The end of the Spring Semester is an emotional time for college students everywhere. On one hand, summer is so close that you can almost taste it. The weather is getting warmer and all you can think about are your plans for the summer. Whether that means going to a new country, working extra hours to get money, starting a new internship, or going to the beach every day, the summer is a time of relaxation for many college students. It's a time where you don't have to worry about grades, finals, projects, and endless homework assignments, but rather a time to grow and gain new experiences while simultaneously taking a well deserved break after what seemed like the longest school year.
On the other hand, however, the end of the Spring Semester is extremely stressful and often times defined by sheer panic, getting no sleep, cramming a semester's worth of information in one night, drinking your week's worth of coffee in one day, and desperately trying to do well in your classes and pass all your finals.
It can be increasingly difficult to find the motivation to study when your mind is being pulled in so many different directions. It doesn't exactly help when you have a final for a class you're struggling in and all you want to do is sleep and watch Netflix. We've all been there, but the good news is is that there are ways you can study effectively and organize your materials to get the best grades possible. These study tips will help make your end of the Semester a little less stressful and have you feeling a little more put together.
1) Create a to-do list and schedule for the end of the semester.
Speaking from personal experience, actually writing out everything I need to read, write, and study for before the end of finals week is incredibly helpful. It gives me a visual representation of what exactly I have to do and from there, I can plan accordingly and create a time efficient schedule to get everything I need to get done, done
2) Find people you can study with.
Studying for finals isn't what most people would call "fun"; however, finding people in your classes to study and work with can be beneficial to everyone in your study group. If you can't find a time to meet on campus to study, you can make a Google Docs or plan out Skype sessions. This way, everyone can help each other study by motivating one another and contributing information that everyone will benefit from.
3) Make review sheets.
It is definitely easier to study off a review sheet you created rather than reading word from word out of a 300+ page textbook. It is also scientifically proven that writing out your notes helps you learn them quicker compared to typing or reading them off of a screen.
4) Reach out to your professor or a tutor if you need help.
If you're struggling in a class, it's a good idea to seek help and have your questions answered before the finals. Most professors have office hours where you can visit them with any material you're struggling with. If they hold review sessions, definitely try to attend them. Most college campuses offer peer tutoring as well for math, science, English, foreign language, and other subjects to help you get back on track with your studies.
5) Study in a quiet, distraction free environment.
The library is your best friend during finals week. In addition to studying in a quiet environment, it is helpful to eliminate all distractions by putting your phone on airplane mode and only using the Internet for school-related purposes while you're studying.
6) Quiz yourself.
While reviewing your notes, try covering them up and quizzing yourself on the information. There are also Quizlets and flash cards online for various subjects that can be helpful for studying.
7) Reward yourself.
Studying non stop is no fun and will just lead to more stress and panic. Create a reward system where, after you study for a certain amount of time, you give yourself small rewards such as phone/social media time, buying yourself a Smoothie, or allowing yourself to watch an episode of your favorite sitcom.
8) Eat a well-balanced diet.
As tempting as it is to eat an entire bag of potato chips at midnight while cramming last minute material, you will end up crashing and feeling even worse afterwards. Since it can be difficult to make healthy meals while cramming for finals, try eating nuts and fruit instead of chips, and swap an unhealthy meal with a smoothie.
9) Manage your stress levels.
Final exams week is stressful for everyone, understandably so. If you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed or on the verge of a panic attack, take some deep breaths, listen to calming music, and take a break. After all, your mental health is more important than your GPA.
10) Identify the format of the exam.
Every professor is different. Some will give out multiple choice questions, others will require short answer responses, and some will have you write an essay instead of sit in for a final. Once you figure out how they distribute tests and what types of questions they ask, it will be easier to model your review sheet and study patterns.
11) Answer review questions in your textbook.
This is extremely helpful for math and science related questions. Many professors will model the test questions after the textbook and use different numbers. If you are familiar with the formulas and how to calculate the answer, you will be more likely to exceed on that portion of the test.
12) Link new information to previously learned information.
If your exam is cumulative, it is beneficial to study previously learned information to the brand new information, that way it only feels like your studying one set of review questions compared to multiple.
13) Experiment with different methods of studying.
Every person's learning style is different. Some people work better in group settings, while other people prefer to study alone. Some people are visual learners, while others are auditory learners. Experiment with different methods of studying to find out which one works best for you.
14) Stay well-rested.
This is a challenge for most college-students, who are already sleep deprived as it is - add multiple finals, papers, and projects due at the same time, and they're looking at minimal hours of sleep a night, if any at all. As stated before, your health comes first. While cramming studying for your finals until 6 AM may seem like the most effective idea, it will be very hard to focus in class when you're so exhausted and sleep-deprived. If you can't afford to sleep the whole night, try to take naps throughout the day. Even a 20 minute nap can help you feel refreshed and wide awake.
15) Just do it.
One of the most challenging things about studying is actually getting there. As humans, we procrastinate and put things off to the last possible minute, which just increases our stress and anxiety levels. It's much more effective to just do it - just begin your studying, your review sheets, your homework, your projects - without procrastinating as much as you can.
Finals can be a hectic, stressful time for anyone, but with these tips about organization, studying methods, relaxation, and health, as well as hard work and dedication, you will be able to do well on your finals and succeed academically.
Good luck and happy studying!
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