Finals week is fast approaching, and while seniors are shaking with excitement to get the heck out of here, us freshman are just praying to get out unscathed. By this time next month, we’ll be leaving the dorms and loving the sweet taste of freedom from classes and worries! But in order to make sure we spend our summer relaxing – and not stressing our brains out about our poor grades – there are a few steps we can take to ensure we’re ready for this final battle.
1. Revamp your class notes.
Now is the time to start scouring your drawers and the bottom of your backpack for those notes you took back in February. Studies show that rewriting or typing your notes is a great form of review for your exams. Now that you’re not racing to write everything down just as the professor says it, you can take the time to organize your thoughts and determine which information will most likely be used on the exam.
2. Gather intel from your profs.
Although you may think your teacher is out to get you and prefers to main elusive in their form of torture, they’re usually fairly willing to give you a clue as to what you’re dealing with. Be it multiple choice or the notorious essay questions, you’ll have a better wrap on study materials and what you need to cram.
3. Create your study bible.
This is your battle strategy. Create a schedule of what you’re going to study and when. And stick to it! This will save you headaches and sleep as deadlines inevitably get closer.
4. Assemble your resources.
Are you going to use Quizlet? Flashcards? Sparknotes? Now is the time to figure that out. The more you know about the resources you have at your disposal, the better off you’ll be.
5. Pick your cram jams.
I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time focusing on statistics when Maroon 5 is blazing through my headphones. I want to sing along. So it takes a bit of time to find some music I can jam to and still pull an essay out of thin air. Check online and see if you can find something your speed that isn’t too distracting. It might take some extra time, but it will be worth it to not be studying in awful silence.