How to Write the Caltech Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide 2024/2025

 
 

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “You know, I think I’m really looking for a school that teaches students how to launch eggs using trebuchets,” then you should probably take a look at Caltech.

Well known for its strong science and engineering programs, nestled below the San Gabriel mountains near Pasadena, and linked to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech offers aspiring STEM students a fun, beautiful place to build a foundation for their future careers.

Because of that, Caltech is a very selective school, and you’ll want to spend a good amount of time developing strong responses to its supplemental essays. To explore how, check out the guide below.

If you want to get a clearer sense of what Caltech is looking for, you can explore an extensive, by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, on its Common Data Set. 

And a note that Caltech is pretty clear and direct about what it looks for in essays and what it looks for in students.

 
 

What are the Caltech supplemental essay prompts?

2024-2025 Required Short Answers:

Your STEM Future - STEM Academic Interests

Caltech has a rigorous core curriculum and students don't declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore. *Note that you are under no obligation to follow this choice if admitted.

a) If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose?

b) Why did you choose your proposed area of interest? If you selected 'other', what topics are you interested in pursuing? (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)



Your STEM Present - STEM Curiosity

Regardless of your STEM interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever STEM rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into. Be as specific or broad as you would like. (Min: 50 / Max: 150 words)



Your STEM Past - STEM Experiences

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We are interested in learning more about your engagement with STEM.

Please share two STEM-related experiences:

a) Tell us how you initially found your interest and passion for science or any STEM topic, and how you have pursued or developed this interest or passion over time. (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

b) Tell us about a STEM-related experience from the last few years and share how and why it inspired your curiosity. (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)



Creativity in Action Question

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech's students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars. But Techers also imagine smaller-scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D-print dorm decor to experimenting in the kitchen. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250 words)



Caltech Values Question

Caltech's values include respect for a diversity of thoughts and ideas. How have you cultivated this value in your own life? (Min: 50 / Max: 200 words)



Optional Short Answer Questions

We know, we know ... you see optional and start to wonder if we mean it. But in this section, we truly do! See these as completely optional opportunities to show us more of your personality.

Optional. We promise.

  1. If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below. (Max: 150 words)

  2. When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through coding marathons, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing, reading, yoga, playing musical instruments and theater arts, to solving puzzles, hiking, painting, and building or inventing new gadgets. We understand that everyone needs an outlet or two.

    What is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy? (Max: 100 words)

  3. Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too. Tell us about another hobby or interest! (Max: 150 words)



Optional Academic Short Answer Questions

Have you had any extenuating circumstances (such as limited course selection or disruptions), that have affected your coursework, but that are not described elsewhere in your application? If so, tell us about them here.

How to Write Each Supplemental Essay Prompt for Caltech

how to write Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompt #1

a.) If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? (Select from the dropdown list provided)
(Dropdown: Please indicate your proposed area of interest at Caltech.) (Dropdown: If you have one, please indicate your second area of interest at Caltech.)

b.) Why did you choose that area of interest? (200 words max)

This is a classic “Why Major” essay.  You’ll find a step-by-step guide to writing this essay at this link, but here’s the short version:

Step #1: Imagine a mini-movie of the moments that led you to your interest in STEM and create a simple, bullet point outline.*

Step #2: Put your moments (aka the “scenes” of your mini-movie) in chronological order, as it’ll help you see how your interests developed. It also makes it easier to write transitions.

Step #3: Decide if you want to include a specific thesis that explicitly states your central argument—in this case what you want to study and why. This thesis can be at the beginning, middle, or end of your essay.

Step #4: Write a draft!

Important note before writing your response: When choosing your mini-moments, note that there’s potential for overlap in your answers to some of the other Caltech prompts, so consider carefully which experiences you’ll focus on for each prompt to avoid redundancy in your answers. Since this is Caltech, with an obvious emphasis on... tech, it’s possible the prompts were designed this way to urge you to show depth and diversity in your STEM interests and experiences.

Here’s a great example (written for another school but also applicable here).

Example:

I fell in love with computers at nine when I learned how to make a graphical turtle crawl across the screen, and I’ve written code every week since. I am self-taught in nine programming languages (my favorite is C++), which I learned through iteration and persistence. Teaching advanced algorithms at a programming bootcamp for the past two years allowed me to share my love of computer science with others.

My interest in CS runs deep—from studying memory virtualization to the beauty of the B-Tree O(log n) search algorithm. Writing protein folding simulations for my biology teacher peaked my interest in computational science. Building real-world machine learning models during each of the last two summers expanded my awareness of the types of problems computers can help solve.

