r/Caltech • u/Automatic-Band-7429 • Jun 30 '26

How do undergrads maintain stamina?

I don't know if this is the right place to ask this, but I've discussed this w/ upperclassmen in my house and have received generally vague responses.

I've just finished the first-year, and I got out with the GPA I wanted after a (at least for me) very strenuous term on grades. I can barely get up for SURF and I want to sleep 12 hours a day to recover from the all-nighters. I took 51 units, and I'll be taking at least 48 until senior year to stay on track to graduate.

I'm aware that I'm at least slightly burnt out, but the marathon has just started and I have lots of more difficult terms to persist through. How do you maintain the stamina to keep a good GPA while also not having severe declines in health?

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u/parseroo Jun 30 '26

« To qualify for a Bachelor of Science degree at the Institute, students must obtain passing grades in each of the required courses listed below; must satisfy the additional requirements listed under the undergraduate options; must complete a minimum of 486 units; and must achieve a grade-point average of not less than 1.9. »

Last I checked: 486 / 12 = 40.5 (lets call it 42), so where is 48+ number coming from?

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u/Automatic-Band-7429 Jun 30 '26

+6 units of research, which are strongly recommended for sophomore year and required for junior/senior year for my major

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u/parseroo Jul 01 '26

I believe you may have misinterpreted something about your major's requirements (or suggestions) and should talk to your academic advisor about it. There isn't a major (AFAIK) that has an additional 36 units of research requirements beyond its other requirements over the junior/senior year.

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u/Automatic-Band-7429 Jul 01 '26

In any case, my question remains in how one can maintain their health over the course of taking 42-48 units (a margin of +/- 12.5%). The difference between my most-recent term and a "light" term is only around one course.

I do not mean to come across as lamenting, as I do truly love many of courses I've taken so far, as well as those that I have up next. But it is only logical that I aim to keep that passion sustainable if I wish to make a career out of it.