Now that it’s November, students across all college campuses are experiencing the last full month of the semester. Yes, kids, we did it. We’ve survived two full months of projects, essays, and homework, and now we’re in the home stretch. With the finish line so close in reach, it can be easy to forget that there is still a lot of learning to be done, and more sleepless nights to come. Throw in the feels of the holiday season approaching, and you can become too distracted to even think about classes. Still, we must keep focused on the weeks to come, and these tips can help you close out the semester with a bang.
1. Schedule out the rest of your semester assignments and exam times.
It’s easy to get lost in the thought of upcoming exams and projects to come for various classes, so mapping out what you need to do and when you need to do it can be helpful. Whether you mark them in your calendar or file them in your planner, make sure you know when the major assignments for the end of your classes are due. Also, check your syllabus or class website for the dates of the last class of the semester and the final exam, and make sure you know how far apart they are to calculate how much study time you have in between. This way, there are no surprises when someone asks if you’re ready for the exam the following day.
2. Begin compiling your class notes now.
Whether your exam is cumulative of the whole semester or just things you learned after the midterm, organize what you need to know for the test now. Trying to gather all of your notes and old tests and quizzes a day or two before the exam can lead to forgetting more information than you retain, because you’re cramming it all in at the same time. Take the opportunity now to start making those flash cards or cheat sheets of past information, and keep adding to it as you go through more lessons over the next few weeks. When you sit down to study for the exam in December, you’ll realize you know more than you think you did, because you already put in most of the hard work ahead of time.
3. Go to office hours or tutoring sessions now.
If you need help with any aspect of your class, now is the time to get that help. It’s coming down to the wire, and you don’t want to be in the last class of the semester and realize you’re confused on what you need to know. Take advantage of your professor’s or teaching assistant’s office hours and see if you can get tutoring in your subject of difficulty, whether you need to clear up a concept or understand something in order to pass. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
4. Plan ahead for Thanksgiving break and anticipated lazy days.
The holiday season is around the corner, and you know you don’t want to write that essay while you’re trying to have fun with your family at home. Rework your calendar to accommodate the Thanksgiving break so it can truly be a break for you. Also, it can become easy to feel academically drained during this time of year. It’s getting colder outside, the days are shorter, and you can practically smell the turkey and eggnog in the air. Make sure you plan for those days when you absolutely cannot do any work, especially when you know you won’t do the work well. Schedule out extra time to get assignments done so you can be lazy in peace.
5. Map out your next semester schedule and register for classes.
The most exciting thing about ending a semester is the idea of beginning a new one. No longer will you have to deal with that one professor everyone warned you about, and there’s new hope that you won’t be taking another 8 AM class—at least for a semester. Take the time to perfect your spring schedule and cross your fingers on your registering day. Make sure you’re getting the right professors and taking the right classes that you need to complete your degree—along with an elective or two.
This semester has truly flown by, but it’s not over yet. There’s still much to be done, and only a few weeks to do it. Continue to push forward and finish out the semester with your head held high.
