Finals week is right around the corner and you know what that means, long nights in the library, a few mental breakdowns, and driving yourself absolutely bonkers. This is my third go-around of finals week, and I know nothing I say will make the stress less real. Looking back at my first finals week, there are a few things that I know now that I really wish I knew then.
1. You MUST get a decent amount of sleep the night before the exam.
I know how silly this sounds since finals week is notorious for the lack of sleep it causes, but in order to function properly the next day and to actually perform well on your exam, you absolutely need to get a decent amount of sleep. Trust me, you'll regret it when you can't keep your eyes open long enough to even read the questions on the exam.
2. I know it's worth 25-30 percent of your grade, but it will not make or break you.
When I saw the syllabus said "final 25 percent of final grade," I absolutely panicked. I thought that this grade would solely define if I passed the class or not. Turns out even if you do get an awful grade on a final (and I mean awful), it won't affect your final grade half as much as you think it will, unless you went into the final borderline failing.
3. Take study breaks.
Continuously studying the same subject for eight hours straight is only going to exhaust you and stop you from retaining any information. Take periodic study breaks when you feel yourself losing focus to let your mind relax a little bit and help you regain your focus.
4. Don't procrastinate.
Seriously, don't procrastinate. These exams are on an entire semester's worth of material. You can not, and will not, go over everything you need to or want to the night before the exam. Give yourself enough time to evenly distribute your studying time in order to cover all the material that you need to.
5. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
If your school is small like mine is, your professors will most likely be around all week, use them to your advantage. Even if it's a small question, showing them you care enough to go to them and ask about it could potentially be the difference in the amount of partial credit you could get on your exam.
6. It's OK to have a break down or two.
Honestly, I usually cry at least twice during finals week and it makes me feel so much better. Have a little pity party for yourself, bawl your eyes out, scream, whatever you have to do to let the built up frustration out, and then get back to the grind.
7. No matter what happens, everything will work out.
If you put in 110 percent, you'll make it out of finals week alive. You're grades are important but they don't define you, everything will end up being just fine.
