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FINALS WEEK — Monday, May 9 – Friday, May 13

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Iowa chapter.

FINALS WEEK
Monday, May 9 – Friday, May 13

It’s that time of year again for University of Iowa Students. The end of the spring semester is less than two weeks away and once again, it will be time to hit the books to prepare for those dreaded final exams. Students will congregate in many of their favorite study spots, from the popular Main Library, to the River Room at the IMU or even Java House. Whichever you prefer, make sure to have plenty of sustenance, surround yourself with people also studying and never, ever procrastinate! It’s no surprise but finals are a big deal and many students have a hard time focusing and dealing with the pressure. In order to be most successful, it’s important to deal with the stress and there are many ways to do so.
Firstly, don’t procrastinate. It leaves you feeling less confident when going into the test and will add to stress levels more than anything. Nothing is worse than feeling unprepared before a big test and getting a head start will eliminate this feeling completely.
Plan your study schedule. It is incredibly helpful to lie out a plan for which class you will study for that day, how long, etc. Planning and organizing your studying will make the entire process much less intimidating and overwhelming. 
Another important tip is to avoid stressful people and take breaks. By separating yourself from distracting people, you will easily be able to focus and feel successful in the studying you need to get done. Taking breaks is also very important as it gives you time to re-focus, re-nourish and prepare for your next study session.
Finally, allow yourself to feel confident if you have done everything you can and visualize the exam going the way you want it. Don’t undermine the power of defining your own prophecy and visualizing it going the way you want is a lot more influential than you think. When you picture everything going right, you may just find yourself making the right decisions that lead to success without even realizing it.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by college finals but there are many ways to overcome these feelings and be successful on every exam. By preparing early and following the right tips for studying, it is not as daunting as you may think. Remember, finals are only two weeks away – start planning your study schedule!
 
 

Emily is a junior at the University of Iowa and is studying Journalism and Pre-Law with a minor in Health Communication. She has been a part of the Her Campus University of Iowa team since it was founded in 2010 and is a member of Ed on Campus. She has grown to love magazine writing and editing and if she somehow can't land her dream job (to be Carrie Bradshaw), she wouldn't mind settling for a job in the magazine industry. If nothing else, she hopes to attend law school somewhere in the Bay Area out West, her favorite place to be. Since the age of 15, Emily spent her summers in California, doing internships and falling in love with San Francisco. Some of her other interests include her 4-month-old longhaired wiener dog Henry, blogging, celebrity gossip, sushi, Private Practice, fro-yo, being a journalism nerd, and anything involving good conversation with good people. Although she's not exactly sure of her plans for the future, she knows journalism will somehow be the driving force in her career. 
Nicole Lumbreras is a junior at University of Iowa, class of 2012, studying Journalism and Sociology. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Nicole loves to explore new restaurants, see live music and attend sporting events. Nicole loves to travel, dance, write in her blog and takes pleasure in the art of photography. Nicole loves to spend time with her friends and family, and when time allows she will get her fill of Bad Girls Club, Glee, So You Think You Can Dance, and Grey's Anatomy. Nicole recently got foot surgery and rediscovered running; her goal is to run a half marathon before she is 25. After college she plans to move into the city (Chicago) with a American bulldog, attend graduate school at night and hopefully write for Chicago Magazine or another fun and upcoming project.