It’s unbelievable how quickly this semester has gone by! Before we know it, we’ll be facing another semester loaded of challenging courses, and we’ll be one step closer to graduation. But before we get there, we have to first endure the toughest week of the semester: finals week. Here are 10 tips to ensure that you survive the final stretch:
1. Find a great place to study.
Find a place to study where there aren’t a lot of distractions. Doing so will definitely help you retain more information.
2. Plan out when you are going to study for specific finals.
Create a calendar and determine which days you are going to study for which classes and the amount of time you will allocate to studying for each final.
3. Take breaks in between studying for finals.
Studying for hours on end is without a doubt draining! After a while, it can become harder to retain information. So find time in between studying to grab a snack or hit the gym for a quick workout.
4. Study with a group of friends.
Studying with friends can be extremely beneficial, especially when there is study material that you don’t understand. Create a study group of friends and classmates to make studying a less stressful experience.
5. Get rid of anything that might distract you.
Social media is probably the most distracting outlet for most college students. Logging yourself out of all social media accounts will allow you to focus on preparing for finals. The more distracted you are, the less you’ll actually get done. This will cause you to cram information in at the last minutes, causing an even greater amount of stress.
6. Wear comfortable clothes to your exams.
There’s nothing worse than be uncomfortable during a stressful situation. Wear your most comfortable clothes to your exams, whether that is your favorite hoodie or brand new UGGs. Don’t be afraid to be basic—it’s finals week!7. Stay in.
Going out right before finals week, or during finals week, could be one of the worst decisions you’ll ever make. Use that time wisely and spend it studying for your exams. Toad’s will be there when it’s all over….Trust me!
8. Back up all your work on an external hard drive.
There’s nothing worse than working for eight hours straight to have all of it deleted in a matter of seconds. If you want to stay sane these next two weeks, back up all work on a hard drive, especially those 25-page papers!
9. Catch some Z’s.
Sleep deprivation will do nothing but hinder your memory during finals week! Make sure you get enough sleep to function during your exams. Staying up studying until 4 a.m. is pointless if you can’t remember anything when exam time rolls around. Be sure to set aside at least six hours of sleep. You won’t regret it!
10. Keep calm and carry on.
Don’t freak out! The more you panic, the greater the chances are that you will not perform as well as you want to on your final. Take a deep breath and keep calm. It will be over before you know it.
These tips are sure to help you conquer Fall 2014 finals week, and remember, no matter how good or bad you do, your parents will always love you! Good luck on your exams, Bobcats!