What’s student life like at Caltech?
Posted on Feb 03, 2026 / Travel
Student life at Caltech is a mix of heavy academics and active community engagement. Most students take a full load of challenging classes and work on problem sets with classmates late into the evening. Beyond classes, there’s a unique house system with eight residential communities where students live, eat, and hang out together. These houses build strong friendships and host social events, competitions, and traditions throughout the year. Caltech also has over 100 clubs, intramural sports, music groups, and other activities if you want to explore interests outside your major. Research opportunities are everywhere — many students conduct projects or participate in summer programs like SURF. While the workload is intense, many students find balance through social life and support from peers.
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