1. Get Organized
One thing that I have always been obsessive about is my planner. I know, it sounds crazy, but I LOVE to have an organized planner. Every assignment for each class is written down after every school day and highlighted—with different colors obviously—after they are completed. This not only keeps me organized, but it also allows me to be on top of my shit and feel accomplished when it’s completed. It is important to stay on top of the last couple weeks of work so you are not cramming to finish that annoying essay on top of studying for your exams! Map out when your tests are and when you will start studying for each of them. When you have a concrete plan on how you’re going to tackle your final exams, you will only succeed!
2. Take Breaks
From personal experience, spending 9 hours straight in Memorial/College Library is not a good time. After I break my back hunching over my textbook for the majority of the day, all I feel is drained, stressed, and dreading to go back the next day. So take a break! Study for a couple hours then go for a walk. The fresh air will not only clear your head but also allow you to regain your energy so you can continue studying. And if you’re not into walking then grab coffee, roam around the halls, or take a nap! Research has shown that people who study and take a quick nap will retain more of the information than people who don’t. If that’s not a good enough excuse to take a nap during finals then I don’t know what is!
3. Form study groups
One of the most important things about studying is getting feedback from your peers. Forming study groups allows you to share information with others, get different perspectives, and have the opportunity to get help! Study groups are also a good way to beat the devil of studying…procrastination! When you have a commitment to a group of people, you will learn faster and are less likely to procrastinate.
4. Get Sleep
The most important thing about finals is being well rested. Lack of sleep prevents the brain from retaining information and performing to the best of your ability. It is not a smart idea to go out to a bar, drink, and stay out until 4am the night before a final. Even though college students don’t get enough sleep as it is, the next couple of weeks are the most important in terms of sleep to prevent getting sick and overtired. We need all of our energy—after Mifflin of course!
5. Don’t stress out
Do not stress yourself out. When it comes to the significance of your life, these are just silly tests. If you get a bad grade, then you learn from your mistakes and try again next year. If you work your hardest that is all that matters! If you stress out too much, you wont do as well. Approach finals week optimistically, enjoy the last weeks of school (can’t believe its over), and remember that the only person who has control over their grades is you! If you believe you can do well, then you will!