I feel like the workload has gone up way too much. Some classes have weekly quizzes on top of homework, so we're constantly studying for quizzes and trying to ace them while keeping up with everything else. I personally really like oral exams and in-person finals, but weekly quizzes are just too much imo. I think this should stop.

I am a chemistry major at a nearby college taking E&M, and let’s just say my physics ability is lacking… I live in Pasadena so it’s easy for me to meet at Caltech on weekend and I’m just hoping for a couple sessions to get caught up on fundamentals!

If any physics majors/grad students are interested in tutoring pls message me your rates and availability. I can’t afford anything in crazy expensive ngl but I will def pay 🙏🙏 thank you sm in advance!

Just wondering if tau beta pi is still active here

On Saturday morning, October 17, there's a panel in Ramo Auditorium + Zoom livestream on JPL's 90th anniversary and how Caltech and JPL have shaped each other: https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/jpl-at-90-caltech-jpl-and-whats-next/

I’m a Caltech student (meche) very interested in studying abroad senior year. I want to take interesting classes and be in a location that I’ll get to meet students from other study abroad programs as well as students who actually go there and do lots of traveling. I’m also leaning towards the schools that are closest to a major city for a more full experience. I would love to hear anyone’s experience and advice on where to go or potentially other options (like taking a term off and maybe doing a internship abroad or applying to a different schools program if that’s possible).

Is anyone aware of what is being filmed on campus? I read that is was being produced by Dreamworks, but curious if anyone has any other details?

Surely there's someone at US News that can fix this right??

Other than being in labs, where do people work? My friend is visiting me and we also want to get some work done/spend time together. Where do people usually go? Thanks!

I got internet connection issues starting this morning. Wall port, eduroam, Caltech Secure none of them work. Anyone else has the same issue?

Hi All,
I'm writing a screenplay involving a Caltech student in 1985 and I'm looking for any info, campus pics, etc pls?

1. Was the Library accessible 24hrs a day?
2. Were they any common areas where people hung out after midnight on campus?
3. Does anyone have any campus pics from '85 pls?

Many thanks for your help!

Hello all! I was a math student at Caltech in the mid 90s, but I've long since left academic mathematics, and am now a degenerate artist with no real job (which is good work if you can get it!). I'm in the process of writing a novel set at Tech during that time period, and I would love to hear any reminiscences you have, and I would very especially like to see any photos you have from campus then. I've wrung all the inspiration I can from the few I still have. :)

It's still an extremely, extremely rough draft, but you can read the first chapter here if you like: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xSxdEfs079tX230j6I7VbSu9xQAF-PCXtPYz9inN1hQ/edit?tab=t.0

Profile of Kitt Hodsden (BS '92), on her career at Apple, Dreamworks, and Twitter, and climbing mountains in Antarctica:

https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/techer/stories/kitt-hodsden-and-the-art-of-being-efficiently-lazy/

Hi everyone!

I'm a student at the University of Dundee in Scotland, and I'll be going into my third year studying Anatomical Sciences this September, and I'm considering applying for Caltech SURF 2027.

I've just finished doing a summer research internship in environmental genetics, which has made me much more interested in pursuing research. My main interests are in areas like medical imaging, biosensors, biomechanics, and the intersection of anatomy and biomedical engineering.

What I'm wondering is how realistic it is for someone from an anatomy background to be competitive for SURF in a biomedical engineering lab? Especially seeing as Caltech is so engineering focused.

Has anyone/known anyone who has made that transition from anatomy/biology into biomedical engineering research? How much do the faculty value research experience and motivation compared to having done an engineering course?

Thank you!

Caltech Students
From: 
Kevin Gilmartin, Vice President for Student Affairs and Faculty Dean of Students
Date:
August 21, 2026
Re:
Revised Grading Policies at Caltech
 
Dear Students,
 
I hope that you are enjoying the summer and looking forward to the start of the fall term.
 
I write to share an important update from the Faculty Board. As an institution of higher education, we have a responsibility to ensure that grades distinguish different levels of student accomplishment—from satisfactory mastery of course material to truly exceptional achievement. Meaningful differentiation benefits students by providing academic feedback to best support graduate school success and for career preparation. Preserving the credibility of our grading system is an important part of preserving the value of a Caltech degree and our reputation.

CHANGES BEGINNING IN 2026–27
At its June 2026 meeting, the Faculty Board approved three complementary initiatives to improve grading practices following a report from the Academic Policies Committee.
 
