Keagan Hinz
English 11
Mrs. Fitch
November 20th, 2018
Why not Caltech?
From being founded in 1891 in Pasadena, California to becoming one of the world’s best universities for those pursuing anything technology, California Institute Of Technology (also known as CalTech) is a fantastic school (“History”)(“The 50”). It boasts many different achievements and milestones, some of which are monumental towards the development of our country and the world as a whole. Anyone wanting to do anything in a field of technology including engineering, chemistry, geology, and many more should go to CalTech. This is for a number of reasons such as, the massive number of different academic opportunities, the rich history of the campus, the extracurricular activities especially in the performing arts center, it’s notable Alumni, and the different facilities.
CalTech has a wide range of different majors and academic opportunities. This can be split into six major fields offered by the school. These fields being: Biology and Biological Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Engineering and Applied Science, Geological and Planetary Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy (“Academic”). All of these are just and umbrella for each other type of science and whatever you chose to pursue at this school.
Biology and Biological Engineering deals with anything natural and how we can learn from what’s around us and inside of us as well (“Overview”). Those that take this sort of major typically become a biologist of some sort. Biological engineering is engineering for different plants, animals, etcetera out in nature. This could include new farm utilities or things to help with animals or plants in general.
In Chemistry and Chemical Engineering the students also work with nature but to find out how to help people with it such as through medicine (“About” [Caltech.cce]). This would set someone up well to be a pharmacist or any other medicinal job. Chemical Engineering would be taking these skills and actually making the medicines or devices needed for the medicines.
Engineering and Applied Science students try to invent new technologies to benefit the future (“Facts”). With these majors being any sort of Engineer would work very well. This is much more broad than any other major one could receive, but this allows you to do many different things with it.
Geological and Planetary Studies deals with researching the Earth and its mechanisms and well as other planets in our solar system (“About the”). With this students can go to study other planets or become geologists here on Earth. If someone wants to be an astronomer and study other planets this would also be a good major to be in. This is only planets within our solar system because it is Planetary studies.
Human and Social Sciences focus on ourselves as a society and how we act and our cultures (“About HSS”). Jobs that pertain to this could include philosophy or a counselor of some sort. This means one could become a philosopher, social worker, or any number of jobs that have to deal with people.
The Division Of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy relates to the smallest things in our universe such as atoms, electrons, and a number of others (“About” [Caltech.pma]). Using this major one could become a physicist. This major also allows someone to become a mathematician, an astronomer that isn't bound to planets like with the Geological and Planetary Studies, or as stated before a physicist of some sort. All of the majors in the past paragraphs all pertain to engineering or physical science of some sort and makes this school excellent for anyone wanting to go into any of these fields.
Each of these different majors have had some notable alumni and is another reason people interested in technology should apply here There have been many notable alumni to graduate from The California Institute Of Technology such as: Eugen Merle Shoemaker (the first man to have his ashes buried on the moon), Arati Prabhakar (Director Of DARPA), and Frank Capra (directed It’s a Wonderful Life) ("Notable”). There is also another award given to California Institute of Technology students which is called the Distinguished Alumni Award and 221 alumni from the California Institute Of Technology have received it (“Notable”). If one wanted to follow in these people footsteps, Caltech is the perfect school to do so.
All of these alumni contribute to the rich history of The California Institute Of Technology. As stated before CalTech’s history starts in 1891. It is started by a man named Amos Throop and originally the university was called Throop Polytechnic Institute, named after Amos Throop (“History”). This obviously changed since then as it is called The California Institute Of Technology. The institute has had many different presidents since Amos Throop, the original president. In order these presidents have been Amos Throop, James Scherer, Robert Millikan, Lee DuBridge, Harold Brown, Robert Christy (placeholder while Harold Brown was gone), Marvin Goldberger, Thomas Everhart, David Baltimore, Jean-Lou Chameau, Edward Stolper, and Thomas Rosenbaum (“History”). Another major part of CalTech’s history is the Jet Propulsion Lab (“Jet”)
The Jet Propulsion Lab is a facility within CalTech. It is founded by Caltech but run by NASA and it does a lot to help us understand our solar system and what makes it work (“Jet”). The main goal is to keep engineering robots to aid in our discoveries on the planets within our solar system and at the moment have 12 different operating systems out in space (“Jet”). One example of such robots is the Moon and Mars rovers. The Jet Propulsion Lab would go along the Divisions of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy, or the Geological and Planetary Studies majors. It could also be a part of the Engineering and Applied Science major due to the need of engineers to actually construct the robots and such.