Over the years, though, I have shaped a focus: security. In the process of running multiple servers, developing custom security software, and configuring the switching and routing for a 96-computer network, I became fascinated with the challenge of creating secure systems. Software has found its way into all aspects of our lives, creating staggering risks to privacy and security. These are problems I want to study, understand, and solve. (196 words)

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Take the reader on your journey. Did you feel the author practically grab your hand and pull you along the exhilarating ride of their lifelong love affair with computers? Each paragraph is chock full of the myriad ways they’ve engaged with their object of desire. You get a great picture of the student’s skills and accomplishment, as well as their self-motivated pursuit of their passion.

  2. Let your geek flag fly. This writer exudes about memory virtualization and the B-Tree O(log n) search algorithm, knowing they’re talking to leaders in the field (and who knows, potentially future collaborators!). Knowledge of specialized language is a great way to demonstrate fit to major, so feel free to use lingo as you normally would to show you know your stuff.

  3. Share why you care. This essay isn’t just a list of all the things the student has done. It’s a reflection of why computers matter to them and what they plan to do with them. You hear that they value sharing knowledge with others and see themselves using computers to solve real-world problems. Find those “mini-movie moments” to show how you’ve fallen in love with your field of interest over time.

  4. Look ahead. “Why Major” essays are the natural place to talk about potential future careers, if you know what you want to pursue. Even if you don’t know yet, you can still end the essay by looking forward to how the major you’re interested in will prepare you for life after college.

how to write Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompt #2

Regardless of your STEM interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever STEM rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into. Be as specific or broad as you would like. (Min: 50 / Max: 150 words)

Here’s a chance to celebrate your nerdy side.

Are you a student that gets so excited talking or thinking about photovoltaic efficiency that you don’t even notice the sun going down?

Great. Here’s your chance to dive in and show us.

And a note that while they do directly say “be as specific or broad as you would like,” writing well and being broad can be difficult to do simultaneously. You can try if you want. But we’ve generally found that picking something specific that gets you excited and curious is easier to build an essay around.

Check out this example, about one high school experience.

Example:

In my ROP Manufacturing Engineering Technology Course, I’m learning about the application of math in manufacturing. We’ve worked on isometrics, including drawing the different views of a 3D object and solving the missing dimensions. Now, I’ve begun learning g-code for CNC mill programming: first linear interpolation then circular interpolation. I’ve loved thinking through what a machine would do step by step, and I feel great accomplishment when my program finally runs correctly. I wrote a program to carve out my own design of a camera with a heart in the lens. Currently, I’m learning Mastercam CAD/CAM software. I can’t wait to take the Advanced course in the Spring semester to further pursue engineering fundamentals. (115 words)

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Focus on clarity and specificity. While hooks can be great, you’ll want to be pretty stingy with your word count for this essay. The above example dives straight in, clearly setting up the experience for the reader with the first lines (and using the specificity of the experience to be a little hook-like). Then, it gets into some nice, specific detail regarding what the student did, and why the experience matters. Notice how much the language focuses on clarity and detail.

  2. Show your chops. This example shows the student doing some higher-level STEM work. It gets into complex, interesting experiences in a (focused) range of areas, using language that may not mean much to the average reader but that shows they’ve already started developing the scientific chops they’ll need at Caltech.

  3. Connect to your values through reflection. We refer to this as the “so what” element of the essay—above, some of the word count toward the end is devoted to helping the reader understand why this experience was meaningful. This reflection on meaning is something that the essay above has, and could have done even more so with some of the remaining word count. Be sure to spend some time exploring why the details and experiences you’ve discussed connect to some of your core values by reflecting on what they’ll allow you to pursue or explore, and why those things matter to you. Consider linking to specific, dynamic problems you’re interested in working on.

Here’s a bonus essay we love, written for another school (and a longer word count), but a great example of how to repurpose other essays to fit multiple prompts. 

Example: 

At the Biotechnology Open House at Santiago Canyon College, I participated in gel electrophoresis, separating red, blue, and purple dyes by running current through the gel with the buffer solution. The purple dye separated into two bands of blue and red. Observing that the red moved farther than the blue, I concluded that the molecules were smaller and moved through the gel quicker. After learning that electrophoresis is even used to separate DNA, I had the opportunity to extract DNA from my cheek cells. I was amazed to see my own genetic blueprint in a tube! These experiments excited me to learn more about how biology and engineering can create pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and environmental products to benefit society. (118 words)

— — —

how to write Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompt #3

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We are interested in learning more about your engagement with STEM. Please share two STEM-related experiences:

a) Tell us how you initially found your interest and passion for science or any STEM topic, and how you have pursued or developed this interest or passion over time. (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

b) Tell us about a STEM-related experience from the last few years and share how and why it inspired your curiosity. (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

Caltech wants a bright, curious, independent student body. It’s looking for intellectual vitality, and this essay is your opportunity to show that side of yourself. 

