Caltech Undergraduate Admissions: For Parents

For Parents

We understand how difficult the college admissions process can be, and we hope to help you in any way we can. You are welcome to contact us with any questions you may have at 626-395-6341 or ugadmissions@caltech.edu, or you may contact the admission counselor responsible for your area.

Caltech also produces a newsletter for the parents of current students. Our parent newsletter provides interesting information for parents to stay informed about Caltech. You can explore the latest issue by clicking the link above or visiting parents.caltech.edu

While you can find a lot of information about Caltech academics, student life, and admissions on this site, below are answers to a few questions commonly asked by parents.

Is Caltech affordable?
Is Caltech safe?
Is Caltech hard?
Is Caltech fun?
Should we visit?
Summer Programs

Is Caltech affordable?

Our financial aid office is committed to helping your family through the financial aid process. You can call them any time and talk to someone about your family's situation. We meet 100 percent of every family's demonstrated need and also offer merit-based scholarships.

Is Caltech safe? Top

Caltech is nestled in a beautiful and safe residential neighborhood in Pasadena. Most of the campus is enclosed and the surrounding areas are not only safe, but ideal for jogging. Even though the campus is in a safe neighborhood, we have campus security guards who provide services such as walking students to their rooms.

Is Caltech hard? Top

Yes. And the students love it. They thrive on the challenges presented to them in the classrooms and labs. They are no longer bored by math and science drills, but thrilled by the prospect of participating in discovery and innovation as undergraduates. While the problem sets and exams are daunting, there are many resources for students struggling academically. The professors have regular office hours and are happy to help students. Most students find their help from fellow students, both classmates and upperclassmen. Caltech is not a competitive campus, where students are looking out only for themselves in an effort to top everyone else. Rather, it is a tightly knit community where students work together on their homework and in labs. In fact, many professors require students to work together! They believe that students learn the most this way, and the students agree.

Is Caltech fun? Top

Caltech is not all work and no play. Our students not only enjoy extracurricular activities and parties on the weekends, they also have fun while working. Group study sessions often turn into pizza breaks or games of "Capture the Flag."

Should we visit? Top

Coming to campus is the best way to get to know Caltech. And there is plenty to see and do in Pasadena and Los Angeles if you want to extend the campus visit into a family vacation.

Summer programs? Top

Caltech offers the Young Engineering and Science Scholars Program (YESS) in the summer. Students have the opportunity to work on research projects with faculty and undergraduate students. Also, if you live in the area or if your child will be in the area during the summer, Caltech professors are often willing to hire promising high school students to work in their labs. Your son or daughter can contact the professor with whom he or she would be interested in working and inquire about the possibility.

Summer programs that many of our admitted students have attended include:

California Institute of Technology