For many of us it is almost the end of week thirteen. That means finals week is right around the corner. A lot of you may be preparing to take your college finals for the first time so I have devised a list of tips and things that I wish I knew before I took my first college finals.

1. Start preparing now.

This doesn't mean you need to start studying now but at least start to plan everything out. Look at your schools academic schedule and find out when your exams start. Look at your class syllabi and try to plan out what is going to be happening in every class for the next two weeks. Don't forget to account for thanksgiving break! Plan out on the week of exams when each classes exam is and what time it is so you can plan your day accordingly since sometimes you only have one exam a day.

2. Don't give up.

Even though the semester is almost over you should be working harder now than ever before. These next few weeks can make or break grades and you just need to push through. Some professors might be lightening their class load while others might be giving more tests up until the exam. Know what is going on in your classes and plan accordingly.

3. Get in touch with your professors.

If your professor doesn't use blackboard or any other way of updating grades then get in touch with them. Go to office hours or email them asking about your grade. Know how you are doing in their class and if their is anything you can do for extra credit if you need it. Conversation is key with professors, it is not their responsibility to make sure you know what all is going on.

4. Talk to people in your class.

Try to organize times to meet up and study with friends in class. A lot of times two minds or more are better than one when it comes to studying. You can learn a lot from your peers but make sure you're choosing the right people. Work with your classmates and even go to your professor in a small group during office hours if you are all confused on a specific topic.

5. STUDY STUDY STUDY

I never studied in high school and got by just fine but that isn't the way it is in college. Work on your study habits and learn what way works the best for you. Plan ahead for what classes you need to study for first and go in order. Make sure you have enough time to thoroughly study for each class. Just remember that when it comes to finals, pain is temporary and G.P.A is forever.