What about STEM gets you fired up and why? 

You can talk about one of those school or pet projects that you just can’t get enough of, that make your mind spin about the big questions and dream up the answers. Think about things that have inspired you to go down research rabbit holes, that have motivated you to take action, or that have enhanced your understanding of a subject. Choose experiences that genuinely pique your curiosity. Don’t pick something just because you think Caltech will like it. Genuine interest is both easy to write about and hard to fake! 

Check out this example about one high school experience (it would have to be shortened to meet this year’s lower word count).

Example:

When I was doing customer research for my chemistry practice website, I came across another, much larger issue with education: the lack of personalized learning. It stuck with me. I knew if I could create a solution, I would be helping many students, like my friends, reach their goals. Also, the idea of an engine that can recommend lessons based on your learning style just seemed super cool. As I dug deeper into the issue, I realized I didn’t have the skills to even scratch the surface. So I started developing what I needed to build a system that recommends lessons based on learning style.

On my own time, I learned about machine learning algorithms, from linear regressions to k-nearest neighbor classifiers, and whenever I could I applied these skills on mini research projects—finding trends, then using data to create an algorithm that predicts other data. At school, I took a rigorous machine learning course where one of my final projects was using data from Portuguese schools to analyze what factors lead to good grades. 

Looking ahead, I’m hoping to study computational neuroscience to properly know how the brain solidifies connections and recalls information. With the two together, I could create a model of how a person learns based on different stimuli, and recommend different lessons based on the stimuli. I still have quite a bit to learn, but if I manage it, it could have a powerful impact on the educations of students around the world. (247 words)

— — —

Tips + Analysis

  1. Identify the problem. The core of STEM is problem-solving—tackling some of society’s great challenges. Let your response show how you think and how you approach problems and solutions. The problem could be something global, like an environmental issue, or more individual, like the lack of personalized learning this student chose to address. Get your reader engaged in your curiosity by describing the impact of the problem or what it would mean if you could resolve it. Then dive into talking about a project or experience that allowed you to explore that issue. Bonus points if you can describe an outcome you’ve already achieved.

  2. Show initiative. This student got curious about personalized learning and then taught themselves the skills needed to build the learning system they envisioned. This is the kind of self-starting innovation we believe Caltech is looking for. How have you pursued the subjects that pique your curiosity?

  3. Use an extracurricular: We love how this student used this essay as an opportunity to elaborate on an extracurricular: building a chemistry practice website. If this prompt stumps you, look to your Activities List for inspiration!

  4. Focus on the future: What takes this essay to the next level is the final paragraph. The student is doing two things: 1) transforming the issue (impersonal education) into a learning goal (“how the brain solidifies connections and recalls information”) and an action item (“[creating] a model of a how a person learns based on different stimuli, and recommend different lessons based on the stimuli”), and 2) stating a professional goal—make a “powerful impact on the education of students around the world.” This is a high-level maneuver and an inspiring way to stick the landing. 

Here’s a bonus essay we love, written for another school (and a longer word count), but a great example of how to repurpose other essays to fit multiple prompts.

Example:

I am fascinated by patterns. Learning the art of writing Chinese characters taught me to pay attention to a pattern’s reference points, where deeper meaning lies. My favorite character, XIAO, from the word XIAOSHUN, visualizes a central tenet of Confucianism: the lifelong supporting relationship between parent and child. The top part, LAO, means old. The bottom part, ZI, means son. Mandarin, like many other ancient languages, provides a code of behavior. 

During quarantine, I enrolled in IBM's AI For Everyone and Harvard's CS50 on edX and traveled down a TED rabbit hole. While intriguing to learn that each emoji is made up of patterns like this: 11111011000000010, I was captured by the human applications technology like AI provides. With AI’s pending impacts worldwide, I feel driven to ensure society doesn't experience potentially harmful implications of technology. 

How do we embed universally ethical reference points in algorithms for AI to exhibit empathy, recognizing XIAO encourages a relationship of support? 

