For those of us who are shackled to the quarter system, we can sense the impending doom that is finals week, so before that happens, here are some reminders…
- Start studying before you think you need to
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I understand how difficult it can be to actually start, but studying early is better than an all-nighter. It is important to split things up into more easily completed tasks with sufficient time to finish them. I recommend using a physical planner because that is my personal preference, but also Google Calendars and Notion work really well to help with scheduling. An example schedule can look something like start with reviewing readings and notes on Saturday and Sunday, move onto practice problems Monday through Wednesday, and finish off with practice tests on Thursday and Friday, with revisions on the weekend to take your exam the next Monday.
- Don’t be afraid of study groups
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Recently, I have found that study groups have been an incredibly effective way to grasp what I am still working to understand. It is really helpful to actually talk through things with people who are your peers and who have probably had to go through the same hardships that you are going through. Also, sometimes teaching someone else can actually help you wrap your head around something. Reach out to the people in your discussion or the person that you have sat next to for the entire time, most likely they need help to and multiple brains are better than one. If you are going to set up a study session, try to book a study room; these are available through the libraries and even on the hill.
- Go to office hours!
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Whether it’s your TAs or Professors go talk to them! The hardest part sometimes can be having something to talk about at office hours but just remember it can literally be about anything. You can review midterms, homework, or slides that you don’t yet understand. They have designated office hours because they want you to go talk to them. If no one ends up going, they end up sitting there by themselves for two hours and that’s not very much fun. Plus, going to office hours means that they might actually get to know you, and that they can pick you out of a lecture hall of three hundred other students.
- Stay hydrated and feed yourself (coffee doesn’t count)
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I know you have a water bottle that you’ve likely been lugging around with you all year, so use it! It’s really easy to forget about yourself during exam season, so make sure that you are staying hydrated, eating, and sleeping adequately so that you are properly fueling your body. If you don’t you neglect your health, you will quickly come to the realization that your brain will not work the same. This is not to say you shouldn’t drink energy drinks or coffee but remember that balance is key.
