It’s that time of the semester again…finals week. I know how stressful this week can be with the crazy amount of exams, papers, projects, and presentations crammed into your schedule. To help make this time of dread be a little less chaotic, here are some tips when it comes to studying for these next five days.

1. Don't wait until the night before.

This is one of the most crucial tips! I used to be an awful procrastinator and crammed all my work and studying into an all-nighter. This is NOT a way to study. Try starting to study for those final exams or working on those projects at least three days before. That way, you are able to break down your work into smaller parts and aren't trying to relearn everything all at once.

2. Make flashcards.

Flashcards are one of my favorite ways to study. Just by writing them, you are relearning the subject you are trying to study in addition quizzing yourself on what you do/don't know. Flashcards are also helpful because you can take them anywhere. You can easily put them in a purse or backpack and study throughout the week or day. Not only can you use paper flashcards, but also online cards. Quizlet is what I tend to use to make flashcards so that I can use my computer and my phone in case I don't have physical cards.

3. Get a whiteboard.

These whiteboards don't have to be big. You can find smaller ones at stores like Target or Walmart. Whiteboards are nice for writing out all kinds of vocab and different practice problems. Not only are you saving trees by not using paper, but you are also retaining the information better by writing (scientifically proven!). If you don't have a whiteboard or don't want to buy one, most study rooms on college campuses have them available for use.

4. Create a study guide.

Creating a study guide is another good way to look over topics for exams. These can be created by hand or online. Making a study guide from lecture notes, powerpoints, and reading assignments is a great way to review everything you've learned in the course.

5. Study with a friend or classmate.

Studying with another person from the class is something I find extremely helpful. I try and do this at least once during my three days of studying (tip #1!). Having a friend or classmate can bring light to certain concepts you may not have understood or even add to something you thought you knew. It can also bring to your attention a piece of information you missed or didn't even have.

6. Do practice tests.

Taking practice exams is always a good way to study. This helps you to practice getting into that testing mode and getting more acquainted with different testing formats. Try looking online for practice exams for certain subjects. If you made flashcards (tip #2!) on Quizlet, they have options to create tests from the cards you created.

7. When it comes to group projects, communicate!

Not checking your emails or GroupMe regularly is super irritating for your group members when it comes to working on group projects. If you all communicate efficiently on times to meet, who is turning what in, what sections to do, etc., the project or presentation will go a lot smoother.

8. Practice presenting.

Practicing presenting speeches and presentations is almost the same thing as a practice exam. Winging it isn't always the best way to go. Try practicing in front of a mirror or a friend. This can help you with the pacing, volume, and pitch of your speaking, in addition to your body language or the eye contact that many professors look for.

These are just some studying tips I use when prepping for my finals week. There are so many more you can find or try as well. Hopefully these suggestions will decrease the stress of this coming week and you ace all those finals!