Humans and machines have processing limitations. In his research paper, Linguistics Professor John Whitman taught me that grammar, typically regionally similar, immensely influences humans’ cognition abilities. AI’s applications will be universal, so likewise, its grammar or code must be universal. By learning how people segment information and optimizing this cross-cultural data in a beneficial way, algorithms’ limitations will be reduced. If ethically structured, AI will inherently learn to reflect moral behaviors. 

While it’s a big task to construct an ethical and empathetic AI, I believe I will find the tools at Stanford. (250 words)

— — —

And here’s another example, though it would need to be significantly shortened.

Example:

Artificial Intelligence fascinates me as a technology and a tool. Although AI relies on underlying algorithms and a defined goal, when fed data within those constraints, it can produce unexpected, unpredictable outcomes. AI forms uncommon connections within large datasets, making it seem like the technology itself is thinking outside the box. In reality, this is a result of AI continually making data-based complex, unbiased decisions based on data without fatigue. This capability of AI most intrigues me.

Spotify’s music recommendations and Instagram’s user-specific posts feed are examples of how widely applicable AI is. My personal first hands-on exposure to AI was through Columbia University’s Summer Intensive Program, where I took Big Data, Machine Learning, and Their Real-World Uses. I learned about analyzing and modeling data, creating algorithms, regressions, trees, and neural nets, all while continually applying what I learned on my own and with others in projects and workshops. By the end of the class after a large group project that used AI to analyze climate change, I found I was deeply impressed by the potential for this technology in real-world applications. 

With my long-standing interest in music, I decided to apply the skills I learned from this course to the music industry. My idea was to give Spotify users the ability to view their top songs, artists, genres, and albums on-demand by utilizing Spotify’s API. Although the goal of my project was to present data efficiently using programming, I learned how Spotify handles streaming data and gained a newfound appreciation for Spotify's underlying algorithms and AI systems.

I plan to continue my pursuit of computer science at Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering. Courses like Intro Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning will equip me with the knowledge to understand how AI systems are created and optimized and give me the tools to later expand the scope and depth of AI usage. Additionally, I would love to pursue internships and participate in undergraduate research in Professor Jim Kyung-Soo Liew’s study of big data machine learning. At JHU I hope to follow an interdisciplinary path, focusing on CS and also branching out to business in order to foster my ability to create and come up with new ideas that have practical  applications for  the tech industry. (376 words)

— — —

how to write Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompt #4

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech's students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars. But Techers also imagine smaller-scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to how to 3D-print dorm decor to experimenting in the kitchen. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250 words)

    You don't aspire to attend Caltech if you don't have big ideas and the nerve to test them out. What have you created, invented, or innovated? What have you come up with that no one else has, whether it’s an actual invention, an idea, a process, or something else? It might be that gadget you dreamed up and hacked out the prototype for late one night. Or the improved method you developed for your team to document and share its collaborative research. Or maybe it was the summer you decided to teach yourself a new skill for each of 67 days.  Think of a time you didn't just build code in CS or work on a team in robotics, but you actually innovated—changed something for the better or brought something new into the world.

    Keeping with the novelty theme, be sure to save this experience for this prompt only and not mention it in your answers to other prompts.

    Whatever it is, this is where you get to show off a bit. They’re talking not just Nobel Prizes and Mars rovers, but smaller-scale everyday innovations like techie room decor. If you have a rockstar achievement, this is your time to bring it out and play it loud. But if you don’t, that’s not a problem for Caltech, as the prompt signals that quieter inventions are just as interesting. The question is how you’ve innovated in your own life. As we see in this example (written for a previous prompt with a longer word count), this author paved the way for herself and other young women to excel in STEM.

    Note that this example was written for an older version of the prompt with a larger word count.

    Example:

    Why are Siri, Alexa, Cortana, and Google Assistant all female? Because women are often just seen as “assistants”. Society has made some progress, but women still make up only 25 percent of STEM workers. 

    Last year I was chosen as my school’s delegate to California Girls State. Among other things, the program brought to light to me how big the gender gap really is. Women are underrepresented at every level in STEM--and the higher you go, the greater the gap. Like myself, many of the other delegates are pursuing careers in STEM, and we helped each other understand the importance of having a supportive community of intelligent, empowered young women. 

    Inspired by Girls State, I’ve become more proactive in my school and community. As Vice President of the Angel Heart Club this year, I’ve worked to recruit new members, helped organize and run meetings, and guided others on how to craft the cards we make to send to children with congenital heart disease in China. I also continue to volunteer at the hospital, helping to discharge patients, deliver food, and transport x-rays from radiology to the ER. But since Girls State, I’ve begun to take greater initiative, volunteering to cover other people’s shifts and taking on tasks that others are reluctant to, like running the tea cart to support nurses and doctors. 

