PASADENA, Calif.—In a major shift for one of the nation’s most prestigious universities, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) announced on Aug. 30 it is dropping its longstanding admissions requirement for applicants to have completed calculus, chemistry, and physics courses, noting that many students lack access to such curricula at their high schools.
Instead, Caltech will offer such students a chance to participate in free select Science Engineering, Technology, and Math (STEM) online courses, tutoring, and a certification process through Khan Academy, culminating in an assessment exam that can be used for admission consideration.
