Most first-year graduate students live in on-campus housing. Applications for on-campus housing are sent out with the admission letter. All first-year graduate students are guaranteed on-campus housing if it is requested by the deadline. If you apply for on-campus housing, you should receive a confirmation letter or email with a room assignment before coming. If you plan to arrive after business hours or on a weekend, call the Housing Office (x6176) in advance to arrange for after-hours check-in through the Security Office (x4701).
On-campus housing options include Avery House, and Catalina Apartments. Refer to the Housing section or the Housing website (http://www.housing.caltech.edu/) for details. Contact: Maria Katsas, Assistant Director for Occupancy and Billing maria@caltech.edu (1-86); x6176
Instructions for mail and shipping packages to Caltech can be found in your housing confirmation letter. Packages shipped through United Parcel Service or similar carriers will be received by Caltech Central Receiving. Packages should not arrive on campus more than one week before your arrival. Address parcels to (your name), c/o (Catalina Apartments, or Avery House), Caltech Central Receiving, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125. Upon your arrival at Caltech, check for your parcels at the Caltech Receiving Dock, 391 S. Holliston (x4893) or Avery House, Room 115. If you are a graduate student planning to live in the Catalina Apartments, one option is to send large packages to your department. Ask your department secretary or a student in the department for your building's mail code. Address large packages to: (your name), 1200 E California Blvd, (Your mail code), Pasadena, CA 91125.
While the Catalina Apartments are a convenient and affordable housing option, they do not allow pets except those permanently housed in container (20 gallon aquarium, cage or smaller). Many older or married students may also choose to live off campus while at Caltech. There are many apartments near campus, and we have compiled a listing of nearby apartment, which can be found in the housing section of the online Technique. A caveat to pet owners, however, is that most apartments will not allow dogs, regardless of size. There are many houses for rent within walking or biking distance of campus. The cheapest way to locate a house for rent is through signs on campus or in the classifieds of the Pasadena Star Newspaper (http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/). There are also many rental listing services including EZ Rent List (http://www.ezrentlist.com/) and Westside Rentals (http://www.westsiderentals.com/). Be careful, however, as they often cost more than $60 to join, and they all tend to list the same properties and apartments. Do not sign up for more than one. Another very useful resource for locating off campus housing is the Caltech Housing web page (http://www.housing.caltech.edu/). Places For Students (here) has a Caltech page. Local landlords use it to advertise to students but other Caltech people use it to find roommates as well. You will need to register for an account (free) if you want to contact someone on there. Otherwise anyone can browse the listings.