Restrictive Early Action (REA) at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for fall 2027 entry closes on November 1, 2026. Materials may be submitted through November 6, and SAT or ACT testing must be completed before November 30. Irvine 12th graders who apply REA can still apply to the University of California at the same time: Caltech lists non-binding public universities with a fall deadline, naming the University of California system, as an exception to REA.
Who Is Affected by Caltech Restrictive Early Action
Twelfth graders who plan to apply to Caltech by November 1. The rules published by Caltech are as follows.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| REA schedule | Deadline November 1; materials due November 6; standardized testing completed before November 30; decisions (admit, defer or deny) by mid-December; reply by May 1, 2027 |
| RD schedule | Deadline January 4, 2027; standardized testing completed before December 31, 2026; decisions by mid-March |
| REA restrictions | Non-binding; applicants may not apply Early Action or Early Decision elsewhere, with exceptions for institutions outside the United States, non-binding public institutions with a fall deadline (including the University of California), rolling admission and military academies |
| Decision rules | Students denied in REA may not apply Regular Decision in the same cycle; deferred students receive only an admit or deny decision in March |
| Admit rate | Under 5 percent in both rounds, and Caltech states the difference is negligible; the first-year class has 245 students |
| Materials | Common App or QuestBridge; $85 application fee; two recommendation letters, one from a teacher of calculus or beyond, chemistry, physics or biology and one from a teacher of English, history, government or economics; SAT or ACT required |
Caltech Supplemental Essays: What to Do Now
Budget time across the five required responses. The fall 2027 supplemental essays consist of a STEM academic interest question (150 to 200 words); one Scholarly Character essay chosen from two prompts (up to 200 words on collaboration or process); two Scientific Drive essays chosen from three prompts (up to 200 words each on learning, pursuing or making); a community contribution question (100 to 150 words); and an optional short answer on academic context. Essay structure and revision are covered in the EDUBUS College Essay Bootcamp.
Read the AI guidelines before submitting. All fall 2027 applicants must first review Caltech’s guidelines on the ethical use of AI, and failure to comply may result in rescission of admission. Unethical uses include pasting AI-generated content, using AI to outline or draft an essay, and having AI translate an essay written in another language. Ethical uses are limited to grammar and spelling checks and generating brainstorming questions.
Confirm course and testing requirements. Caltech requires applicants to have taken calculus, physics and chemistry, and REA applicants must complete their last test before November 30. Course requirements, tuition and financial aid are summarized in the EDUBUS Caltech application guide; the plan for early applications alongside the University of California application is covered by EDUBUS university admissions planning.
Sources
- Caltech Undergraduate Admissions: First-Year Application Deadlines (accessed October 8, 2026)
- Caltech Undergraduate Admissions: First-Year Application Requirements (accessed October 8, 2026)
- Caltech Undergraduate Admissions: Supplemental Application Essays (accessed October 8, 2026)
- Caltech Undergraduate Admissions: Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions AI Policy: Guidelines for Fall Applicants (accessed October 8, 2026)
- DHS Proposes $70,000 Fee per Student for OPTA DHS proposed rule would charge schools $70,000 before recommending an F-1 student for initial OPT and $30,000 for each later OPT; comments are due November 9.
- How UC Reads Applications, Fall 2026 NumbersUC republished its account of how applications are read, with Fall 2026 data such as 205,431 first-year applicants. It covers review models, readers and PIQ rules.
- Half of UC In-State Undergrads Pay No TuitionUC published ten financial aid facts on October 7: 52 percent of California undergraduates pay no tuition and the average grant is $24,000. This brief lists them.
- Columbia Early Decision Due November 1Columbia Early Decision closes November 1; testing is optional this cycle and required again next cycle. This brief covers deadlines, binding terms, and supplements.
