Caltech supplemental application essays
Additionally, there are four optional Caltech essay prompts that students can respond to. Caltech stresses that these Caltech essays are optional. We’ll get into specifics later about these optional Caltech essays. This may help you determine if and when to respond to each of the optional Caltech supplemental essays.
The five Caltech supplemental essays aren’t necessarily long. They vary in length from 150-250 words. Therefore, in these Caltech essays, you will want to focus on both content and execution in your process. As we’ll discuss, each of the Caltech supplemental essays asks students to reflect on a particular experience or interest. To maximize your Caltech essays, you’ll want to offer a brief summary of each experience of an event. Then, use the bulk of your essay to reveal how this experience or event influenced your broader character. Specifically, when focusing on how to write Caltech essays, reflect on your STEM experiences. You may want to write about in your Caltech supplemental essays. The admissions committee should come away from your Caltech supplemental essays with a clear conception of who you are and the kind of community member you would be on the Caltech campus. To answer the first of the Caltech supplemental essays, students should reflect on why they want to attend a STEM-forward university such as Caltech. Think about more than just the Caltech ranking and Caltech acceptance rate. What made you first fall in love with STEM? What specific programs are offered at Caltech and nowhere else? Are you planning to go and hoping to study science at one of the best institutions for STEM? Do some research on the Caltech website in order to reference specific details on programs, internships, research, or faculty. After having decided an area of interest to write about in this Caltech supplemental essay, focus on the “why” part. Successful “why major essays” will explain why you need to study that major in that particular school. They’ll draw from both personal and academic experiences. Students should also discuss how studying this major would influence their future career goals. 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. The Caltech supplemental essays give you an opportunity to show your interests, academically and otherwise. In this particular essay, you’ll need to show your love of STEM. What STEM topic has got you up at night?
Caltech supplemental essays 2021-2022
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.
Caltech supplemental essays 2021-2022
Similar to the “why major essays,” successful Caltech supplemental essays for this prompt will show applicants’ love of STEM. However, the difference between these two Caltech essay prompts is that the first should focus on a specific area of interest offered at Caltech. This prompt, however, asks students what initially sparked their interest in STEM and to expand upon a particular experience during high school that has continued to nourish this interest.
Caltech supplemental essays 2021-2022
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.
Caltech supplemental essays 2021-2022
Now, let’s move on to the second prompt. First of all, we probably don’t have to mention that figuring out how to get into Caltech should start with a passion for STEM (Science, Technology, , ) programs. That being said, students will likely have a number of experiences to reference in their Caltech essays. Start by brainstorming some of the most impactful moments of your high school career.
Caltech supplemental essays 2021-2022
Make a and choose the experience that evokes emotion surrounding choosing STEM. Caltech admissions wants to serious STEM applicants in these Caltech supplemental essays. Show through your chosen experience that you are passionate and committed to a STEM education.