You are stressed, exhausted, anxious, wishing you would have kept up with all the assigned readings and maybe even depressed. Why? Because it is finals week!
Finals week is the end of every semester and can be a really stressful time for students for several different reasons. Not only is it stressful because of the workload we have, but also because it means that for most students the semester has ended, and it is time to go home.
We have all made it through dead week (which is really not dead at all). Classes usually have final projects and other final assignments due during this time. So, it is really just another finals week, and it is the time we have to study for finals without having to worry about learning new material.
No matter what type of classes you are taking or what types of final assignments you have, it is inevitable that you will experience some kind of stress or pressure.
Here are the kinds of finals everyone is bound to have.
1. The cumulative test.
This kind of test is so annoying, especially when the rest of the tests during the semester have not been cumulative. It is stressful to have to revisit old material and new material during a time when you have four, five or more, other tests scheduled the same week. Whether it is multiple choice or essay, cumulative tests are too much.
2. The paper.
If the paper is of a reasonable length on a decent topic, and depending on what kind of student you are, these can sometimes be easier than tests. The good side is that a lot of professors will not assign super long ones in the spring because they are just as ready as we are to be done.
3. The project.
Final projects are my favorite because I hate tests and papers, but they are usually not any less stressful. They require long hours of working and perfecting in a lab, studio or with a group.
4. The non-cumulative multiple choice test.
This is the best type of final there is. Studying is still required, but it feels like a regular test. It is most likely super-easy with no surprises.
5. The highly-weighted test.
The final projects or tests that are a huge percentage of the course grade obviously adds way more stress. In my opinion, these tests are not fair because you could work hard all semester and not ace the final and end up with a grade that does not reflect your work ethic.
Basically, the end of the semester is super-stressful, especially in the spring. People go home for the summer and have to leave their friends and privacy, or they experience pressure to find a job or internship on top of surviving finals week.
Good luck with finals and happy studying!
