<p>Is this first essay (Why Caltech) supposed to be more literal rather than more of a creative type of essay?</p>
<p>I could be wrong, but I would think that they actually want to know your reasons for applying to Caltech... so I would be literal.</p>
<p>You can still be creative in the way that you talk about why you want to go and your essay's structure as long as it's real... I guess</p>
<p>We don't strictly ask "Why Caltech" anymore. You should describe what aspects of your personality and intellect make you well suited to Caltech. Even though the point is to convey some information, try to be interesting in the writing. Nobody likes to read a boring essay, so it's safe to assume we're never asking for one.</p>