It seems like just yesterday last finals week was ending, but – thank the quarter system – finals week is once again among us. You know what that means: marathon study seshes at Mansueto, all-nighters for what seems like a week in a row, and visits to the A-level for “fun.” Don’t fret: here are a few finals week dos and don’ts to help your studying run smoothly. Now, go ace those papers and exams!
Do: Go to your review sessions.
Your professors and TA’s (hopefully) will guide you to what will actually be on the test. Instead of trying to catch up on all of the reading you didn’t do this quarter, you can narrow your focus to review what actually matters for the final.
Don’t: Go out every night.
If your finals don’t start until later in the week, it can be tempting to hit up parties every night this weekend with the claim “I’ll still wake up early tomorrow and study.” Face it: most likely, you will want to spend the entire day in bed. Do yourself a favor and pick one or two nights to go out, but attempt to go to bed early the other nights. Your grades will thank you.
Do: Trim your responsibilities for the week.
Finals week is not best time to focus on your RSO’s or internship apps. Unless it’s something pressing, save your non-academic work for after finals (after all, isn’t that what spring break is for?) Right now, your main priority should be your classes.
Don’t: Skimp out on a mental health break.
Studying for a week straight takes a toll on someone. You need to take breaks. Getting lunch with a friend for an hour or taking a day off to go downtown will help you recharge and refocus in order to tackle your books and papers.
Do: Eat right.
Now is not the time to start surviving solely on French fries. Your body needs energy – brain food, if you will. It can be tempting to spend all of your Maroon dollars and daily calorie intake on Bart Mart Cheetos, but eating round, healthy meals will make you feel better and more alert. Feel free to eat dessert, but try vegetables, lean carbohydrates (like rice and whole grain pasta) and protein for your main meal.
Don’t: String yourself out on caffeine.
If you aren’t a big coffee drinker normally, don’t become one now. In a test-taking situation, people recall facts better in the mindset where they learned them – this is why many people sit in the same seat for tests that they normally do in class. If you didn’t drink three cups of coffee every day during the quarter when you were learning O-chem originally, don’t try it now.
Do: Make it easy on the grader.
Your professor or TA will be grading many exams in a short amount of time. Make it easier on him or her by writing clearly and neatly. You want your amazing, A-worthy points to stick out, not be disguised by bad handwriting. That being said, don’t sacrifice time on an exam trying to perfectly dot your i’s and cross your t’s. It is the quality of your work that matters. Just make it somewhat legible.
Don’t: Do it all the night before.
For classes that have paper finals, it can be tempting to write a draft the night before and send it in. But working a few days beforehand and proofreading your work gives you the opportunity to ask questions and make grade-boosting edits. We have reading period for a reason; utilize it!
Do: Pick a Good Study Location
Your dorm room is probably a bad place. With friends next door and all of your belongings to distract you, you might not get as much work done as if you picked a corner of the library and silently owned it for a few hours. The trek to the Reg may be cold and depressing, but it is worth it.
Don’t: Study in the same place every day.
A change of scenery will brighten your outlook. There’s no time like the present to check out a coffee shop on campus you’ve never been to before. UChicago is expansive; go on an adventure and explore it!
Good luck this week! You can do it!