Checklist

Caltech study checklist

A routine for Caltech students working through a proof-heavy core, take-home exams under the Honor Code, and a cohort small enough that everyone knows your pace.

Built for Caltech · Small-cohort STEM students focused on labs, proofs, and research.

Progress

0 of 12 tasks complete

Anchor the core sequence

The required core moves fast and builds on itself. Know what each set assumes before it assumes it.

Trace the prerequisite chain inside each setBefore starting a set, note which earlier result every problem leans on. Gaps in the chain are where proofs quietly fall apart.~30 minList the term's take-home exam windowsTake-homes are time-boxed and self-proctored. Mark each window now so you protect a clear, rested block rather than colliding it with a set.~20 minKeep a running definitions sheet per courseProof courses punish fuzzy definitions. Maintain one exact-statement sheet per class so you argue from precise terms, not vibes.~25 min

Build proofs from scratch

A proof you only read is a proof you cannot write. Reconstruct every argument until the structure is yours.

Re-prove each lecture theorem without notesAfter class, close the notebook and rebuild the day's key proof. The first place you stall is exactly what office hours should target.~50 minName the proof technique before writingDecide up front whether it is induction, contradiction, or construction. Choosing the wrong frame wastes more time than any algebra slip.~30 minWrite one clean draft, then attack your own logicDraft the argument, then read it as a skeptic hunting unjustified steps. Most lost points hide in a hand-waved transition.~45 min

Respect the take-home boundary

Honor Code exams trade proctoring for trust. The whole system rests on you treating the rules as exact.

Read the exam policy line before you open itEach take-home states its own limits on time, notes, and collaboration. Confirm them before the first page so you never cross a line by accident.~15 minSimulate the exam clock during practiceRun a timed self-set under the real allowed conditions days before, so the actual window holds no pacing surprises.~90 minBank rest before the window opensA self-proctored proof exam rewards a clear head. Sleep is part of the prep, not the thing you trade away for it.~10 min

Lean on the small cohort

A tiny class means real peers and approachable faculty. Use both deliberately instead of grinding alone.

Pair-explain proofs with one classmateTake turns presenting an argument aloud. Explaining to one person exposes the gap a silent reread always glosses over.~60 minBring a specific stuck step to faculty office hoursWith a small cohort, professors have time for real questions. Arrive with the exact lemma that broke, not a general 'I am lost'.~30 minKeep a weekly counterexample journalJot the edge cases that killed your proofs. Reviewing them turns repeated missteps into reliable instincts.~20 min

Common mistakes

Reading proofs until they feel obvious instead of reconstructing them on a blank page
Opening a take-home before confirming its exact time, note, and collaboration limits
Choosing a proof technique by trial and error mid-write rather than committing before the first line
Treating the small cohort as competition and grinding alone when a pair-explain would be faster
Sacrificing sleep right before a self-proctored exam that most rewards a clear head

Pro tips

Re-prove the day's theorem from memory; the first stall is your true study target
Decide induction, contradiction, or construction before writing a single line
Keep an exact-definitions sheet per course so arguments rest on precise terms
Run one timed take-home simulation under real conditions before the window opens
Pair-explain proofs aloud; teaching one classmate surfaces gaps rereading hides

FAQ

How should I start the Caltech study checklist?

Start with the first phase, then run one timed Study Spaces sprint before adding more tasks. The goal is execution, not a perfect plan.

What should I do if I fall behind?

Copy the remaining tasks, pick the highest-score or highest-deadline item, and restart with one focused block.

How often should I review progress?

Review after each sprint and once at the end of the week so the next session starts with a clear first task.

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Turn this page into a live sprint

Start the matching room for Caltech, then use the sprint plan as the first task and recap script.

Caltech study checklist
Focus target: Caltech
Block 1 (25 min): closed-book recall or one timed practice set.
Break (5 min): mark confusing items without opening a new task.
Block 2 (25 min): correct misses and write the next first step.
Done: one score/error note plus one queued task for tomorrow.

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