I remember my first finals week. I was a stressed out freshman, obsessed with keeping my 4.0 GPA. Man, has that totally gone out the window. But while I don't necessarily remember how well I did on those exams, I mostly remember how stressed I was. So this is for all of you, from freshmen to seniors, to help guide you through finals week and those dreaded comprehensive final exams.

First, know your finals schedule. Learn it, live it, love it. This may seem kind of "duh," but it's first and foremost in your finals planning. If you know your hardest final is on Monday in the afternoon, you'll want study hard for that final the weekend before because you have the least amount of time to study for it. Then you can study for your easier finals after that big one is out of the way.

Second, make a study schedule. I personally get really OCD with mine, by planning my study days down to the hour. But that's what works for me, and I can make sure I'm getting everything done exactly the way I need it to be. Plan out what subject you'll be studying for when, and for how long. And commit to this study plan! Let it run your life for a few days, don't just make it and then forget about it. Also, don't forget to pencil in study breaks, even if they're just for 15 minutes. Your brain needs to rest even for just a little bit.

Finally, get enough sleep. This may sound crazy since all-nighters are most popular during finals week. But studies have proven over and over that your brain performs at its best when it's had proper rest. If you start studying far enough in advance, you won't need to cram all night the night before the test anyways. So do yourself a favor and abandon the all-nighters.

Most importantly, please remember that you are not defined by a single grade, or even a handful of grades. No single test will determine your future, and you are not defined by your exams. Nevertheless, do your best and give 'em hell.