts About Cal Tech
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In addition to its undergraduate studies, Caltech offers top graduate programs in engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, mathematics, and physics. Caltech participates in a significant amount of research, receiving grants from institutions such as NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Health and Human Services, among others. Caltech maintains a strong tradition of pranking with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, another top-ranked science and technology university. Companies such as Intel, Compaq, and Hotmail were founded by Caltech alumni. Famous film director Frank Capra also graduated from Caltech.
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Mission (as provided by the school)
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Highly regarded as one of the world's premiere institutions of science and engineering, the California Institute of Technology is home to some of the brightest students and faculty, who share the mission of investigating "the most challenging fundamental problems in science and technology." Caltech, a small, focused institution, provides one of the best student-to-faculty ratios (3:1) and has long promoted innovative interdisciplinary collaboration, making exceptional research opportunities accessible to undergraduates. Its faculty and alumni have received 32 Nobel Prizes. For students with a passion for science and engineering, Caltech offers an unsurpassed learning experience. A beautiful, quaint campus, nestled in the heart of Pasadena, enjoying a year-round pleasant Southern California climate, Caltech also operates comprehensive off-campus facilities including Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Palomar and Keck Observatories.
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Applications: California Institute of Technology
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Regular Decision
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Application deadline:
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1/1
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Notification date:
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04/01
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Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
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June 1 (Fall)
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Early Decision
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Is an early decision plan offered?
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No
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Early decision deadline:
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N/A
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Early decision decision sent by:
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N/A
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Early Action
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Is an early action plan offered?
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Yes
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Early action deadline:
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11/1
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Early action decision sent by:
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12/15
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Application Fee
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Application fee:
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$60
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Is the application fee refundable?
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No
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Can the application fee be waived for students with financial need?
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Yes
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Is it possible to defer admission?
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Yes
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Application Formats
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Can applications be submitted via E-mail?
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No
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Electronic application URL:
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http://admissions.caltech.edu/admissions/applying
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Tuition and Room Deposits
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Tuition deposit:
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$0
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Is the tuition deposit refundable?
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N/A
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Room deposit:
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$0
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Is the room deposit refundable?
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N/A
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Contact Information
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Admissions director:
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Ray Prado
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Admissions office phone number:
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(626) 395-6341
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Admissions E-mail:
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Requirements and Factors: California Institute of Technology
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Admission Requirements
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Admission interview?
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Neither required/recommended
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Campus visit?
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Neither required/recommended
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Off-campus interviews?
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are not available
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Does the school have an open admission policy?
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No
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Does the college use SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions for first-time, first-year applicants?
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Yes
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Standardized tests?
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Either SAT or ACT required.
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ACT Writing test?
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ACT with or without writing accepted
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SAT/ACT scores must be received by:
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12/31
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SAT Subject Test scores must be received by:
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12/31
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High school completion requirement for admissions:
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High school diploma or equivalent is not required
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General college-preparatory program?
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Require
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Academic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
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Rigor of secondary school record?
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Very Important
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Class rank?
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Important
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Academic GPA?
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Important
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Standardized test scores?
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Important
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Application essay?
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Important
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Recommendations?
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Important
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Nonacademic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
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Interview?
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Not Considered
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Extracurricular activities?
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Important
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Talent/ability?
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Considered
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Character/personal qualities?
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Important
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Being a first-generation college student?
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Considered
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Alumni/ae relations?
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Considered
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Geographical residence?
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Not Considered
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State residency?
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Not Considered
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Religious affiliation/commitment?
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Not Considered
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Race/ethnicity?
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Considered
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Volunteer work?
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Considered
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Work experience?
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Considered
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Level of the applicant's interest?
