California Institute of Technology supplemental essays, 2026-27
California Institute of Technology lists 2 supplemental questions for 2026-27, with this instruction: "Choose one of the following prompts: (Max: 200 words)Option 1 -- COLLABORATION: STEM as shared learningTell us about a time your learning in STEM was shaped by another perso". One is a "why this school" question, which is the one prompt you cannot reuse from another application.
The 2 prompts
In the order the school lists them. A limit appears only where the school prints one.
The school's instruction: “Choose one of the following prompts: (Max: 200 words)Option 1 -- COLLABORATION: STEM as shared learningTell us about a time your learning in STEM was shaped by another perso”
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 asks for: why this school.
What is something you would be excited to do, share, teach, make, start, or contribute as part of the Caltech community?
What it asks for: community you belong to.
Source: California Institute of Technology, read October 24, 2026. Confirm the prompts in your application before you submit.
Write them in My Schools
Free. Store every draft, see word counts against each limit.
Add California Institute of Technology to My Schools and these prompts appear in your Essays tab beside the Common App personal statement, with autosave and version history. The prompt reuse map (Advanced) shows which of your drafts can answer which prompt across your whole list.
Questions
1. 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? (200 words) 2. What is something you would be excited to do, share, teach, make, start, or contribute as part of the Caltech community? (150 words)
Essay One - Understanding Your Academic Interests: 200 words; Essay Five - Just for Fun!: 150 words.
These prompts ask about why this school, community you belong to. The why-this-school answer must be written for this school. Answers about a community, a challenge or an activity often adapt from drafts for other schools; My Schools maps which of your drafts fits which prompt.
California Institute of Technology admissions profile · California Institute of Technology application deadlines · Essay review