One of the most stressful times of the year for many college students is finals week. This important week is usually the most stressful because it is what makes or breaks many students. Not only are students' grades on the line, but also means such as scholarships and other financial resources. Even though finals week is hard, it is possible to benefit from your final exams with the right preparation methods. Below, I have listed five tips that I feel are essential for students who wish to succeed during this week of madness.

1. Take advantage of tutors.

At most universities, there are many tutors available to help you with your studies. Most of the time, the tutoring services are free. If you cannot find a tutor for your academic major, find a graduate student. Usually, graduate students are more than willing to help as long as you are trying your best to learn the material. If all of these other options fail, there are online websites and chat forums where you can find help, although sometimes these websites require you to pay. The best option would be to contact your college to see if they have tutors available. If they do, visit the tutors throughout the year instead of just using them for finals week. Going to tutoring throughout the year will help you get a full background of all of the knowledge that you should know for your final exams.

2. Talk to your professor.

If you are unsure about what you should study for your final exam in a particular class, the best person to ask about the material would definitely be the professor. Send your professor an email or schedule an appointment with him/her for long questions, or ask your question at the end of class if it is short. If you cannot contact your professor, try to contact one of the graduate assistants in class or through email. In college, you cannot be scared to ask questions, and all of these people are here to help you.

3. Form study groups with other classmates.

Sometimes, it is boring to study piles of material alone. Studying with friends is not only fun, but it can also keep you on track. When everyone is devoted to a task, things get accomplished more quickly. Also, multiple brains are better than one. Someone might know the answer to a question that you are unsure of. Try to choose people who are doing well in the class that you are studying for, if you can. If you are one of the individuals who is excelling in a class, tutoring people who are struggling might help you retain the material better.

4. Set a specific time to study.

Procrastination is a big problem for many college students. To combat procrastination, many students study better when they study on a schedule. Instead of saying that you will study on a certain day, lay out time to study whatever material that you need to cover. Plan to study at a certain time, and possibly study in intervals where you do not waste time. This method will allow you to cover more material and also enjoy yourself.

5. Try to get some sleep.

Although there is definitely a lot of content to cover for your final exams, it is also important that you get some sleep. If you are exhausted, you might pass out during your exams. Even if you do your best as far as studying, it will be hard to do well on your tests if you are not well-rested. Remember, you can only study so much. Try you best to cover all of the material that you have to, and then relax. As long as you do your best, there is nothing to worry about.