Have you been wanting to come visit Caltech? Here are all the ways in which you can come visit campus!
Tours
If you are able, I believe on-campus tours are the best way to come and see Caltech for yourself. During a tour, you will be taken around campus, potentially even through dorms and lecture halls. You will also get the chance to talk to a current Caltech student firsthand to have all of your questions answered. The Caltech Undergraduate Admissions Office offers two in-person events. The first is a one-hour information session led by an Admissions Officer who will present about Caltech and the application requirements in the first thirty minutes. Following the presentation, there will be a Q & A session for you to ask your most pressing questions. The second is a one-hour campus tour led by an Admissions Ambassador. To sign up for either of these options, you can click here.
DiscoTech
DiscoTech, or Discover Caltech, is a 3-day event for admitted students, typically in April, that allows students to get a good feel of Caltech before decision day. During DiscoTech, students get the chance to explore student life up close by staying in the dorms with current students and attending events all day. Students get to explore research and academic opportunities through a research symposium, lab and research institute open houses, and lectures with prize-winning faculty. They also get a glimpse into Caltech’s social life through DiscoTech’s club fair, residential house activities, and social mixers. Some other events include exploring a little bit of LA by going to Griffith Observatory.
I applied to Caltech early action, and when I was accepted in December, I was first of all shocked but also excited to see the campus and get a true feel for it. I visited the following month, but unfortunately, tours were not running due to COVID restrictions at the time. Thankfully, DiscoTech happened before decision day, so I was able to go and receive a true Caltech experience. DiscoTech is what ultimately pushed me to commit, so I could not recommend it enough.
Caltech In A Day
Now, let’s say you are not able to attend DiscoTech this year but still want a more personal tour experience before committing. Caltech In A Day is the perfect option for you! Caltech In A Day is a personalized alternative for admitted students who aren’t able to attend DiscoTech. During this day, you will be matched with a Caltech ambassador who will host you around campus. You will get the chance to chat with them, see the campus and labs, eat lunch with them, and perhaps go to their classes with them.
Self-Guided Tour
As I mentioned before, I visited Caltech without tours running, so I went on a self-guided tour! Caltech Admissions fortunately has an entire guide with a map and information to follow, which is linked here. If you do visit, I definitely have to recommend finding one of these handy guides located around campus.
This will point you toward wherever you need to go! Some personal favorite spots to check out would be Caltech Hall, Throop Memorial Garden (turtles!), Beckman Auditorium (what we like to call the wedding cake!), Beckman Institute, and walking down Olive Walk to see where ⅞ of the Caltech houses are located!
Virtual Tour
If you can not visit Caltech in person, don’t worry! Caltech also offers a virtual tour online where you can see dining halls, dorms, house lounges, multiple types of labs, and some academic buildings. The link to this virtual tour can be found here.
