10 Steps to Taking Midterms

The semester is almost halfway through. You feel accomplished knowing you've made it this far, but something is eating at you. What is it? Have you forgotten an assignment? Have you not sent an email? Missed a test? Wait, a test. "Oh no," you realize, "It's time for midterms."

Just like you, dear reader, many students are coming to this realization and are starting to feel the pressure. But before you let the fear of midterms consume you, take a moment to stop, breathe, and read:

1. Realize midterms are upon you.

You're looking through your planner, trying to schedule when to go to Pilates next week when you realize, midterms are coming up!

2. Don't panic!

3. Start studying.

OK, you've lived through midterms before. You can do this. You got this. You're not going to let these tests scare you.

Wait, when did you learn this? You don't remember taking these notes. What day did you take these notes? Wait, you didn't date these notes?! When did you take these notes?

4. Get a study group together.

"So, does anyone else remember what chapter 14 is about?"
"Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell?"
"This is calculus, Steve. Can someone get Steve a coffee?"

5. Take a break from studying.

You try to look at those YouTube videos talking about Freudian slips, but there's a cat video on the homepage, and how terrible would it be to take 30 seconds to watch this adorable cat.

6. Start crunching the numbers:

OK, so if my grade is a 92 percent, based on homework and quizzes and previous tests, then I need to get at least an 85 percent on the midterm to give me some wiggle room for that paper due in a month, and then if I can get at least 80 percent on all the quizzes from here on out...

7. Start seriously entertaining the extra credit options.

OK, so the extra credit is a five-page paper discussing the importance of the "PowerPoint" to office spaces, but it could raise my grade three percent, overall!

8. Get some help from past students.

"Hey roomie... You had Mrs. Ludkisk last semester, right?"
"Oh, dude. I'm so sorry. There is no help. No help at all."
"Great..."

9. Eat all the junk food as you cram for your tests.

Because everyone knows that potato chips and ice cream make your brain more adept to remembering information. It's practically proven.

10. Walk into that test knowing you got this.

OK, so maybe you won't know all the answers, but you got this. You studied, you cried, and maybe even prayed a little. This is what your public school career has prepared you for, and all the midterms you've taken before today. You're ready.

Now go and slay those exams!