California Institute Of Technology also has a an athletics program like most colleges. These sports include men’s baseball, men’s basketball, men’s cross country, men’s fencing, men’s soccer, men’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, men’s track and field, men’s water polo, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s fencing, women’s soccer, women’s swimming and diving, women’s tennis, women’s track and field, women’s volleyball, and women’s water polo (“Caltech”). The women and men have somewhat similar sports with there only being a few differences between them. There are also other activities not included in the sports. Among these are different activities such as yoga, spin, and weight training among many others (“Caltech”). CalTech does not offer any athletic scholarships (Norman). This means that someone can only get into the California Institute Of Technology based upon your academics alone. Doing this ensures that only people deserving to go to the California Institute of Technology are accepted. Athletics at Caltech are important and are another reason anyone should consider Caltech as a potential college for them.
There are many other extracurricular activities other than sports at the California Institute Of Technology. California Institute Of Technology offers over 100 different clubs and associations outside of sports, while some are still sports such as CalTech Ultimate Frisbee Club (“Club”). Just some of the clubs the California Institute Of Technology has to offer includes Black Students of The California Institute of Technology, CalTech Latino Association Of Students in Engineering and Sciences, CalTech Dance Team, CalTech Latter-Day Saint Student Association, and Propulsion, Aeronautics, and Rocket Systems Engineering at CalTech (“Club”). One of the most outstanding clubs at the California Institute of Technology out of all of the clubs is the performing and visual arts program.
The California Institute Of Technology’s Performing and Visual Art program has many different opportunities on top of the ones from the clubs. In just the music part of the program there are different sections including chamber music, guitar, CalTech orchestra, jazz band, wind orchestra, and the Glee club (“Music”). This is many different opportunities without having an actual choir. Theater is just as it sound but is split into two groups. EXPLiCIT (Extracurricular Players at CalTech) and TACIT (Theater Arts at CalTech) (“Performing”). Combined this makes the theater portion of the Performing and Visual Arts program. EXPLiCIT is behind the scenes doing more technology savvy activities such as running the lights or moving sets, while TACIT is the actual acting portion and they perform about two to three times a year (“Performing”). There is one more section of the performing and visual arts program. This being the visual part of performing and visual arts which is also split into different categories including ceramics, drawing and painting, and silkscreening and silk painting (“Visual”). These programs aren’t just clubs or simple activities to take part in but actually count as credits while you participate in them.
The local culture and activities is another reason to come and enjoy Caltech. As stated before the California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, California. Pasadena is just northeast of Los Angeles around 11 miles away by car (“Distance”). This means that you could easily travel between the two cities and participate at activities at either of the two. Just north of Pasadena is the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument which is 4,002 acres of of forested land (“San”). This would be the perfect place for anyone who loves the outdoors or hiking. As for the culture like many places there are a few traditions. Traditions help tie the institute together and make others feel accepted and a part of the community. These traditions include but are not limited to The Annual Pumpkin Drop, the cannon of Fleming House firing, and playing of “Ride the Valkyrie” during finals week (“Fun”).
Another major part in trying to receive credits is having room and board so you can actually survive while on campus. CalTech like most colleges offers areas to eat. The three major areas are the Chandler Café, Red Door Marketplace, and Broad Cafe (“Location”). Local fast food restaurants, or other off campus restaurants are not included as they are not on campus options to eat at. These three places mentioned before give you a wide range of on campus options to eat from.
Chandler Café is the main cafeteria on campus which means it provides a large variety of foods to pick from (“Chandler”). Due to this wide variety you can get a large number of different foods from different cultures as well. This being the main cafeteria you will be eating with others in a normal cafeteria setting.
Red Door Marketplace offers a few different things such as pastries, coffee, and tea (“Red”). The Red Door Marketplace is much like an on campus coffee shop as it offers many of the same items. It is for students who are tired and need caffeine to stay up while taking their classes on campus.
