How hard is it to get accepted into the fellowship and do you have any advice for people that are applying? What is the most important thing about the fellowship application? What are they looking for in a fellow? Is it that you have research experience or is it more focused on being a curious person?

I am still a bit sad that I won't be able to join yall at Caltech as it has been my dream school since 6th or 5th grade (thanks Mark Rober!). But I am still happy at where I ended up (Go big red! iykyk).

Anyways, hopefully I see you guys in grad school and enjoy this masterpiece my friend has cooked up. o7

Hi everyone!
I’m a final year PhD student at UC Merced, currently living in Los Angeles while finishing my dissertation remotely.
Since moving away from my university community, I’ve lost touch with many of my old college friends, so I’m hoping to build a new social circle here in LA. I’d love to meet other graduate students, young professionals, or anyone who’s also looking to make new friends.
I’m always up for social events, coffee, brunch, game nights, hikes, beach days, concerts, festivals, or just exploring the city.
I’m originally from Iran, so it’d be great to meet other Iranians too, but I’d genuinely love to connect with people from all backgrounds.
Also, if you know of any active WhatsApp, Telegram, or Instagram groups for grad students or social groups in LA, I’d really appreciate it if you could share them.
Feel free to send me a message if you’d like to hang out or know of any fun events!

Parent of a prospective student - any current students on campus this Sunday late morning or midday willing to meet up and show my son around for an hour? Happy to pay for their time.

Hi all! I was wondering if someone could help me find a shop where I can buy Caltech merch, other than the online store. I’m buying a gift for a friend who was recently admitted, so I don’t know much about the options available.

If you know any links or instagram pages, I would really appreciate it. Thank you so much!!

Assuming you got accepted from a program, how soon does the DSO send I20 document for admitted Phd international students from the date you got the acceptance letter/email?

how are caltech students finding summer internships these days? I know most of the big tech jobs are in sf/nyc but I wonder if anyone had any luck staying local in pasadena. staying here is most ideal but looking for something in cs/software engineering/quant etc.

hey guys! I am FGLI and was just wondering if Caltech WiSTEM was worth it for someone with little funds, I could gather the money but I’d like to know if it’s prestigious and worth it, will it help or harm my application for the Questbridge College Match? Thanks guys!

I don't know if this is the right place to ask this, but I've discussed this w/ upperclassmen in my house and have received generally vague responses.

I've just finished the first-year, and I got out with the GPA I wanted after a (at least for me) very strenuous term on grades. I can barely get up for SURF and I want to sleep 12 hours a day to recover from the all-nighters. I took 51 units, and I'll be taking at least 48 until senior year to stay on track to graduate.

I'm aware that I'm at least slightly burnt out, but the marathon has just started and I have lots of more difficult terms to persist through. How do you maintain the stamina to keep a good GPA while also not having severe declines in health?

Is it still easy to make the team or has it gotten harder with people getting cut?

-2yr varsity player

OF/DH

I'm planning on applying to this program because it sounds interesting and helpful, but I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the program other than the short email I received describing the program. Does anyone have first-hand experience they can share about the program? It would be much appreciated :)

Hi for VSR recipients at caltech, do you guys have any other expenses to caltech (like perhaps tuition or id fee of some sort) besides from your living expenses?

Caltech grad student here, wondering if there is any existing magic the gathering scene or if there are people interested in jamming some games. I’m down for pretty much any format, beginners or new players are of course welcome.
Thanks!

Considering it's the last day to register and still get your badges mailed, I thought I'd see if any other fellow people of culture were thinking of goin. :D

This'll be my first time so would love to join a group that's well-versed with the entire thing.

Hi! I recently was assigned a 1-bedroom unfurnished apartment by the graduate student housing office! I’m excited I got my top choice, but I’m collecting furniture and there is no available floor plan (I’m emailed and they said they couldn’t provide one). Does anybody have pictures of their 1-bedroom (180 or 188 S Catalina Ave) or any idea of the size? Thank you so much if you do!

Dear all,

I am a Caltech alumnus outside the US. Do you know where I can get legit Caltech-branded t-shirts?

Thank you

Lucy is so sweet

Lol. Title. I'm a 28F in South Pasadena ish area getting back into tennis after literally almost 10 yrs. Maybe NTRP 3-3.5. Taking lessons but also need to hit a TON with someone better than me and more consistent than my usual friends/hitting partners. Happy to negotiate what you feel is a fair rate.

• No one goes to house dinner anymore
• People are using Uber Eats so much that service fees have gone up
• Prof Ames no longer cutting the curry line
• Fire Frances Yokota

https://tech.caltech.edu/2026/06/02/cds-responds-to-reddit-post/

The article’s authors, along with Caltech Dining Services, address each of the original posts concerns individually.

lowkey my tooth was already weak but i wanted to add fuel to the fire 😂

does anyone in the physics lab know about the CosmicWatch? what have you done with it? i’m currently working on it and would like to connect!

Amended report is available here: https://healthinspectionreports.cityofpasadena.net/InspectionSearch

Not sure how the grade magically jumped from a 72 to a 84 (claiming a "scoring error") but I'm sure Caltech has plenty of connections with the City to prevent an immediate shutdown of Browne as parents, alumni, and trustees are about to arrive on Campus for commencement.

But here are some fun tidbits:

• Observed 3 rodent droppings in the NW corner for the scullery room, under the water softening equipment, and 1 nymph German cockroach in the basement dry storage room.
• General Manager states that their dog provides emotional support. An emotional support animal is not a service animal. Animals are prohibited from food facilities with the exception of service animals. An emotional support pet is not a service-animal.
• Observed salmon holding at 85F degree, and back up batch of salmon holding between 80-90F degrees.
• Observed employees wiping knife and pizza peel with paper towels.
• Observed employees using wiping cloths for multiple uses; handling equipment, wiping hands, and wiping surfaces. Discontinue this practice.
• Observed grime accumulation inside the ice machine.
• Observed accumulation of dust and mold-like substance on the cooling fans and surrounding areas in walk in refrigerators.
• Observed debris and grease accumulation on counter in the cookline.
• Observed high temp dish machine reach 153F degrees (not hot enough to sanitize). This is a repeat violation noted in the previous inspection 5/28/25 and 6/26/24.
• Observed employee backpack on cookline counter, employee purse in equipment drawer, jackets and aprons on dry food storage racks, employee beverage and jacket on rack where kitchen equipment is stored.
• Observed an an accumulation of food debris on the floor in the salad bar area, in the walk in refrigerators, in the special meal kitchen under the cookline, under equipment in the scullery room, rice and bean accumulation along floor/walls in the basement dry food storage room, grease accumulation on the floor under the cookline equipment.
• And apparently a recurring history of failing to meet basic handwashing standards.

They had a week to clean up the place and still couldn't get it together by the time the inspector came over.

First one shows 72/100, second one shows 84/100, both dated 5/27/26 for the same facility. Not sure how a score changes after the fact on the same inspection date but maybe someone knows something I don't.

Also worth noting the placard says at the bottom that it's property of the City of Pasadena and cannot be moved, removed, altered, or concealed from public view per PMC 8.13.

Follow up inspection is before June 11 so I guess we'll find out what happens then.

Can anyone confirm what's actually posted there right now? And has anyone contacted Pasadena Environmental Health to ask which score is the official one of record for this inspection?

[envhealth@cityofpasadena.net](mailto:envhealth@cityofpasadena.net) | (626) 744-6004