As the semester wraps up, the period of final exams and projects is upon us. Last semester, I found a few tips that helped me get through and feel prepared for the big day, and I’m hoping they’ll be somewhat helpful for you too.
- Start early
Oftentimes, finals sneak up on you, and you’re stuck cramming either the week before or even the day before. I have gotten into the habit of starting reviews at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives you more time to work, split the material into smaller bite-sized pieces, and inevitably procrastinate a tiny bit.
2. Having a physical schedule
It’s very easy to note down in your brain all the things you might have to do, but it is almost certain that you’re going to forget something, and that’s the last thing you need. I used a planner template that my Hullabaloo U instructor made for me, and it really helped me because besides breaking down my schedule, it allowed me to have all the information in one place (times for the exams, how long I needed to study, and my to-do list for each day). There’s also something therapeutic about crossing items off your list, which having a physical schedule allows you to do.
3. Studying with others vs. studying on your own
It’s human to crave social interaction and think that studying with friends is going to help you. However, I found that studying on my own was more beneficial because it minimized distractions. The system that I found works is to do a good chunk of studying on your own and then to have about 2-3 group study sessions where you can pick each other’s brains; the best of both worlds.
4. TAKE BREAKS
I have the tendency to sit in one place for hours and study; my roommates recall not seeing head or hair of me during finals season and practically had to force me to come out and take breaks with them. Breaks are important, and when I don’t take them, I find the information goes straight over my head. A simple 20-minute chat with your friends, a short Power Nap, or an episode of a TV show really just recharges me. My pro tip for going back to work after the break is having people tell you to go back; my roommates would always tell me when to go back, and usually, I would because the conversation would be dying down.
5. Having confidence
It’s really easy to go into finals with the mindset that you’re going to fail, but I feel like that just shoots you in the foot to begin with. In my mind, thinking you’re going to fail is being set halfway on the path to failure. If you feel that you’re doing all you can to study, you will definitely do as well as you believe you can.