By Jessica Klinner
Midterms have just passed, and the holidays are quickly approaching. You are not completely satisfied with the grades in your classes, but your motivation to do any kind of work has gone out the door. Three papers, two presentations, and 4 finals stand between you and a month away from the stress of school. Instead of falling deeper into a slump, it’s time to pick yourself up and end the semester on a high note. Maybe you didn’t study as hard as you needed to at the beginning of the semester. Well, now it’s time to make up for lost time and turn your semester around.
1. Prioritize.
Three papers, two presentations, and 4 finals? That’s a lot to juggle at once. Instead of waiting until the last minute to tackle all of these tasks, space them out according to the due dates. Plan a specific day and time to sit down and get the assignments done. Go ahead and knock out the harder tasks first so you’ll be less stressed.
2. Study with others.
Studying is always more fun when it’s done with other people. Quiz each other. Make practice study guides. Share notes and ideas. Do anything it takes to make sure you understand the material you’re going to be tested on. Stay focused, though. Study groups can quickly turn into a social hour. If you need to, pick people who you know will stay focused and help you better understand the material.
3. Find a good place to study.
While studying in your room sounds like an ideal place, it’s usually not the best idea because there are too many distractions. Instead of studying, you’ll find something to clean or start watching television. Isolate yourself to the library or somewhere where you know you will be free of distractions and able to accomplish your work.
4. Use study apps.
Technology is a beautiful thing. Study apps will be a tremendous help to students who have a hard time with studying. For example, the StudyBlue app allows you to create notecards on whatever subjects you want. As you study the notecards, you can weed out the ones you get correct and continue studying the ones you get incorrect. This particular app also allows you to view other sets of notecards different users have created.
5. Reevaluate your commitments.
As the holiday season approaches, many activities are popping up on your calendar. While you want to participate in everything you have scheduled, it may not be the best idea for your mental health or your grades. It’s important to remind yourself that you don’t have to do everything. There will be plenty of time for you to volunteer at the local soup kitchen or go shopping with your friends once you ace your finals!
6. Talk to professors.
Don’t be afraid to ask your professor about unclear material. They won’t know you don’t understand unless you tell them. Talk to them about the format of the test so there are no surprises. If you’re worried about your grade, set up an appointment and talk one-on-one with the professor to see what you can do in order to excel on your finals. More than likely, they will be more than happy to help you in whatever way possible. Just put your pride aside and ask for help!
7. Set goals for yourself.
Set goals for the end of the semester and never lose sight of them. Having something to work towards makes it easier to get focused. Nothing feels better than working hard for something and having it pay off.
8. Take a break.
Studying for hours at a time can be a daunting task. Don’t drive yourself crazy and brain dead by not allotting yourself time to take a break. When you’ve had too much studying, take a walk or go get dinner with a friend. These breaks will give your brain time to chill out and refocus for the next intense study session.
9. Sleep
Everyone loves to sleep, but when finals roll around, it becomes our mortal enemy. Sleep takes precious time away from studying, right? While pulling an all-nighter may seem like a good idea, it’s probably not. You’ll be more productive and alert if you get an adequate amount of sleep at night.
10. Celebrate
Once you ace that test or paper, celebrate! All the hard work you’ve put in the whole semester has finally paid off. Be proud of all you accomplished! You’ve made it through another semester of college and that’s more than a lot of people can say.
Contact the writer: jklinner@aum.edu
[Edited by Dagur Jonsson - 11/12/13]