    At Caltech, I would like to join Women in Physics, Math and Astronomy (WiPMA), which offers a similar supportive community. There, I will listen and interact with female scientist guest speakers, and build confidence and skills alongside my female peers. I hope to join Engineers Without Borders because I am interested in designing and implementing sustainable engineering projects. After working with the H20 for Life Club, I am aware of the global water crisis and would love to get involved in the current project of establishing a spring water source protection system that will help provide clean water for about 300 households in the surrounding Ilam District of Nepal. 

    I would also like to get involved in Caltech Chemistry Club, demonstrating my love of chemistry and inspiring young children about the wonders of science. I would also like to listen to faculty members discuss career options in the field of chemistry and the yearly guest speaker talk about current innovative chemical research.   

    I want to be the boss, not just an assistant. I believe Caltech can help. (399 words)

    — — —

    Tips + Analysis

    1. Grab ’em at the start and pull ’em right along. This example has a pretty rad hook. It provokes with an engaging query and sets up the theme of the essay—empowering women in STEM. Then the clear topic sentences guide the reader through the main points. It’s possible, perhaps likely, that your reader will be reading quickly to the point of skimming. Because of this, structural elements like clear topic sentences help ensure the reader doesn’t miss anything important or feel lost. This student also does a nice job bookending the final lines.

    2. Get specific. The author details each of the ways she created more opportunities for herself and others, from representing her school at Girls State and gaining new skills at the hospital to recruiting new members to the community organization she leads. Describe your role and actions in detail.

    3. Show why it matters. In every essay, you want to answer the question, “So what?” Why were you moved to create in this way? What problem did you want to solve, or who did you want to affect and how? How is the world a better place thanks to your inventiveness? Now that you’ve done this thing, what’s the impact? When your reader is invested in your intention, they’ll celebrate your accomplishment. And you for sure want them cheering for you.

    4. Make the match. Because the previous prompt additionally asked students to identify how they hoped to innovate with their Caltech peers, this author described the campus clubs she hoped to get involved with. But it never hurts to smuggle in a few “Why us?” elements into your essays, establishing why your interests and abilities are a perfect fit for Caltech. Naming specific courses, programs, activities, or professors’ work you’re interested in exploring shows you’ve done your research and discovered how the school specifically offers what you want in an education. While it isn’t necessary for this prompt, if you want to level-up in this way, you can read more about how to do it at the link above.

    how to write Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompt #5

    Caltech's values include respect for a diversity of thoughts and ideas. How have you cultivated this value in your own life? (Min: 50 / Max: 200 words)

    For this prompt, Caltech is directly highlighting one of their core values (respect for and engaging with a diversity of thought and ideas), and giving students an opportunity to show how they align with Caltech. 

    An older version of this prompt talked about valuing an openness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged, and that could still be a useful frame for this new version: are there ways that you have engaged with others that have shifted how you see things? 

    To learn more about this type of diversity prompt (experience or conversation with someone who is different from you), you can also check out this guide to answering diversity prompts.

    And a note that this prompt might be in response to the Supreme Court decision on affirmative action, to which Caltech responded that they “remain committed to pedagogical and research practices that engage, motivate, and support students from all backgrounds.” 

    By upholding these values, Caltech could be looking to see how future students hope to uphold these same values. While you don’t have to touch specifically on race, if there was a time when you’ve worked with others from a different background or upbringing from you, or if you’ve worked to give help expand the opportunities available to others,  you might consider responding to this prompt by exploring some of the following: 

    • Give the reader some context. The reader will want to know what the context is–who are you interacting with, for what purposes, and how have the experiences of the people you’re mentioning been different from yours? Setting this up will allow you to illustrate the situation first, then expand on the experience later with what you learned, which brings us to…

    • Don’t forget to focus on what you learned. As with many/most other essays, focus on what you learned from this experience of interacting with others; this will highlight your growth, how you view the world, and how you’ll be able to contribute to a diverse community at Caltech. 

    • Don’t be afraid to acknowledge differences. This prompt specifically asks you to address your respect for diversity of thoughts and ideas. It’s OK, and even encouraged, to acknowledge these differences, which shows the reader your awareness of those with different backgrounds and how you still created a community with those around you. 

    • Don’t think you have to write about a knee-jerk issue and a blow-up here. You can. But the point of this prompt is essentially to help a college see the kind of student you will be in a classroom—can you engage with people who disagree with you in ways that lead to productive discussions rather than just shouting or conflict. (See Tips below for more on this.)

