How rigorous is Caltech?

Caltech is hard. We will challenge you to think in new and innovative ways. And we expect you to prepare for that challenge by taking a strong curriculum in high school. In your first year, you'll start our core curriculum, which builds a foundation for all our majors. Showing 6 records.

Is Caltech very hard?

Caltech is hard. Our coursework will push you outside your comfort zone, even if STEM is your comfort zone.

Is Caltech tougher than MIT?

Caltech and MIT are similarly competitive.

As for standardized test scores, Caltech averages are slightly higher than those at MIT, despite MIT's higher rankings. At Caltech, the average SAT score is a1545 and the average ACT score is a perfect 36. At MIT, the average SAT score is 1545 and the average ACT score is 35.

How stressful is Caltech?

While striving to do well in their classes, many reported feelings of stress, anxiety, and even depression. So what does this mean for the Caltech community? For undergrads, it's validation of their hard work and time management skills.

How many hours do Caltech students study?

As a Caltech student, you'll take an average course load of about 45 units each 10-week term. That may sound like a lot, but if you think of a typical course as three hours of class time and six hours of homework per week, that's a nine-unit class.

Asking Caltech Students If They Ever Sleep

What percent of Caltech is athletes?

Approximately 25 percent of Caltech undergraduates participate in intercollegiate athletics and over 80 percent participate in some form of organized athletic competition each year.

What is campus life like at Caltech?

Caltech is a small, collaborative community, where faculty, postdoctoral scholars, students, and staff from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences live, work, and engage with one another.

What is the average IQ in Caltech?

"It's the rare Caltech student whose IQ falls below 130," explained Psychologist Weir. "The average is somewhere around 140." (A classification amounting to "very superior.") To single out the elite of this exceptional group, M.I.T. and Caltech are looking for something beyond pure IQ.

Why is Caltech so prestigious?

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions and pressing societal challenges.

Is it harder to get into Caltech or Harvard?

Pretty much equally hard. Some may find that they get rejected by Harvard, but get accepted by Caltech. Some may find that they got rejected by Stanford, but get accepted by Yale.

Is Caltech for geniuses?

Yes, some of our applicants are extraordinary students who have already done extraordinary things. But the vast majority of students admitted to Caltech are exceptional STEM students who are at the beginning of their journey to accomplish the extraordinary.

What is the hardest major at Caltech?

The Chemical Engineering major has a lot of requirements which makes it difficult. The classes for the Math major are very high level math courses, so you need to have an aptitude for math. I'd say chemical engineering in terms of the sheer amount of work.

Is Caltech better than Oxford?

Overall, throughout the ranking's history, Oxford has finished first eight times, including every year since 2017. Caltech has topped the list five times, while Harvard has once.

How smart are Caltech students?

If you look at the average SAT scores and average high school GPA, Caltech has the smartest students on average of any university in the US, and probably of any university in the world. MIT is not very far behind. However, this is on average.

What kind of student goes to Caltech?

Creativity. Caltech sits at the intersection of curiosity and creativity. Techers possess many traits, but the way they blend these may be most universal. You want to know how things work for their own sake.

Can an average student get into Caltech?

According to U.S. News, Caltech is considered a highly competitive school with an acceptance rate of 7%. Just over 8,000 students applied for the Caltech Class of 2024. Of those applicants, the Caltech total enrollment was only 244 students. The Caltech average GPA ranges from 3.9 – 4.19.

Why does Caltech accept so few people?

First off, since Caltech is so small, it doesn't need to accept that many people to fill up it freshmen class. 900 undergrads total, so admissions needs around 240 students to come each year. Caltech would not be served better by encouraging tons more people to apply or by admitting more people.

Why Caltech over MIT?

While Caltech and MIT are amongst the best places in the world to study technology-related fields, Caltech leans a tad stronger on physics, science, and astronomy. At the same time, MIT has a slightly superior computer science and engineering education.

Why is Caltech so hard to get into?

With a GPA of 4.19, Caltech requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

Is 135 IQ a genius?

115 to 129: Above average or bright. 130 to 144: Moderately gifted. 145 to 159: Highly gifted. 160 to 179: Exceptionally gifted.

Is an IQ of 140 smart?

A low IQ score is anything 70 and below. A low score and other indicators might suggest that a person has an intellectual disability. Anything over 140 is considered a genius IQ score. 2 For context, while there is no evidence that he was ever tested, is it estimated that Albert Einstein had a score of around 160.

Is 500 IQ smart?

Presuming someone actually had a 500 IQ, they would be so smart that we almost can't even imagine it. Accomplishments of such a person would most likely include: Easily completing multiple PhDs before the average person would even graduate elementary school.

Is Caltech worth the money?

Based on its ranking and cost, California Institute of Technology is in the very top category of high-value schools. First and foremost, Caltech is already one of the best colleges in the nation, and often this means world-class opportunities that are well worth the cost.

What is unique about Caltech?

Caltech is very research-focused, with 90% of undergraduates participating in opportunities like the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF), Amgen Scholars, and many others, in which students conduct research under the guidance of faculty and graduate mentors.

What do Caltech students do for fun?

Caltech has over 100 official student-led clubs and organizations. Alpine Skiing, Quizbowl, cultural identity organizations, robotics, and the Cheese Society are just a few of our offerings. There's even a Turtle Club.