We’ll be posting some creative and interesting strategies to help you prepare and get through the upcoming finals week.
Here are some tips on improving your study skills in time for college exams:
Stay focused. If you’re less distracted at the library, go to the library. Dorm rooms and apartments are full of potential time-wasters – TV, video games, snacks, chatty roommates. If you can’t study in silence, bring your books and headphones to a less distracting place.
Figure out your learning style. What may have worked for you in high school may not be relevant anymore. You probably have more work to do, with more opportunities for distraction and non-academic related activities. Figure out how you manage your time best and what makes you the most successful learner, because the study method that works for your friend down the hall may not be the one that will work best for you.
Keep everything. That syllabus you used as a coaster the first week of class? It could have some important information about final exam week buried in between the professor’s introduction and the required textbooks. File away every handout you get from every class, because they could be useful later. Toss them once the course is over and you’ve turned in that exam.
Don’t panic. If this is your first experience with finals week, put things in perspective. Yes, you’ll need to do well so that you’re around for finals next semester, but panic will only stress you out and potentially cause you procrastinate even more. Focus, breathe, and take care of yourself. You want to be feeling healthy and alert when you’re staring down at that college exam, and, as prepared as you’re able to be.