    • Focus more on the engagement, change, and growth than on the conflict. How you engaged on the issue, what you learned, and how you grew are far more important to your readers here than the conflict itself. You can plan on spending fairly little word count on the conflict/topic, so that you can spend most of your time exploring some deeper whys.

    Here’s an example that was written for a different school but could work well with word count cuts.

    Example:

    I probably argue with my grandfather more than I do with most other people combined. It’s not because we’re at odds. We just have different perspectives, influenced by our experiences—his as a life-long resident of India, mine as a first-generation American. 

    One pretty common argument we have is over Eastern vs. Western medicine. My solution to a headache, for example, is to take Advil. His is to rub Tiger Balm on his forehead and coconut oil on the soles of his feet. I try to convince him of the benefits of taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, describing how it can reduce inflammation by blocking the production of certain chemicals. He tries to convince me that the balm creates a cooling effect, distracting the brain from pain and relaxing the muscles. Rather than becoming sore at or resentful of each other, we’ve grown closer through these debates, and I’ve learned how to disagree without letting the situation get acrimonious.

    Through these interactions, I’ve learned that a discussion shouldn’t be confrontational. The purpose isn’t to win, but to share my knowledge with the other party and learn from them as well. So rather than saying, “Rubbing balm on your forehead is stupid; you should just take Advil,” I say, “While rubbing balm on your forehead seems to work, I’ve noticed that taking an Advil has a stronger and more immediate effect.” Respecting the opposing party makes them more willing to hear you out. 

    I’ve also learned there’s a fine line between logic and emotion. I try not to take personally the things my grandfather says in an argument. Just because he doesn’t think taking Advil is the better solution doesn’t mean he thinks I’m stupid. If I take it that way, we begin to move away from what the argument really was about—the facts. 

    I’ll continue to apply these learnings in discussions and debates I have with others, realizing that having  a “successful argument” isn’t about winning. It’s about sharing my opinion and learning from theirs, expanding our perspectives without alienating each other. (340 words)

    — — —

    Tips + Analysis

    1. Show your stance. One common fear with these “differing opinion” supplemental essays is that the admissions officer reading it may not agree with your stance or belief. This is actually not the point of these essays. Many colleges have opted to ask this question because of widespread public concern around free speech on college campuses, and requests from their college leadership (such as the Board of Trustees) to identify students who are willing to listen to multiple viewpoints. And this prompt and Caltech’s own website help illustrate their institutional goals around free speech. Given this, a student’s response is more powerful when they specifically clarify that their own position is, rather than sticking to vague terminology so that the reader will see them as “neutral.” Otherwise, you run the risk of coming off as apathetic or indifferent, which lessens the meaning and significance of your example. Here, this student gives specific examples of their support for Western medicine. Sure, it’s not the most controversial opinion, but again, that’s not necessarily the goal! You can choose any opinion, so long as it demonstrates your values and beliefs and a change in how you approach dialogue.

    2. Unveil your “software update.” You know when your phone annoyingly lets you know that you have to install a critical software update to use your favorite app (and you’re like… ugh, bruh, it was working fine before)? Well, in this case, the admissions officer is actually actively craving that update notification. They want to know specifically how your approach has changed when navigating differing opinions. This student does exactly that by using actual quotations: “So rather than saying, ‘Rubbing balm on your forehead is stupid; you should just take Advil,’ I say, ‘While rubbing balm on your forehead seems to work, I’ve noticed that taking an Advil has a stronger and more immediate effect.’” The “2.0” version of this student is more advanced, more sophisticated, and more willing to tackle complex “bugs”—without corrupting someone else’s data. Whether you quote yourself or not, be sure to use this essay as a chance to unveil  “You 2.0” to colleges. 

    3. Be willing to be wrong. We can learn as much from our failures as we do from our successes. In fact, sometimes, it says more about us when we’re willing to be vulnerable enough to admit we’re wrong—or, at least, not entirely right. This student echoes that point, acknowledging it “isn’t about winning.” Instead, having viewpoints that are different from those he respects and admires helped him learn about balancing logic and emotion as well as practice the art of listening.

    how to write Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompt #6

    Optional: If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them below. (Max: 150 words)

    Have you said everything you need to say to help Caltech make a decision about you? Are there any aspects of your life or your experiences that haven’t come out so far in your other essays? This essay is optional, but you might use it to share about a learning difference, your long-standing love affair with the upright bass, the particular impact a certain relationship has had on your learning journey. If there’s an aspect of your identity that you haven’t shared, this is the place to highlight it. 

