Now that you’re stuffed with Thanksgiving turkey and winter break is around the corner, it’s time to really hit the books. That’s right, collegiettesTM, it’s finals season. Before you can spend your winter break bundled up in sweaters and catching up with hometown friends, you have to wrap up your final exams and projects for the semester. This week, the HC team is sharing our tips for surviving finals season by acing your exams while keeping your sanity!
Each day during finals week that I have an exam, and I mean every day, I stop at Starbucks on the way home and order a Caramel Apple Spice. It perks me up in no time and it gives me something to look forward to.
-Serena Piper, Campus Correspondent, University of Oregon
When I’m studying, I make sure to take a break every couple of hours as a “reward” to watch the cooking channel. It has a calming effect on me for some strange reason. Also, I get myself motivated to study with new highlighters, pretty pens, and colorful post-it notes!
-Jaime Ritter, Campus Correspondent, University of Alabama – Birmingham
I spend a good amount of my free time lounging by the campus Starbucks fireplace on my laptop and listening to holiday tunes. When there’s snow on the ground, I’m always up for sledding with friends! Fun activities at both ends of the spectrum, whether mellow or fast-paced, always help me relax during finals week.
-Erin Powell, Contributing Writer, George Mason University
Lots of caffeine to keep me up when it matters most and my study buddies to keep me company during those late nights in the stacks!
-Alice Chen, Former Editorial Intern, Emory University
I always make sure I study in my favorite place– Starbucks. Drinking a gingerbread latte makes everything better (even studying). I also try to plan ahead and prioritize so I’m not stuck with all of my papers and studying at the very last minute. I write a lot of to-do lists during finals because it feels great each time I check something off the list.
-Erica Avesian, Contributing Writer, University of Michigan
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What I try to do (and will try to do only a few days from now) is get groups of friends to camp out in one of the big study rooms in the library together and be productive with other people. It’s so much easier to be miserable doing endless hours of work if you’re surrounded by other people doing the same and aren’t cooped up all alone in a tiny study room with no windows.
-Kelsey Thorn, Design and Media Team Associate, Skidmore College
For the past few semesters, I’ve only had one final during finals week. While it may sound like a breeze, having only one final is unfortunate when all of your friends and holding themselves hostage in the library. For anyone with this predicament, use and abuse your Netflix account!
-Kelsey Mulvey, Contributing Writer, Boston University
The secret is a great study group… reserve an open room and settle in for the day to study. You learn best when you try and teach or explain the concepts to someone else, so having a few friends there to study with is just the ticket. Make sure they’re just as committed to doing well as you are. Studying for finals is a marathon, not a sprint, so when you do need a short break, having a few study buddies around will get you through.
-Alaine Perconti, Campus Correspondent, Miami University (OH)
I always make sure to motivate myself with a reward. It can be something small like a trip to Pinkberry or something bigger, like finally treating myself to a designer purse I’ve been saving up to buy. Regardless, I can’t have this treat until I have studied for my finals. Knowing that a cup of Pinkberry (or a manicure, or a new lip gloss) is waiting for me helps motivate me to get off Facebook and open my textbook.
-Michelle King, Editorial Intern, Emerson College
I always treat myself to something relaxing after exams are over and final papers are turned in, like a mani/pedi. The prospect of being pampered a little bit when it’s all over is definitely incentive enough to get me through a stressful week of finals!
-Lauryn Paiva, Editorial Intern, Northeastern University
Netflix! Whenever I feel stressed or need a break, I just start going down my instant queue. The problem is that then I watch more 30Rock than writing papers, but my stress level goes way down. Christmas music is my other stress outlet. I can’t get through finals without David Archuleta’s Christmas album.
-Hillary Johns, Campus Correspondent, Ohio University
On nights when I’m up late in the library, I plan on treating myself to a cup of hot chocolate from the 24-hour store on the way back to my dorm. It tastes delicious and it’s the perfect pick-me-up to combat the long, cold walk back home!
-Hannah Orenstein, High School Editor, New York University
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Good background music! When studying it really helps me to have music (whatever kind, I’m obsessed with Drake’s new album) playing quietly. It puts me in a good mood and brings down my stress level!
-Jessica Salerno, Contributing Writer, Ohio University
Starbucks! It helps me during those long study hours and even when I’m done! I also like to listen to Christmas music and nice, relaxing music on 8tracks.com or Pandora while I’m studying to help me concentrate and not get too stressed out.
-Becca Rich, Campus Correspondent, West Virginia University
Sleep, sleep, and lots of sleep! You won’t do well if you can’t concentrate when you study. Maybe the full 8 hours is a stretch, but at least aim for 5 or 6!
-Laura Maddox, Campus Correspondent, Appalachian State University
My friends and I hold a Secret Santa gift exchange, and that always lifts our spirits.
-Nicole Martinez, Campus Correspondent, University of California Riverside
Get things that I already know about and know will dread doing done over Thanksgiving break!! Other than that I just try and focus really hard during the week so I still am able to/feel like I deserve the weekend to go out.
-Alexa Johnson, Campus Correspondent, James Madison University
Organize everything! The last thing you want is to miss something on an exam just because you lost that day’s notes.
-Sarah Kahwash, Contributing Writer, Kenyon College