Finally there is The Café at Broad which is much more gourmet than the other two and offers food for breakfast and lunch (“Location”)(“The Café”). Just like Red Door Marketplace it also offers coffee and other baked goods. At CalTech there is a wide variety of on campus options to eat from, ranging from breakfast, buffet, or general cafeteria, and is yet another reason anyone should try to apply here.
The room part of room and board is also satisfied at the California Institute Of Technology. At CalTech there are a few different buildings depending on whether one is an undergraduate, graduate, or post doc (“Welcome”). This allows anyone who needs to stay on campus an opportunity to do so. As stated before it even allows those who have graduated a home until they get onto their feet.
For undergraduates there are buildings much like dorms at other colleges and offer single, double, or triple beds (“Welcome”). This means undergraduates would have roommates and have to share their room with others. These buildings are for those who are still going to school and will for the remainder they are at school. This is the closest to the average college experience one can get at Caltech when talking about the school.
Graduates of the California Institute Of Technology get a much wider selection including apartments, studios, and actual homes (“Welcome”). This allows those who have graduated a chance to find a job and be able to get a house of their home. These homes are a transition from college life to completely living on your own in the world.
Finally for Postdocs there is a single building with 40 rooms each having 2 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms (“Welcome”). This building is built like an apartment and can fit many different people due to its 40 different rooms. CalTech also has offers for guests wanting to stay and typically stay in unoccupied CalTech graduate homes (“Welcome”). Guests are anyone that are not enrolled at the California Institute of Technology. Overall CalTech has very nice dorms that allow for a wide range of people to stay in. The California Institute of Technology is also very organized in which buildings or rooms people will occupy.
There are a few downsides to going to Caltech as well though. One downside of Caltech is its cost of attendance. The tuition alone is $50,487 but overall the price of attendance is roughly $72,084 (“Cost”). This is a lot of money for large groups of people and may not be able to afford it. It also does not help that the California Institute of Technology offers no athletic scholarships which may cut a lot of people off from being able to pay for the cost of attendance at Caltech. That cost is also only for one year, so if you wish to go all four years that price will be $288,336 and if you wish to get your doctorate it will cost you $576,672 (“Cost”). Many people will not be able to put a little over a quarter or even half of a million dollars towards their college education.
Another downside would be the natural disasters California is prone to. One such natural disaster is the wildfires that are prevalent almost year round and at the time this paper was written (“WOOLSEY”). The Woolsey wildfire is East of Caltech and destroyed 1500 buildings in total (“WOOLSEY”). It would take just one wildfire to destroy Caltech or the area surrounding Caltech. There also may be evacuations to save your life from the wildfire if another were to happen closer to the campus. Wildfires are very dangerous and can be a threat to the campus and even your life. California is also prone to earthquakes and mudslides as well but neither pose as much of a threat as wildfires (Lynch)(“Heavy”).
The California Institute of Technology has excellent diversity and many programs that help perpetuate that diversity (“Who”). Diversity is a good thing at schools as it allows people to meet many others of different backgrounds. It also does not just apply to race but gender, religion, and sexual orientation. Programs that are at Caltech include but are not limited to Robogals, Black Scientist and Engineering of Caltech, LGBTQ+, and the Caltech Feminist Club (“Who”). These clubs allow everyone to participate and feel equally represented at the California Institute of Technology. Forty-six percent of the enrolled students at Caltech are women which again shows that the acceptance board is unbiased and only accepts the best out of everyone (“Did”). Caltech’s athletic programs also has multiple sports for each gender only not sharing a couple as stated in previous paragraphs. This shows that they are willing to have sports for anyone and make sure both genders have a chance to participate in a sport they wish to. The diversity is just another reason to consider Caltech as a viable option for college.
The California Institute of Technology has a large number of reasons for anyone to consider applying at this institute. Majors are one large reason, offering a total of six overarching majors that encompass others such as Biology and Biological Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Engineering and Applied Science, Geological and Planetary Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy. Caltech is also rich in history and traditions that help keep the community stay close knit and as community forward as possible. Location is also another important aspect to Caltech as there a few restaurants to choose from on campus, local sights, and the dorms for a few different types of people. Other reasons for applying here include clubs, diversity, and athletics. There are a few downsides including expenses and natural disasters but they are outweighed by the upsides to the California Institute of Technology. Going to the California Institute of Technology is a good choice for a large number of reasons and everyone should try to apply here for those reasons.
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