Caltech
Caltech is a tiny, intense research campus in Pasadena, at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains and a short drive from JPL. Undergraduate life runs on the House System — eight residential Houses, each with its own traditions, that first-years join through a two-week Rotation at the start of fall term. The calendar starts late (move-in is in September) and the weather is classic Southern California: hot, dry, and sunny, with cool nights and a short, mild winter.
What to wear in Pasadena, month by month
The national lists assume everyone needs a winter coat. Here the real questions are heat, sun, and rain — plus clothes for buildings kept ice-cold against it.
| Move-in (Sept) | 62–90°F | Hot, dry, and bright by day, cool at night. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and light layers. |
| Oct–Nov | 52–82°F | Warm, sunny fall with a few Santa Ana heat spikes. Shorts and tees, a light jacket at night. |
| Dec–Jan | 45–68°F | Mild winter with the season's rain. A jacket, a sweater, and a rain shell. |
| Feb–Mar | 47–72°F | The wet stretch — still mild, greener hills. An umbrella and a warmer layer. |
| Apr–Jun | 55–86°F | Warm, dry, and clear toward finals. Back to shorts and sunscreen. |
What Caltech lets you bring
- Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses for hot, dry Southern California days
- A light jacket for cool desert nights and the mild, occasionally rainy winter
- A power strip with surge protection
- Twin XL bedding (confirm your specific hall)
- UL/ETL power strip with a built-in circuit breaker — not a bare extension cord
- Damage-free wall hangings like Command strips — no nails or screws
- Low-draw LED desk and task lamps
- A fan, a reusable water bottle, and UL-listed electronics
- Open-coil / open-flame cooking: toasters, toaster ovens, air fryers, hot plates, electric grills, sandwich makers
- Candles, incense, wax warmers, and anything with an open flame
- Halogen lamps
- Extension cords without a breaker; outlet splitters and multi-plug adapters
- Space heaters and personal A/C units (unless your school provides/approves them)
- Hoverboards, e-scooters, e-bikes, and other e-mobility devices
- Weapons of any kind — including decorative — and fireworks
- Appliances with heating coils — toasters, toaster ovens, popcorn poppers, and hot plates
- Candles, incense, and any open flame
- Personal air-conditioner units — every residence is already cooled
These come from Caltech's official housing pages and cover the essentials plus the genuinely local rules. Double-check the current official guidance before you buy — policies and renovations change every year.
Getting your room at Caltech
- 01By Aug 1
Sign the housing contract
Complete and e-sign the housing contract by August 1. If your student is under 18, a parent or guardian co-signs.
- 02Mid September
Check in to a temporary room
First-years check in on move-in Saturday (mid-to-late September) to a temporary assignment. International students in orientation may arrive a day early.
- 03Rotation (2 weeks)
Rotate and rank the Houses
Over the first two weeks you visit every House — dinners, events, meeting upperclassmen — then rank them. Permanent placements are announced when the cannon goes off.
- 04After Rotation
Move to your permanent room
Once placements are set, you move into your permanent House room — the reason to pack light for arrival and ship the big boxes after.
Where you'll live at Caltech
The eight Houses
Caltech's undergraduate life is built around eight residential Houses, each with its own character and traditions. First-years arrive to a temporary assignment, spend a two-week Rotation visiting every House over dinners and events, then rank them and get a permanent home. The four South Houses have central A/C; the North Houses have window units.
A South House of singles, doubles, and triples with central air — steeped in its own long-running traditions.
A South House known for its courtyard and close-knit culture; singles, doubles, and triples, central A/C.
One of the larger South Houses, with the campus cannon; singles, doubles, and triples, central A/C.
A South House of singles and doubles with central air and a famously spirited community.
The North Houses — mostly doubles with window A/C, a slightly newer, more modern feel than the South Houses.
Singles, doubles, and triples; incoming first-years here get bed-over-desk combinations. Air-conditioned.
Bechtel & other residences
Not every first-year joins a House right away — some request the Bechtel Residence, Caltech's newest hall, before arrival. Marks and Braun round out the mix.
The newest residence — individual singles plus 4-, 6-, 8-, and 12-bedroom suites around a courtyard, with a dining hall and per-room climate control.
A mix of singles and doubles with window A/C, WiFi, and Ethernet.
The Caltech move-in checklist
The “Shop” links are Amazon affiliate links — a purchase may earn AllDorms a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Bedding6
Bath5
Laundry4
Storage & organization6
Desk & study4
Electronics6
Cleaning5
Kitchen — within the rules5
Health & meds4
Clothing — see the seasonal guide7
Move-in day go-bag5
Your items
Anything you add gets its own Shop link, and saves on this device.
Pasadena logistics, sorted
How to send a package to a Caltech student
MSC [### number]
1200 E. California Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91126
The House System and Rotation
A late start, and JPL next door
Pasadena & around
The Athenaeum & the Olive Walk
Caltech's storied faculty club and the palm- and olive-lined heart of campus — the classic photo spots.
Old Town Pasadena
Twenty-two historic blocks of shops, cafes, and restaurants along Colorado Boulevard — the go-to for a family dinner.
The Huntington
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens — 120 acres of gardens and galleries in neighboring San Marino.
Pasadena shopping
Target, groceries, and the shops around Colorado Boulevard and Lake Avenue for dorm supply runs.
Where to stay near Caltech
The Athenaeum
On campusCaltech's own club has 28 guest rooms for visitors sponsored by the Institute — book early and iconic if you can.
The Langham Huntington
~1.5 miA grand historic resort in Pasadena with a pool and gardens — the splurge for a special weekend.
Hilton Pasadena
~0.9 miA full-service hotel less than a mile from campus, walkable to Old Town.
Caltech gear & gifts
Caltech — links & contacts
- Caltech Housing: Visit page
- Mail Services: Visit page