Tips for First Year Students
Welcome to Caltech! Below are some tips to consider as you successfully launch your first year at Caltech.
There are multiple ways of getting involved at Caltech and it can significantly benefit your overall college experience and enhance your personal and professional development, leadership skills, community engagement, as well as cultural and diversity exposure.
On campus:
- Learn about Student Leadership Opportunities, including ASCIT, IHC, and more.
- Clubs and Organizations: Caltech has over 140 student clubs and organizations! We hold an annual club fair and encourage all students to find a club that piques their interest. If you don't find what you are looking for consider starting a new club or organization!
- Help make a difference! Founded by students in 1916, the Caltech Y offers leadership, service, and civic engagement opportunities as well as several student events, trips, activities, and resources (including equipment rentals).
- Have an idea for an event? Explore our Event Planning Resources, talk with your RA, RLC, or review our Programming Menu for more resources!
- Participate in our theatre, musical, or art programs – no experience necessary! Get involved with Performance & Visual Arts! Caltech offers excellent opportunities for the study and performance of music, theater, and the visual arts.
Off campus:
- Participate in the off-campus event series, which includes sporting events (past trips include LA Kings Hockey Game and LA Football Club Match), musicals (Hadestown), food-oriented activities, and more!
- Pasadena City Offerings – Pasadena is a vibrant city with many local businesses, restaurants, museums, stores, etc. Explore Events in Pasadena to learn about upcoming events, view directories & sign up for the newsletter!
- Free Metro Pass – Explore Southern California with the Free Metro Pass! Members of the Caltech community can receive a Free Metro Pass that is valid for unlimited rides on all Metro bus and rail lines, as well as many local bus systems including Pasadena Transit. Visit the Parking Services Website for info on how to obtain a pass.
Academic success is crucial for undergraduate students and serves as a foundation for your future personal and professional endeavors. The Caltech core curriculum is designed to be rigorous but there are various academic resources available to help you navigate through your courses and problem sets, as well as opportunities to engage with faculty through research and outside of the classroom.
- Attend Problem Set Workshops to work on sets in a collaborative group environment & utilize Peer Academic Coaches if you need additional academic support. Problem set workshops are held multiple times a week throughout the Fall 2023 term, see the schedule here.
- The Hixon Writing Center offers Caltech writers individualized support and feedback on their works in progress at any stage of the writing process.
- Explore resources for Advising and Support offered by the Undergraduate Deans' Office. The Undergraduate Deans can talk with you about your study habits and provide resources to help you develop more effective ways to approach your work. They proactively reach out at midterms to students with midterm warnings and collaborate with faculty and advisors to support student progress.
- The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of experienced mentors working at the frontier of their fields.
- Connect with Faculty outside of the classroom! Meet the Faculty in Residence and join us for our Conversations with Caltech Faculty series throughout the academic year.
Personal success contributes to your holistic development during your undergraduate career, as well as beyond your time as a student.
- Need help with time management? Want to focus on getting better sleep? Having trouble with procrastination? Occupational Therapy at Student Wellness Services can help with that! Occupational Therapy Services teaches students skills and strategies to improve their routines and habits. You can schedule an appointment and/or click here to access time management resources, on-demand workshops, recommended readings and even useful apps to download!
- E100: Designing Your Caltech Experience Course - Being a Caltech student is both prestigious and daunting, and the experience tends to uncover many complex decisions that need to be made. This course aims to help undergraduate students navigate these decisions! Using a process routed in Design Thinking, the course equips students with tools to design a college experience that better aligns with who they are and what they hope to get from Caltech.
- The Career Advising and Experiential Learning (CAEL) Office assists Caltech students with career planning, including career exploration, graduate and professional school advising, and job search strategies
Through the Center for Student Services, you can engage with individuals of similar background or connect with identities other than your own on topics ranging from affinity groups to international education to becoming an Equity and Title IX Advocate.
At Caltech, we value investing in the health and wellness of our students. The academic curriculum can be rigorous, so it can be helpful to participate in regular physical activity to stay active. At the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation and Student Wellness Services, we recognize that active bodies support active minds.