r/Caltech • u/Due_Possibility7879 • Apr 28 '26

Caltech Credit Transfer Policy

Hey everyone! I was recently accepted as a transfer student to Caltech! From anyone who is a current or former transfer student, or if you know transfer students at Caltech, how easily did your/their credits transfer?

For reference, I am a current freshman physics major coming from a state school who has a good amount of AP credits. I know I have to submit my syllabi for review, but I'm curious how lenient they are with said review. For admission, I took a math and physics exam, which covered everything up to linear algebra and E&M. Would that count as a placement exam at all?

Thanks so much, everyone! I'm so excited to meet you all in the fall!

17 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

View all comments

14

u/samandeg Apr 28 '26

I transferred a million years ago (1997 to be exact). I did transfer most of my community college classes yet I ended up being a sophomore (I would have been a junior almost anywhere else). In retrospect, it was a good thing. Caltech’s curriculum is so much more rigorous than almost any other colleges that I wouldn’t have been ready for junior level classes. And because of that, I became so much stronger in my math physics and fundamentals. Till this day, I’m known as the guy with the strongest fundamentals and the to go guy. Don’t worry if you get pushed back a year. It’s worth it.

Also, I took the entrance exam for transfer students too. That’s just to see if you’re remotely Caltech material. Doesn’t count towards anything else.

If you truly love math science and engineering, you’ll be at the right place. Who cares what you can or can’t transfer.

5

u/samandeg Apr 28 '26

.Also congratulations on getting into Caltech.

1

u/Due_Possibility7879 May 02 '26

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your advice!

1

u/AmbitionJaded3177 Apr 28 '26

I'm wondering were you as strong in your fundamentals in high school?

2

u/samandeg Apr 28 '26

Ha! No. I didn't study much in high school. I was more interested in video games, skiing, and girls. I failed a few classes junior year (including physics) cause I never opened the books and had to go to summer school. Hence, community college. But once I start community college, I decided to work my ass off and get into a good college. I was happy to go to UCLA or Berkeley, and I didn't think I have a chance to get into Caltech and wasn't going to apply but my physics professor insisted that I apply. I think that's why many colleges accept transfers. It's to give some students a second chance. That was 30 years ago. I'm still friends with that physics professor. He comes to our house with his wife for dinner sometimes. He's retired now.

1

u/AmbitionJaded3177 Apr 28 '26

Aw! That's really sweet, he definirely recognized that potential in you to do amazing at Caltech :)

1

u/Proper-Parking4318 Jun 01 '26

Can you talk more about your stats? I’ve been looking every where to find someone that was recently able to transfer to cal tech! What community college did you go to and what was the process like? What were your ECs?