California Institute of Technology supplemental essays

The prompts, one by one

1. STEM area of interest150-200 words · Intellectual curiosity

   “If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose your proposed area of interest? If you selected 'other', what topics are you interested in pursuing?”

   What it's really asking

   Whether you think about things when nobody is grading you. California Institute of Technology wants a specific idea, question or project and the way your mind moved through it.

   Where drafts go wrong

   Name-dropping a big topic (AI, climate, quantum) and describing it instead of your own thinking about it. Essays that could have been written from the Wikipedia page.

   The shape of a strong answer

   One specific question or thing you made. The wrong turns and what you tried next. What you still don't know. Curiosity reads as unfinished; that's the point.

2. Scholarly Character option 1 (choose one)up to 200 words · Intellectual curiosity

   “Tell us about a time your learning in STEM was shaped by another person or group — either because you needed help, offered help, changed your thinking through collaboration, or contributed to someone else's understanding. What did that experience teach you about learning and working with others?”

   What it's really asking

   Whether you think about things when nobody is grading you. California Institute of Technology wants a specific idea, question or project and the way your mind moved through it.

   Where drafts go wrong

   Name-dropping a big topic (AI, climate, quantum) and describing it instead of your own thinking about it. Essays that could have been written from the Wikipedia page.

   The shape of a strong answer

   One specific question or thing you made. The wrong turns and what you tried next. What you still don't know. Curiosity reads as unfinished; that's the point.

3. Scholarly Character option 2 (choose one)up to 200 words · Intellectual curiosity

   “Tell us about a time your approach to a STEM problem, concept, or project mattered as much as the outcome. How did you work through uncertainty or persist creatively in tackling the problem? What would you still defend about your process, regardless of the outcome?”

   What it's really asking

   Whether you think about things when nobody is grading you. California Institute of Technology wants a specific idea, question or project and the way your mind moved through it.

   Where drafts go wrong

   Name-dropping a big topic (AI, climate, quantum) and describing it instead of your own thinking about it. Essays that could have been written from the Wikipedia page.

   The shape of a strong answer

   One specific question or thing you made. The wrong turns and what you tried next. What you still don't know. Curiosity reads as unfinished; that's the point.

4. Scientific Drive option 1 (choose two)up to 200 words · Intellectual 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.”

   What it's really asking

   Whether you think about things when nobody is grading you. California Institute of Technology wants a specific idea, question or project and the way your mind moved through it.

   Where drafts go wrong

   Name-dropping a big topic (AI, climate, quantum) and describing it instead of your own thinking about it. Essays that could have been written from the Wikipedia page.

   The shape of a strong answer

   One specific question or thing you made. The wrong turns and what you tried next. What you still don't know. Curiosity reads as unfinished; that's the point.

5. Scientific Drive option 2 (choose two)up to 200 words · Intellectual curiosity

   “Tell us about a STEM question, problem, idea, or project that has held your attention over time. What drew you to it, how have you pursued it, and what do you still want to understand?”

   What it's really asking

   Whether you think about things when nobody is grading you. California Institute of Technology wants a specific idea, question or project and the way your mind moved through it.

   Where drafts go wrong

   Name-dropping a big topic (AI, climate, quantum) and describing it instead of your own thinking about it. Essays that could have been written from the Wikipedia page.

   The shape of a strong answer

   One specific question or thing you made. The wrong turns and what you tried next. What you still don't know. Curiosity reads as unfinished; that's the point.

6. Scientific Drive option 3 (choose two)up to 200 words · Intellectual curiosity

   “Tell us about something you created, tested, repaired, modeled, coded, built, or redesigned. What problem were you trying to solve and what did the process reveal to you?”

   What it's really asking

   Whether you think about things when nobody is grading you. California Institute of Technology wants a specific idea, question or project and the way your mind moved through it.

   Where drafts go wrong

   Name-dropping a big topic (AI, climate, quantum) and describing it instead of your own thinking about it. Essays that could have been written from the Wikipedia page.

   The shape of a strong answer

   One specific question or thing you made. The wrong turns and what you tried next. What you still don't know. Curiosity reads as unfinished; that's the point.

7. Caltech community fun question100-150 words · Community

   “What is something you would be excited to do, share, teach, make, start, or contribute as part of the Caltech community?”

   What it's really asking

   Two things at once: which community actually shaped how you think, and what you will bring to California Institute of Technology because of it. The second half is where most drafts stop short.

   Where drafts go wrong

   Describing the community instead of your role in it, or choosing the one that sounds impressive rather than the one that changed you. "Diversity" as an abstraction, with no scene.

   The shape of a strong answer

   Pick a community you can describe with a scene, not a label. Show one moment where it taught you something or asked something of you. Spend the last third on what that means you'll do at California Institute of Technology: a specific contribution, not "bring my perspective." At 150 words there is room for exactly one example, explained properly.

8. Academic preparation short answer (optional)no stated word limit · Intellectual curiosity

   “Is there anything about your academic preparation, coursework, school context, or learning experiences that would help us better understand your readiness for Caltech?”

   What it's really asking

   Whether you think about things when nobody is grading you. California Institute of Technology wants a specific idea, question or project and the way your mind moved through it.

   Where drafts go wrong

   Name-dropping a big topic (AI, climate, quantum) and describing it instead of your own thinking about it. Essays that could have been written from the Wikipedia page.

   The shape of a strong answer

   One specific question or thing you made. The wrong turns and what you tried next. What you still don't know. Curiosity reads as unfinished; that's the point.

Every US applicant also writes the Common App personal statement: 650 words, seven prompts. Don't repeat it here; the supplements are for what the statement didn't show.

A self-check before you submit

Cover the school name and read the essay. Then cover your name and read it again. It should fail the first test (it only makes sense for California Institute of Technology) and pass the second (only you could have written it). If it passes the first test, it's a brochure. If it fails the second, it's a template.