Caltech Offers Admission to the Incoming Class of 2030
On Thursday, March 12, Caltech released its final round of undergraduate admissions decisions, offering admission to 428 exceptional students.
Hailing from 43 US states and 23 countries around the globe, this year's admitted students bring exceptional academic achievement, endless curiosity for discovery, and a wide range of perspectives shaped by their diverse backgrounds. The class also stands out for its exceptional talents, counting among its members a national chess master, an avid origamist, one of the youngest security researchers to work with Microsoft, and an International Economics Olympiad gold medalist.
"Caltech's admissions process is unusual in that faculty are deeply involved in reading applications," says Omer Tamuz, chair of the First-Year Admissions committee and professor of economics and mathematics. "This year, 25 professors spent hundreds of hours reading files, discussing applicants, and working with the admissions staff to put together the next class. What really impressed us was not just how strong these students are academically, but how much creativity, initiative, and talent they bring."
Meet Some of the Admitted Students
Hong Jin Kwak is one of 23 students admitted to Caltech through the QuestBridge National College Match program and an incoming first-year from Honolulu, Hawai'i. Kwak had the opportunity to experience Caltech firsthand through the Caltech Up Close fly-in program. "At the program, my host roommate mentioned that his sister had also been an undergraduate at Caltech," Kwak says. "He told me that she said Caltech was the most challenging part of her life. That piqued my interest. I want to experience this challenge because if I can complete my time at Caltech, that's something I can be proud of for the rest of my life."
At Caltech, Kwak hopes to study astrophysics, an interest he developed through his participation in the Science Olympiad. He recalls a moment when his astronomy event coach discussed exoplanets and the methods used to detect them—an explanation that completely drew him in. Outside of Science Olympiad, he is also a member of his high school math team.
Pragya Modgil, an incoming first-year from Alpharetta, Georgia, set her heart on Caltech after a campus visit through Women in STEM (WiSTEM), Caltech's summer preview program. "I was captivated at the very first WiSTEM session," Modgil says. "Katie Bouman [professor of computing and mathematical sciences, electrical engineering and astronomy; Rosenberg Scholar; and Heritage Medical Research Institute Investigator] spoke about her research in space, and I really enjoyed learning about all the interdisciplinary opportunities in her work. I'm interested in pursuing electrical engineering at Caltech, and I got to see the many different opportunities within the field at this program."
Modgil has participated in NASA's Aviation Systems Division Concept Design Experience for High School Students and conducted research at Biohybrid Systems Lab at Emory University. Modgil is a runner on her high school cross country and track team, and she self-directed an engineering project to design and create an accelerometer that could help her measure her stride and acceleration during her runs. Outside of academics, Modgil is also a dedicated Bharatanatyam dancer who has trained in the art form for the past 13 years.
Having lived in Paris, Shanghai, Los Angeles, and now New York City, Ocean Raillard has always considered California home and looks forward to returning as he begins his studies at Caltech. Raillard first felt drawn to the Institute after participating in an internship with Helicity Space in Pasadena. "All of the researchers I worked with at Helicity graduated from Caltech," Raillard says. "What truly amazed me was how well they cooperated, how well they assigned different tasks, and how well they knew each other—including their strengths, weaknesses, and what they were capable of."
At Caltech, Raillard plans to pursue his interests in aerospace and mechanical engineering. In high school, he is an active member of his VEX robotics team, applying both technical skill and teamwork. Outside the classroom, he enjoys flying a custom-built FPV (First-Person View) drone. When he is unable to make the trip to Brooklyn to fly in designated areas, he practices using computer simulations, favoring cinematic environments like mountain ranges. His hands-on curiosity has also led him to build a model rocket and an electric guitar with friends.
Admitted students will have the opportunity to visit campus and experience life at Caltech during Discover Caltech (DiscoTech) 2026, taking place April 12–15. Hosted by the Undergraduate Admissions Office, the program welcomes admitted high school seniors who have committed to Caltech as well as those who are still deciding. During the four-day event, students and their guests can attend panels, lectures, division open houses, and social activities designed to introduce them to the Caltech community. Participants will also stay on campus with current Caltech students to get a firsthand glimpse of student life and explore the greater Los Angeles area through organized outings to nearby landmarks such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Griffith Observatory as they consider whether Caltech is the right fit for them.
"As each admissions cycle passes, we continue to be inspired by the students we admit. The Class of 2030 is not different," says Ashley Pallie, Caltech's dean of undergraduate admissions. "Through the application process, we learned about their triumphs, challenges, and aspirations that will one day have a tremendous impact on the world. We are thrilled for these young students to join Caltech's intensive and collaborative environment alongside the best scientific and engineering minds. They will not just become exceptional scientists and engineers but also the absolute best versions of themselves. We are confident their research will inspire us all."