As the end of the semester approaches and finals preparation begins, it’s more important than ever to make sure your study methods are working for you. From studying with friends in a busy coffee shop to silently working on the quiet floor of the library, there are so many different ways to study. But if your typical study method just isn’t cutting it, it might be time to switch up the way you study. It can take a lot of trial and error to figure out what works best for you, but the solution might be right outside your dorm. Here are finals week resources on campus that you might not have known about that could help you succeed this finals season.
- Academic Resource Center
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The academic resource center is the perfect place to get started if you know you need support for your finals, but aren’t quite sure what that might look like. Academic resource centers typically provide a variety of resources to help you academically succeed, such as tutors for specific subjects and information on different study methods. My college’s Academic Resource Center includes a writing center specifically tailored to help students with any written assignments, from lab reports to course essays.
- Online Study Tools
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Many colleges provide their students with subscriptions to online study tools that may be helpful when preparing for finals. These tools can enhance your studying experience, like Otter.AI, which allows you to transfer audio to typed notes, and Quizlet, which generates fun flashcards and study games. If your school doesn’t offer these subscriptions, fear not. There are tons of other online study tools that are either entirely free or offer free trials, like Grammarly, Evernote, and Notion.
- Wellness Workshops
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My college email inbox is embarrassingly full of unread emails, but if you scroll through the many messages in yours, you might find that your college is offering wellness workshops during finals week. My school has offered outdoor yoga, wellness gift bags from student counseling, and therapy dogs in the library for students to pet. Keep an eye on your email notifications so you don’t miss out!
- Affinity Group Study Sessions
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Many affinity groups open up their spaces to members for study sessions during finals. At my school, our Race and Ethnicity program, LGBTQIA+ center, and Women’s center all open up their spaces for identifying students to use to prepare for finals. Studying around a group of people of the same identity can be comforting to students during a stressful finals season.
