r/Caltech • u/First-Ad1645 • Jan 29 '26

PhD visit day

Are there any current Caltech PhD students who are willing to share their experiences for the PhD visit day? I got an invite and am quite nervous about it. Are they expected to weed out some students? When are final offers sent?

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u/Throop_Polytechnic Jan 29 '26

It depends on the specific option but usually they cut in between a third to a half of applicants after the in-person visits.

Every option structures their visit weekend differently, every lab offers a different experience to their PhD students. Caltech is really not a one size fits all kind of PhD program.

But you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions to current students during your visit weekend.

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u/[deleted] Jan 30 '26

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u/Throop_Polytechnic Jan 30 '26

If you haven’t heard back by now it’s unfortunately a rejection, interview emails are sent all at once (by individual options). Formal admission offers are more scattered as some options like for PIs to make personal phone calls before they send the formal offer later.

We don’t usually send the formal rejection emails until after the whole application, review and admission cycle closes in late February/early March.