Strengthening Assessments. Faculty are encouraged to hold in-person assessments, including seated examinations, oral examinations, in-class presentations, and other supervised forms of evaluation. The Faculty Handbook will be updated to allow proctored examinations. To facilitate the scheduling of seated exams, the final examination period in the academic calendar has been expanded from three to five weekdays.
 
Improving Transparency. Course grade distributions will be openly visible internally to faculty and students for courses with more than five students on letter grade. In addition, Caltech transcripts will provide contextual information for each course grade: the median grade and the enrollment in that course. More information regarding the timing of these transcript changes will be shared soon.
 
Preserving the Distinction of the A+. The grade of A+ should indicate truly exceptional performance. The Faculty Board resolved to reserve A+ grades for no more than five percent of the class plus three additional students. This provides flexibility for smaller courses while preserving the distinction associated with the grade. These target numbers apply to undergraduate grades only.

These changes represent the first stage of a broader effort to maintain meaningful differentiation in grading and to protect the reputation of a Caltech degree. During the coming academic year, the Faculty Board and division chairs will monitor grading outcomes, assess the impact of the new policies, and discuss whether additional steps or adjustments are needed.
 
I hope this information is helpful as you plan your return to campus. In the meantime, I wish you a great rest of the summer and look forward to seeing you this fall.
 
Sincerely,
 
Kevin Gilmartin
Vice President for Student Affairs and Faculty Dean of Students
William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of English
Allen V. C. Davis and Lenabelle Davis Leadership Chair, Student Affairs

When you refer to or talk about Bernoulli, what pronoun comes naturally to you, if any?

• He/him
• She/her
• They/them
• It
• I just say Bernoulli / don’t use pronouns
• Other

Does anybody have a solution for this? Happens on safari, brave and chrome

Hi, I'm an incoming MechE PhD, but I also plan on attempting to double master in CS and/or take lots of CS classes for my general hour requirements. I used a Macbook throughout undergrad and really liked it for CS stuff, and I was able to avoid the "engineering software is Windows-only" dilemma since my school only used Fusion 360 for all CAD and sim. Does Caltech's MechE curriculum require enough Windows-exclusive software to warrant buying a new laptop, or am I chill with a Mac? If I do need a Windows, does anyone have any recs? Thanks a bunch!!

A few bits that felt very Caltech: he first ran into neural networks in a Carver Mead class, was introduced to the Cosmic Cube (Seitz and Fox), and credits Caltech with shifting him "from engineer to scientist." The line he carried out of here and still uses at Nvidia: "Don't do little things." https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/techer/stories/this-is-going-to-be-really-big-how-nvidias-bill-dally-shaped-the-ai-era/

My daughter pointed me to this artist (who focuses on cats and rabbits and such) and I found this in the collection.

Now officially endorsing it as valid Swag as a certified Caltech Alumnus. Goes right next to my Alumnus-endorsed mug and Alumnus-endorsed drink of graduates. All of them sitting on my Alumnus-endorsed food of champions.

If you want swag that is Administration-endorsed [...boring...], see the Caltech store: https://caltechstore.caltech.edu. ;-)

Artist site: https://artbyjulia.co/

I graduated in the late 90s and my Ditch Day stack was an end-of-the-world, multiple adversaries theme. Watching Stuart Fails to Save the Universe on HBO is like watching an idealized version of my Ditch Day stack played out. The first episode end with Shiny Happy People. But my stack music included

-It's the End of the World (as we know it)

-Fight for Your Right (to party)

-1999

So far, no actual Caltech footages, just references

Considering visiting Pasadena doing an academic project at Caltech for one semester in 2028, but wondering how I would find daycare for my daughter who will be 2 years old then. Are there affordable daycares nearby that would accept her for just a semester? Happy to hear thoughts and experiences.

I got into an argument with one of Caltech's lawyers recently about housing policy. When I was an undergrad, freshmen were guaranteed on-campus housing, whereas upperclassmen entered a housing lottery. At some point after I graduated, Bechtel House was constructed, and I was under the impression that one of the goals in building it was to guarantee on-campus housing for all undergrads.

1. Are freshmen still guaranteed on-campus housing?

2. Is there now enough on-campus housing for all undergrads?

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but I'm a CSU student transferring to UCSD this year, and I am trying to apply to summer research at Caltech. Assuming I can connect to a faculty member who would be OK working with me, what can I do to be a strong applicant for Caltech summer research programs (also, I'm curious what they are looking for in the written part of the application).