As finals just finished, I can now reflect on how the first term of my Junior year went. Honestly, being a bit older and more adjusted, I’m not surprised Junior year is calmer and more drama-free than freshman and sophomore year. Especially given that August to December is the main Computer Science hiring season for internships, I didn’t have much free time this term. I feel like it’s taken two years to come to terms with the fact that Caltech makes you put most of your life on hold. It’s true for a lot of students that you can pick maybe two things outside of education to still have time for. Of course, there are exceptions, but they must push themselves very hard.
This was also the first term I took mainly Computer Science courses and it was really challenging, so I spent most of my time in office hours, working late in the night until the next morning debugging. But in the end, it paid off because I got through it, passed my classes, and finished the term with my choice of three job offers with more interviews on the way!
For any current or prospective students, here are some tips to get past finals:
- Make a list!
- Having all your finals and their due dates in an organized list or planner is a must-have. You can also keep track of any meetings or emails you have to complete before the term ends. With so many responsibilities, keeping up is hard, and trying to have it all in your head is nearly impossible.
- Find a good environment
- Especially at Caltech, where a lot of finals are take-home, you have to make sure you have a quiet and well-lit place where you can study and focus.
- Take care of your mental health
- You have to make time to decompress and take a quick break when necessary. Finals get overwhelming and you can’t be working 24/7.
In any case, take care of yourself and keep organized! Happy Holidays!🎄