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Not Considered
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Required High School Course Work
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High school units required in English:
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3
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High school units required in History:
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1
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High school units required in Mathematics:
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4
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High school units required in Science:
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2
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High school units required in Science Labs:
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1
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High school units required in Social Studies:
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1
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Recommended High School Course Work
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High school units recommended in English:
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4
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High school units recommended in Foreign languages:
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3
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High school units recommended in History:
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1
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High school units recommended in Science:
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4
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High school units recommended in Social Studies:
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3
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Entering Class Statistics: California Institute of Technology
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Fall 2009 Selectivity
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Selectivity:
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most selective
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Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
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15%
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Early decision acceptance rate:
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N/A
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Early action acceptance rate:
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22%
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Acceptance rate (excluding early action and early decision students):
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13%
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Fall 2009 Applications, Acceptances, and Enrollments
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Number of applicants:
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4,413
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Number of applicants accepted:
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674
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Freshman enrollment for Fall 2009:
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252
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Percent of total enrolled incoming freshmen who been accepted under either early acceptance or early action:
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33%
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Number of male applicants:
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3,318
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Number of male applicants accepted for Fall 2009:
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390
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Male freshman enrollment:
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145
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Number of female applicants:
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1,095
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Number of female applicants accepted Fall 2009:
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284
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Female freshman enrollment:
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107
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Fall 2009 Wait List
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Does the school have a waiting list?
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Yes
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Number of applicants placed on a waiting list:
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623
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Number of students on the wait list accepted:
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399
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Number of students enrolled from a waiting list:
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0
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Fall 2009 High School Rank
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Percent of first-year students submitting high school class standing:
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51%
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2009 Freshmen in top 10 percent of high school class:
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98%
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2009 Freshmen in top 25 percent of high school class:
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100%
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2009 Freshmen in top 50 percent of high school class:
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100%
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Fall 2009 High School GPA
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Percent of first-year students submitting high school GPA:
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N/A
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Average high school GPA:
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N/A
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Fall 2009 Freshmen SAT Scores
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Percent of first-year students submitting SAT scores:
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97%
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SAT Critical Reading 25th-75th percentile range:
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690-770
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SAT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
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770-800
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SAT Writing 25th-75th percentile range:
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680-770
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SAT Essay 25th-75th percentile range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 700-800 range:
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71%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 600-699 range:
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27%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 500-599 range:
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2%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 400-499 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 300-399 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 200-299 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 700-800 range:
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99%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 600-699 range:
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1%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 500-599 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 400-499 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 300-399 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 200-299 range:
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N/A
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Fall 2009 Freshmen ACT Scores
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Percent of first-year students submitting ACT scores:
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35%
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ACT English 25th-75th percentile range:
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33-35
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ACT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
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34-36
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ACT Composite 25th-75th percentile range:
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33-35
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 30-36 range:
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97%
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 24-29 range:
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3%
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 18-23 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 12-17 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores below 6:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 30-36 range:
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100%
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 24-29 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 18-23 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 12-17 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores below 6:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 30-36 range:
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100%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 24-29 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 18-23 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 12-17 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores below 6:
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N/A
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Transfer Students: California Institute of Technology
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Deadlines
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Terms for which transfer students may apply for admission:
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Fall
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Application date for transfer students:
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February 15 (Fall)
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Admission decision sent:
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May 1 (Fall)
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Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
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June 1 (Fall)
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Requirements
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Do transfer applicants need a minimum number of credits to apply?
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Yes
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Minimum required high school GPA:
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N/A
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Minimum required college GPA:
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N/A
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High school transcript?
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Required of all
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College transcript?
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Required of all
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Essay/personal statement?
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Required of all
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Admission interview?
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Not required
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Standardized test scores?
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Not required
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Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)?
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Required of all
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Lowest course grade that may be transferred for credit:
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N/A
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Maximum number of credit/courses that may be transferred:
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N/A
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Is there a minimum number of credits needed to complete degree?
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N/A
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Transfer Student Application and Enrollment Statistics
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Total number of transfer students applying for Fall 2009:
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133
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Total number of transfer students accepted for Fall 2009:
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6
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Total number of transfer students enrolled for Fall 2009:
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4
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International Student Admissions: California Institute of Technology
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Deadlines and Requirements
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Application deadline:
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January 1 (Fall)
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Preapplication form required?
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No
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Separate application form required?
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No
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TOEFL
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TOEFL requirement?
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N/A
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May the TOEFL be submitted in place of the SAT or ACT?
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No
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Minimum TOEFL score required (paper test):
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N/A
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Minimum TOEFL score required (internet test):
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N/A
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Average TOEFL score (paper test):
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N/A
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Average TOEFL score (internet test):
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N/A
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