California Institute of Technology

1200 E. California Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91125
http://www.caltech.edu

From the Blogosphere

Overview
TypePrivate institution
Year Founded1891
Religious AffiliationNone
Undergrad Students913
Endowment1,520,478,000
Application DeadlineJanuary 1
Application Fee60
SelectivityMost selective
Application DeadlineJanuary 1
Tuition29,595
Room/Board9,102
Services
Associated FirmsNorthrop, Altera Corporation, City of Hope, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, Pfizer, Price Waterhouse Coopers, JPL-NASA, Intel, Google, Caltech, Sun Microsystems
Campus Safety24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc)
Career Serviceson-campus job interviews, internships, resume assistance, career/job search classes, alumni network, interest inventory, interview training, other
MuseumsCaltech Research Facilities (Off-site) Jet Propulsion Laboratory(JPL). Caltech owns and/or operates a number of off-campus research facilities including Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The world's leader in robotic planetary exploration, JPL is managed by Caltech for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In addition to its interplanetary spacecraft, JPL is a major participant in NASA's Mission to Planet Earth Program. The Lab also conducts research and technology development in advanced microelectronics and is involved in the design and implementation of defense and civil programs. W. M. Keck Observatory. The Institute owns the Keck Observatory, located in Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and operates it jointly with the University of California through the California Association for Research in Astronomy. It houses the world's two largest optical and infrared telescopes, Keck I and Keck II, each 10 meters in diameter. With the two Kecks operating together, observers are able to search for planets orbiting stars other than our sun. Together, the two telescopes are powerful enough to collect starlight emitted only a billion or so years after the birth of the universe, when galaxies were first forming. Other Observatories. Caltech owns and operates a number of other observatories, including the Palomar Observatory, which houses the 200-inch Hale telescope on Palomar Mountain in San Diego County, California, the Owens Valley Radio Observatory at Big Pine, California, and the Submillimeter Observatory in Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Other Research Facilities. Another off-campus research facility owned and operated by the Institute is the William G. Kerckhoff Marine Biological Laboratory in Corona del Mar, California. Caltech also operates (with MIT) LIGO Observatories (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) in Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana.
Basic Servicesnonremedial tutoring, women's center, health service, health insurance
MuseumsCaltech Research Facilities (Off-site) Jet Propulsion Laboratory(JPL). Caltech owns and/or operates a number of off-campus research facilities including Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The world's leader in robotic planetary exploration, JPL is managed by Caltech for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In addition to its interplanetary spacecraft, JPL is a major participant in NASA's Mission to Planet Earth Program. The Lab also conducts research and technology development in advanced microelectronics and is involved in the design and implementation of defense and civil programs. W. M. Keck Observatory. The Institute owns the Keck Observatory, located in Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and operates it jointly with the University of California through the California Association for Research in Astronomy. It houses the world's two largest optical and infrared telescopes, Keck I and Keck II, each 10 meters in diameter. With the two Kecks operating together, observers are able to search for planets orbiting stars other than our sun. Together, the two telescopes are powerful enough to collect starlight emitted only a billion or so years after the birth of the universe, when galaxies were first forming. Other Observatories. Caltech owns and operates a number of other observatories, including the Palomar Observatory, which houses the 200-inch Hale telescope on Palomar Mountain in San Diego County, California, the Owens Valley Radio Observatory at Big Pine, California, and the Submillimeter Observatory in Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Other Research Facilities. Another off-campus research facility owned and operated by the Institute is the William G. Kerckhoff Marine Biological Laboratory in Corona del Mar, California. Caltech also operates (with MIT) LIGO Observatories (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) in Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana.
Periodical Subs2,620
# of Books344,020
Graduate Job Placement Statistics
within 6 months25%
within one yearN/A
within two yearsN/A
Campus Life
Students in fraternitiesN/A
Students in sororitiesN/A
Campus Size124 acres
College housing offeredYes
Students in college housing90%
College housing typescoed dorms (89%), apartments for married students (1%), special housing for disabled students (1%), other housing options (9%)
Popular EventsDitch Day, ME-72 Engineering Design Competition, International Week, Asian Pacific Cultural Week, Semana Latina, Earnest C. Watson Lecture Series, Annual Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition, Choral and Orchestral Performances, Iron Chef Cooking Competition
Nearest AirportLos Angeles International Airport (28), Burbank (17)
Nearest TrainLos Angeles (10)
Army ROTCOffered at cooperating institution (University of Southern California)
Navy ROTCNot offered
Extracurricular
Students activitieschoral groups, concert band, dance, drama/theater, jazz band, literary magazine, music ensembles, musical theater, pep band, student government, student newspaper, student film society, symphony orchestra, yearbook
Number of Organizations80
# of fraternities0
# of sororities0
Students in fraternitiesN/A
Students in sororitiesN/A
Student Papers(Appears as submitted by school) The California Tech (weekly), Caltech Undergraduate Research Journal (semi-annual), The Big T (annual yearbook), The little t (annual guidebook for Caltech students)
Honor SocietiesTau Beta Pi, California Beta Chapter
Religious Organizations(Appears as submitted by school) Asian Baptist Student Koinonia, Caltech Christian Fellowship, Caltech Muslim Students Asociation, Caltech Newman Catholic Students Club, Hillel
International Organizations(Appears as submitted by school) Asian Pacific Student Union, Association of Caltech Taiwanese, Association of Romanians, Black Graduate Student Association, Caltech Canadian Club, Caltech Chinese Association, Caltech Russian Club, Caltech Swedish Club, Caltech Chinese Student Association, CLASES, Club Latino, Fellowship of International Students, FICCIT, Francophile Club, Friends of Iranian Culture, German Club, Hawaiian Club, Hong Kong Student Association, Italian Club, Korean Student Association, Latino Association for Students in Engineering and Science, National Society of Black Engineers, OASIS, Turkish Student Association
Other Organizations(Appears as submitted by school) Alpine Club, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Aero Association, Ballroom Dance Club, Badminton Club, Biotechnology Club, Caltech Basketball League, Caltech Bowling Club, Caltech Cooking Club, Caltech Women's Glee Club, Men's Glee Club, Caltech/MIT Enterprise Forum, Caltech Students Pride Association, Chamber Singers, Cheer Squad, Chess Club, Computer Science Cluster, Concert Band, Cycling Club, Dance Troupe, Da Vinci Outdoors Club, Desert Society, Diving Team, Entrepreneur Club, Engineering Club, Electric Vehicle Club, Fencing, Filmmaking Club, Fishing Quarterly, Folk Music Society, Gamma-ray Astrophysics Mission, Hang/Para Gliding Club, Ice Hockey, Ice Skating Club, International Film Club, Jazz Bands, Juggling Club, Karate Club, Kayak Club, Law Association, Mars Society, Martial Arts Organization, Opera Club, Peaceful Justice Coalition, Premed Club, Quiz Bowl, Racquetball Association, Rugby Football Club, Science Fiction Club, Salsa Club, Sailing Club, Scuba Club, Surf and Windsurf Club, Snowboarding Club, Soccer Club, Space Society, Symphony Orchestra, Social Activism Speaker Series, Student Investment Fund, Shorinji Kempo Club, Shotokan Karate Club, Society for Industrial & Applied Mathematics, Society for Neuroscience, Society of Women Engineers, Swim Club, Theatre Arts at Caltech, Triathlon Club, Vegetarian Club, Caltech Votes!, Men's Volleyball Club, Water Polo Club, Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology, Caltech Y