    Although this prompt is new for Caltech this year, here’s an essay written for a similar prompt for MIT that works well.

    Examples:

    My great-grandpa’s eyes twinkle as my 5-year-old self struggles to stir the giant pot of cioppino. Like this traditional seafood dish, I too am an Italian-American originating from California. 

    My very loud family crowds my house each holiday, relegating me to an air mattress, a sacrifice I’m more than willing to make. The rooms fill with stories and laughter as we down pizzelles and compete in a cutthroat cookie-decorating contest.

    Likewise, my California beginnings, though brief, had a sizable impact on my life. I was a year old when we left, but California’s adventurous culture is part of my identity, reinforced by annual trips to visit relatives. From hiking San Jacinto Peak, to days at Disneyland, where my grandparents and mom worked, each excursion left me giddily exhausted.

    The true centerpiece of our get-togethers isn’t the cioppino, but the stories and experiences that connect us as family. (147 words)

    — — —

    Tips + Analysis

    1. Delight with detail. Great-grandpa’s “eyes twinkle” as a 5-year-old stirs a pot of cioppino. The kids sleep on air mattresses when the family comes. They eat pizzelles and hike San Jacinto Peak. (Pro tip: Proper nouns catch the reader's eye and almost always add unique and interesting info.) The specificity in this answer conveys precise data about multiple aspects of this student’s identity (Italian-American, big family, California roots).

    2. Values, values, values. This essay enthralls with food and fun, but ii’s ultimately talking about the importance of family and knowing where you come from. Why is it important to you to share this piece of your identity? Why do you value it, and why should Caltech? 

    3. Reflect, reflect, reflect. Notice how the final lines of this essay evince the student’s capacity for self-reflection. We believe this is a highly-prized quality that Caltech and all schools are looking for because it shows maturity and higher-order thinking. By zooming out on what you’ve shared, you’ll want to ask yourself: What’s the meaning that you find in it?

    how to write Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompt #7

    Optional: When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through coding marathons, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing, reading, yoga, playing musical instruments and theater arts, to solving puzzles, hiking, painting, and building or inventing new gadgets. We understand that everyone needs an outlet or two. What is a favorite interest or hobby, and why does it bring you joy? (Max: 200 words)

    How to pick a topic:

    Choose something that actually brings you joy. 

    In seven other essays, you’ve already bragged about your accomplishments and submitted your resume in paragraph form. You don’t have to sound serious or perfect here. What are you really into?

    Note that you can explore something related to STEM here, but this might be a good chance to show what you use as “an outlet” (as Caltech puts it). 

    Don’t mislead or exaggerate! If you truly love doing this thing, it’ll show. And that in turn will tell something interesting and important about you. Take a look at your brainstorming work and see whether there are any random/odd/fun parts of you that haven’t yet made their way into your application.

    Here are some example essays with tips + analysis:

    Example:

    Whispers and giggles in the dark. I step on a knee and climb up to the blue awnings above the elementary school playground. Lying flat on our backs with eyes pointed to the sky, we are eager for a glimpse of the twinkling lights above. Surrounded by my best friends, my squad, my people, my family—I never feel more at home. Free from the world below, nothing is off-limits. Our hopes, dreams, and fears are shared as the stars reflect off our eyes. 

    Other times I contemplate the stars in solitude. My mind quiets, the wheels stop churning, and I am alone with my thoughts. Staring up at the night sky filled with balls of burning gas, I realize those stars are a window into the past—millions of years ago. My brain immediately wanders to what Earth was like when those stars were still burning. Humans weren’t roaming. The ideas I love to analyze were not yet conceived. The history books I love to read weren’t written. Human history, our history, hadn’t even started. 

    For that magical moment, lying there and gazing up at those stars, I can catch my breath. I escape from a world that only seems to get busier and more stressful every day. Looking up in wonder, I feel nothing but peace. Stargazing brings me joy. (220 words)

    — — —

    Tips + Analysis

    1.  Sprinkle in details that show more values. This student does a great job of sprinkling in details that illustrate even more values beyond what they might’ve already shared. They write about stargazing in relation to being surrounded by loved ones (values: maybe close connections, family, friendship, or community), but also in solitude, the ability to wonder and contemplate while alone—showing yet more sides of them that may have not been as apparent in other areas of their application.  

    2. Sneak in other interests. While stargazing is the main focus of this essay, this student finds a way to connect this topic to the history books they love to read, signaling yet another non-STEM related interest. Mentioning this shows not only their intellectual curiosity, but well-roundedness (though again, for Caltech, STEM is first and foremost). 

