Hixon Writing Center
WE SUPPORT CALTECH WRITERS
The HWC offers Caltech writers individualized support and feedback on their works in progress at any stage of the writing process. Our team of professional and peer tutors can also connect writers with high quality, vetted resources that help them understand new writing tasks and meet their communication goals. Additionally, we can work with instructors and options to support their teaching of academic writing at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
We work with writers in all academic disciplines. We support writing across many academic genres, including abstracts, proposals, research papers, argument-driven essays, statements of purpose, research proposals, and slide decks/presentations. Our conversations with writers address the inherent intellectual challenges of the writing process, such as getting started, understanding feedback, and undertaking revision, as well as the emotional challenges writing may entail, such as feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or confused. Overall, our customized support bolsters writers' knowledge and confidence so that they can successfully share their ideas with others.
HOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
You can book your own appointment with us! To use our online scheduling system, go to https://caltech.mywconline.com/ and log in using your Caltech credentials. Our schedule should be available to all Caltech undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs.
LOCATION AND CONTACT INFO.
Location: 3rd floor of the Center for Student Services (building 86 on the campus map)
Phone: 626-395-3706
Email: writing@caltech.edu
- Testimonial
Graduate Student
The writing specialist was incredibly encouraging. I met with her when I was feeling very stressed and anxious about my thesis, but from the very start of our meeting, she helped me gain confidence and perspective on my work, and just made my writing process so much less stressful and happier. Her positive attitude was infectious and, even more than her specific suggestions (while also very helpful), was what was most valuable to me about the meeting."
- Testimonial
EAS Undergraduate Student
Thank you for helping me craft my personal statement for grad school. I am happy to say that I was admitted to every university I applied to, including MIT, Stanford, and Carnegie Mellon! Although it's going to be a tough decision, I'm very excited about my options."
- Testimonial
Graduate Student
The writing specialist helped me word my essay more clearly and establish a good outline to be put into the introductory paragraph. Even though the essay was long, she stayed attentive and engaged with the content and actively offered helpful feedback. Couldn't be happier with my session."
- Testimonial
BBE/GPS Postdoctoral Scholar
It's been enormously helpful to learn about the grant writing process from an HWC STEM Writing Specialist throughout the course of our one-on-one meetings. Her feedback was often focusing on the big picture, on how to use the different parts of the application to convey an exciting and realistic plan to build a new lab. I now see writing as a way to refine and share my science, and this also helps to win support for new ideas."