California Institute of Technology (Caltech) AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L2 (unchanged)
Disclosure: D2 → D3 (Unknown policy)
Enforcement: E1 (unchanged)
This school updated their AI admissions policy between our September 2025 and February 2026 reviews.
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at California Institute of Technology (Caltech)?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: Line-level editing allowed
- •Graduate Studies: Line-level editing allowed
Last verified: 2026-02-17 • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- AI grammar and clarity suggestions
- Rephrasing individual sentences with AI
✗Avoid
- Having AI write entire paragraphs or essays
- Using AI to generate ideas you present as your own
💡Be transparent about any AI tools you used — honesty is always the safest approach
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“Failure to comply with the Ethical Use of AI guidelines may result in the rescission of your admission to Caltech.”
— Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions AI Policy: Guidelines for Fall Applicants(Verified: Feb 2026)
“Your essays are where we hear your voice — overuse of AI will diminish your individual, bold, creative identity as a prospective Techer.”
— Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions AI Policy: Guidelines for Fall Applicants(Verified: Feb 2026)
“The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate text for essays is not acceptable.”
— Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants - Graduate Studies Office(Verified: Feb 2026)
“The application is found to contain misrepresentations (including inappropriate use of AI in personal essays), or there is concern about academic integrity.”
— Frequently Asked Questions for Admitted Students - Graduate Studies Office(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
Graduate Studies
“these essays must be written entirely by the applicant”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement
Specific Guidelines
✓ Allowed Uses
- •grammar and spelling review using tools like Grammarly or Microsoft Editor
- •generating brainstorming questions or exercises using AI
- •researching the college application process
✗ Not Allowed
- •copying and pasting from AI generators
- •using AI to outline or draft essays
- •replacing personal voice with AI-generated content
- •translating an essay written in another language using AI
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | Line-level editing allowed | Must attest no AI used | E1 • Manual review possible |
| Graduate Studies | Line-level editing allowed | Must attest no AI used | E1 • Manual review possible |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (10)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/apply/first-year-applicants/supplemental-application-essays
- https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/apply/first-year-applicants/supplemental-application-essays/ethical-use-of-ai-guidelines-for-fall-applicants
- https://www.gradoffice.caltech.edu/admissions
- https://gradoffice.caltech.edu/admissions/faq-applicants
- https://gradoffice.caltech.edu/admissions/frequently-asked-questions-for-admitted-students
- https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/changes-to-caltechs-admissions-application-create-pathway-to-greater-equity
- https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/explore-more/news
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L2 | D3 | E1 | High |
| 2025-09-18 | L2 | D2 | E1 | High |
Additional Context
For Fall 2026, Caltech maintains a clear AI policy covering both undergraduate and graduate admissions. All applicants must review the ethical AI guidelines before submitting supplemental essays, and non-compliance may result in rescission. The previous confidential disclosure question (Fall 2025) asking 'Did you receive any AI generated assistance' is no longer mentioned on the Fall 2026 policy page, replaced by a mandatory guidelines review with rescission consequences. Graduate admissions FAQ explicitly states essays must be written entirely by the applicant. Policy uses the 'trusted adult test' framework: if a trusted adult could ethically do the same task, then using AI for it is ethical. Grammar/spelling tools and brainstorming prompts are allowed; drafting, outlining, translating, and generating content are prohibited. Disclosure upgraded to D3 because applicants must affirm compliance with guidelines and face explicit rescission consequences for non-compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does California Institute of Technology (Caltech) allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to California Institute of Technology (Caltech)?
How does California Institute of Technology (Caltech) check for AI?
Which California Institute of Technology (Caltech) programs have different AI policies?
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