    3. Experiment with structure. You might notice that this student doesn’t directly name “stargazing” as what brings them joy until the very end. In fact, they only use the word once in the entire essay! The key to making this work is leaving enough clues early on so that the reader can pinpoint the activity pretty quickly (they talk about looking up at the sky, the stars, balls of burning gas). Whether you decide to name the topic at the very beginning like the other example essays, or at the end like this one, or maybe even in the middle, try experimenting with structure to see what works for you. You might surprise yourself.

    Example:

    Hirigana’s grace, katakana’s vigor, kanji’s wisdom.

    Hand-lettering these Japanese scripts in a Kyoto calligraphy class showed me typography’s power to elicit emotion. I found thrilling nuance in the tiniest details, from the precision spacing of raised ink onto washi to the personality injected through stylized kamon. This glimpse sparked my obsession with how fonts can subconsciously shape our perceptions and decisions.

    I started noticing typography’s silent hand everywhere—in PowerPoint’s default Calibri telegraphing monotony; in my favorite book covers’ fluid hand-lettering whispering imagination. Diving into research papers and TED talks on font psychology, I learned how our split-second reactions to typefaces are informed by biases like the availability heuristic—judging a font’s meaning by the ease of associating it with past experiences (hence why I feel like a 5-year-old when reading something in Comic Sans). 

    Soon I was conducting my own experiments, probing into how design choices engage audiences. While refining Codin’s app interface, I was eager to iteratively A/B test not just layouts but subtle typographic elements—provoking amused head shakes from my team when I insisted on quantitatively evaluating the "spark joy" levels of various fonts. I also began leveraging typefaces to craft the narrative of my videos—using modern serifs to connote progress in how-to tutorials and whimsical scripts to evoke wanderlust in travelogues.

    And now, the detective-like thrill of uncovering the hidden messages conveyed in the typefaces all around us—from highway billboards to restaurant menus—has trained my mind to find joy in the subtle details. (246 words)

    — — —

    Tips + Analysis

    1. Continue to “nerd out”. Just because you’re not talking about the STEM subject you’re passionate about doesn’t mean you can’t continue to nerd out. This student mentions diving into research papers, listening to TED talks, and conducting their own experiments. This not only showcases the student’s excitement, but also shows us the level of dedication to something they’re deeply interested in. 

    2. Weave in your experiences. This student works in a variety of their previous experiences, from a Kyoto calligraphy class, to A/B testing, to video creation. While some of these may have shown up in their activities list or additional information section (or maybe even none at all), weaving in relevant experiences could either give readers a glimpse into a new side of your life, or at least gives readers the backstory for how some of these more unique activities came to be and how they mesh together. 

    3. Tie the joy to another quality or skill. The student centers a majority of their essay on their interest in typography, giving us examples for how they’ve explored the topic. However, this student concludes their example with this line: “…uncovering the hidden messages conveyed in the typefaces all around us… has trained my mind to find joy in the subtle details.” By writing about this interest and sprinkling hints throughout (e.g. “thrilling nuance in the tiniest details”, “typography’s silent hand”, “detective-like thrill of uncovering hidden messages”), they have also been able to call attention to their skill of being detail-oriented. 

    And here’s one more example…

    Example:

    In climbing, if you’re trying hard, you spend a lot more time falling down than actually going up; more time at the bottom looking up than at the top looking down. It’s a sport that requires patience and perseverance, and where failure means you’re pushing yourself. Apart from incredible physical strength, climbing requires technique and being able to quickly solve puzzles--reading routes. I suppose that is why I love it. Everything I do, I go full-throttle. Climbing pushes me to break down mental and physical barriers. I enjoy finding solutions to problems, putting the puzzle pieces together, reading the moves on a climb. I can work on something hard for weeks, months even, to finally see it come together perfectly. I read the route, try the beta, fall often, reevaluate, and try a different approach. The only way I get better is by trying routes so hard that I fall. (150 words)

    — — —

    how to write Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompt #8

    Optional: Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too. Tell us about another hobby or interest! (Max: 150 words)

    Wind it up and do it again! This time in fewer words.

    Special thanks to Elica for contributing to this post.

    Elica (she/her) is a college essay specialist who has a love of language in all forms; she has degrees in linguistics, has taught academic writing at the university level, and has been coaching students on their college and graduate school admissions essays for over 7 years. When she’s not working with students or writing, Elica can be found reading, printmaking, and exploring nature. 

    Top Values: Collaboration | Curiosity | Patience