Thanksgiving is over…now what? The end of November festivities usually means one thing for college students. Finals. I don’t know about you, but for me, I only have a week and a half left of classes before my first round of collegiate finals begin. Before too long—two and a half weeks, to be exact—we will be on our way back home to celebrate Christmas and the end of the semester. But we must get through those last few weeks before we can celebrate freedom.
Finals preparation is the most vital part of the semester, in my opinion. We gather all the information that we worked so hard to accumulate throughout the semester for one final examination to determine how well we fully know the material. For some people, the final is their only grade in the class, making it extremely important. At Furman, there are designated “study days” where there are no finals and students are simply expected to take advantage of these days to prepare.
But what are the best ways to prepare for finals? Of course, different methods work for different people, but a good luck final ritual is needed for everyone. My first piece of advice for final studying is to study somewhere different. Since finals are not like any other test or assignment, they shouldn’t be prepared for like any other test or assignment. The simplest way to change the preparation is by moving locations. For me, studying in a new location can be exciting and I look forward to studying a little more than I would by simply going to the library like I do every other day. A simple change in scenery is one way to shake up your finals studying.
My next suggestion for finals studying requires you to pull out your agenda and your colored pens. Make a study schedule and STICK TO IT. Finals week should not keep you up all night or studying around the clock. Making a study schedule will allow you to get enough work done during the day, so you can chill out and watch Netflix at night. Simply allowing yourself to study two hours per class per day for a week up to the exam is 14 hours of studying per class and only eight hours per day (if you have four classes, as I do). Of course, this number can increase and decrease as needed, but it’s a good starting point for figuring out what works best with your schedule.
My last piece of advice is easier said than done: don’t stress out too much. Finals are stressful, but they shouldn’t consume your life. Take breaks throughout the day if that’s how you work, or work hard all day and reward yourself at the end. Watch some movies with your hall mates or leave campus to go get some brunch. It will be a jammed packed couple of weeks, but that doesn’t mean it all should be work. Do quality work, then have a good time with your friends. Before you know it, you’ll be packing up to celebrate Christmas with your family!
