Why is Caltech so special?

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.

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.

Why is Caltech so prestigious?

Due to its history of technological innovation, Caltech has been considered to be one of the world's most prestigious universities.

Do only geniuses go to Caltech?

The hard truth is that hard work and passion are not enough alone; there's no denying that different people have different levels of intelligence and to get to that level, you need some raw talent. But no, you definitely do not to need to be a genius, for the reason that most people at Caltech and MIT are not geniuses.

What is Caltech best for?

In addition to its undergraduate studies, Caltech offers top graduate programs in engineering and areas of science including biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, mathematics and physics.

MIT Pros & Cons vs Caltech (+ why I didn't apply to MIT) 🦫

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 or MIT harder?

Is Caltech Harder to Get Into Than MIT? Both of these schools are equally difficult to get admitted into. And, as you may have already known, both schools are remarkably challenging and competitive.

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.

What is the most popular major at Caltech?

The most popular majors at California Institute of Technology include: Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians; Physical Sciences; Mathematics and Statistics; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Business, Management, Marketing, and Related ...

Did Einstein visit Caltech?

Albert Einstein (1879–1955) was a visiting scientist at Caltech on three separate occasions in the early 1930s. Seventy years later, his presence was officially restored at Caltech in the summer of 2000 through the Einstein Papers Project's installation on campus.

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 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 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 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.

What kind of students get into Caltech?

You'll need a rigorous academic record to get into Caltech. Aim for a weighted GPA of 4.19 and SAT/ACT scores of 1570 and 36. Competitive applicants also take academically challenging courses, such as AP or IB courses, and demonstrate their passion for STEM in their admission essays and extracurricular activities.

Is it easier to get into Caltech or MIT?

MIT's is 4%, while Caltech's is slightly lower at 6%.

Don't read too much into this small difference. To raise your chances of getting into either Caltech or MIT, you'll need to have an impressive application, with a high GPA and strong test scores.

Is UCLA better than Caltech?

UCLA's World Reputation Ranking of 2020 is 9^th while California Institute of Technology was placed at 12^th position.

Which is better Caltech or Harvard?

Caltech is a small science- and engineering oriented school, well known for its academic rigor. If you want to study engineering, arguably, Caltech may be considered a better school. If you want to study business or liberal arts, Harvard is probably a better place.

Is Caltech an elite school?

While the Ivy League universities are certainly impressive, there are other elite universities in the United States, for example: Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Duke University, and the University of Chicago.

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.

Is 145 IQ a genius?

130 to 144: Moderately gifted. 145 to 159: Highly gifted. 160 to 179: Exceptionally gifted. 180 and up: Profoundly gifted.

Is 130 IQ a genius?

According to a quick Google search, an IQ of 130 puts you in the top 2% of the population. This is relatively close to what it takes to get into Mensa (which requires 132 on one particular type of IQ test).

What is the rival school of Caltech?

The college rivalry between the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stems from the colleges' reputations as the top science and engineering schools in the United States.

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.

Where do Caltech graduates go?

Our alumni community

As a graduate of Caltech, you'll join an active alumni community of more than 24,000 around the world. Some of our newest alumni are headed to Meta, SpaceX, a wide variety of prestigious research labs and grad schools, and one will even work as an EMT before medical school.