Alright, future Techers! If you're eyeing Caltech, you probably already know it’s a hotbed of innovation and scientific exploration. The supplemental essays are your chance to showcase your passion for STEM and your personality, so let’s get into how to make them shine without rehashing your school transcript and activities list in essay form.

Caltech wants to see your STEM journey—your past, present, and future—and they’re totally here for your nerdy side. So grab your lab coats (or… erm… pocket protectors?), and let’s break down those prompts

1. Your STEM Future: Academic Interests

If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why? (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

This is your moment to preach to the choir about what lights your scientific fire! (Rhyme not intended.) Pick one or two areas of STEM that you’re excited about—maybe it’s robotics, bioengineering, or astrophysics. Be specific about what draws you in. Is it the thrill of solving complex problems? The potential to change lives with technology?

Make it personal. If you’ve engaged in projects or research outside the standard highschool coursework, mention them! Caltech loves specificity, so don’t just say you love physics; talk about a specific experiment you conducted or a project that sparked your interest. Remember, this is just a snapshot of your current interest—you’re not locked into this choice forever, so let your enthusiasm shine through.

2. Your STEM Present: Curiosity

Take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever STEM rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into. (Min: 50 / Max: 150 words)

Here’s your chance to get playful! What STEM topic has captivated you lately? Maybe you stumbled upon a fascinating research paper about CRISPR technology or binge-watched every episode of "Cosmos." Share what you learned and why it matters to you.

Be genuine… Don’t worry about whether your obsession makes sense to others—Caltech’s faculty will appreciate your passion. Your first essay was about an area of interest—something with the breadth of a discipline or subdiscipline—here, you are free to keep it narrow and go deep… This is about showcasing your curiosity, so dive into that rabbit hole (or wormhole, as the case may be)!

3. Your STEM Past: Experiences

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 over time. (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

Reflect on your STEM origin story! What was the lightbulb moment when you realized science was your jam? Maybe it was a science fair project or an inspiring teacher. Maybe your parents are engineers and you did your darndest to rebel but dang it… you can’t not love engineering! Outline your journey and how you've pursued this passion since then.

Then, for the second part of this prompt, share specific ways that you pursued this interest. What they don’t want to read (even between the lines) is, well, my parents say that a career in STEM is the only way I’ll ever be successful. The professors (!!) reading these applications want to see that you are seeking out opportunities to deepen your involvement in STEM. You might have sought out an internship, a research project, or even a class that you turned into an independent study the following semester. Show how this experience inspired you to dive deeper into your STEM interests.

If you haven’t had a ton of opportunities handed to you on a silver platter, don’t fret! The key here is to show that you went beyond what was readily handed to you because you had the itch to pursue your interests even further. 

4. Creativity in Action

How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (Min: 200 / Max: 250 words)

This is where you get to flex your creative muscles! Think about how you’ve made things happen—whether that’s a DIY project, an innovative solution to a problem, or even a quirky invention.

Explain what sparked your creativity. Did you notice an unmet need in your community? Did a class project inspire you? Describe your thought process, any challenges you faced, and the impact of your innovation. It’s totally cool to be either STEM-STEMMY STEM or cross-disciplinary here… if you applied design thinking or concepts from astrophysics to address a social issue, that’s great! Identify the tools you had at your disposal (these can be frameworks), a problem/opportunity, and how you thought outside the box to use what you had to address the need. 

5. Caltech Values

How have you cultivated respect for a diversity of thoughts and ideas in your own life? (Min: 50 / Max: 200 words)

Hand-in-hand with an innovative approach to life is an evidence-responsive openness to new ideas, and a willingness to have your worldview turned upside down if you see enough good data that corroborates this new perspective. So here’s where you get to zoom out and reflect on the broader picture. Caltech values diverse perspectives, so consider how you’ve embraced different viewpoints in your life. A great essay might include that tension between preexisting beliefs and new information or experiences. How did you allow yourself to sit in the unknown when presented with new ideas? How did you cultivate respect for a diversity of thought? Note: they don’t say ‘did you come out of the womb with respect for a diversity of thought?’ Perhaps you were raised in a community with very fixed ideas about what one is and what others are, and you’ve had to take actions and do some tough learning to cultivate that respect for different ideas. Conflict and tension generally makes for a great story with a good character arc (that’s you, the main character of this story!). 

Share specific instances where you learned from others. This could be through group projects, community service, or extracurricular activities. Show how you’ve grown from these experiences and how they’ll shape your interactions at Caltech.

Optional Short Answer Questions

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: 200 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 Question

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.

The optional questions are not just fillers! Use them to highlight aspects of yourself that haven’t been captured yet. Think of these as little windows into your life outside of STEM. Whether it’s an aspect of your identity, your quirky hobby, or a unique challenge you’ve faced, this is your chance to round out your application. Remember, the faculty reading your application… they’re brilliant researchers but they’re also humans with their own quirks. Give them an opportunity—having established your STEMinent qualification—to smile and think, ‘Heheh! What an awesome weirdo… I’d love to have them in the classroom.’

Don’t fill the space just for the sake of it. Be thoughtful and only share what genuinely adds to your story. Throw them for a loop, don’t be afraid to share a wildcard surprise hobby or interest!

We recommend answering at least some of the short answer questions, if not all. (Hey, if they give you space to talk about how cool you are, take it!) For the optional academic short answer question, you only need to answer it if there's information that would help the readers put some academic challenges in context. You don't need to feel ashamed, like you're asking for a free pass. You're just giving them a fuller picture of YOU.

Recap

As you write your essays, keep that STEM passion front and center. Caltech wants to see your unique voice and how you fit into their world of innovation. BUT innovation comes in many shapes! Think about how each response fills out their holistic picture of you, and make sure to sprinkle in your personality.

Above all, be authentic and specific. Let your enthusiasm for STEM and your individuality shine through, and you’ll leave the admissions committee—and, erm, the faculty reading your application… which honestly is a HUGE testament to the faculty’s commitment to teaching and mentorship—eager to welcome you into the Caltech family!