Navigating California Institute of Technology's 2023-2024 Supplemental Essays

The journey to the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) is an opportunity to showcase your scientific curiosity, dedication to research, and potential contribution to their tight-knit community. This blog post will guide you through each of this year's prompts, offering specific advice and sharing successful examples from past applications.

Prompt 1: What are three experiences or activities that have helped you explore your desire to study and possibly pursue a career in STEM? (200 words max)

This prompt probes into your commitment to STEM and your experiences in exploring these fields. Here is a brief but effective example from a previous applicant:

"1. Science Olympiad: Participating in events like Disease Detectives and Dynamic Planet nurtured my love for applied science and problem-solving.

2. Internship at the local hospital: I worked under a biomedical engineer who showed me how technology could revolutionize healthcare, sparking my interest in biomedical engineering.

3. Online Programming Courses: Learning Python and Java showed me the power of coding in solving complex problems, inspiring me to explore computational biology."

Prompt 2: Much like the scientific process, learning often involves making mistakes and learning from them. Describe a mistake you have made and how you responded to it. (200 words max)

This prompt seeks to understand your resilience and growth mindset. Here's a compelling response from a past applicant:

"During my first Science Olympiad, my team's bridge crumbled under less than half of the target weight. Devastated, I felt I had failed my team. However, our advisor encouraged us to view the failure as a learning opportunity.

I spent the following weeks studying bridges' structural integrity, understanding where we went wrong. We used this knowledge to reinforce our bridge, which stood strong in our next competition, placing us third. The experience taught me the importance of resilience, analytical thinking, and the power of learning from failures."

Approaching CalTech's supplemental essays, be concise but insightful, showcasing your experiences, learnings, and personality. Aim to demonstrate not only your aptitude for rigorous STEM learning but also your resilience, collaboration, and curiosity.

The admissions committee is eager to learn about you. Let them do that through your essays.

Best of luck with your writing!