The last few weeks of school are the most anticipated yet
dreaded days to come ahead for college students. The excitement of finally
getting a break after a long and hard year, gets seized by the nerve wrecking
thoughts of taking final exams. It becomes even more gut wrenching when you
realize that maybe taking on a heavy credit load was overestimating your mental
capacity. Fortunately, you have come this far and the end is near. For that
reason we have compiled a few tips on how to get through those last restless
days so your long awaited break can begin.
Prioritize: There
are some subjects that we struggle more with, begin studying with those first
that way you have more time to prepare for the exam.
Rewrite notes:
According to researchers, writing and rewriting your notes will help with
remembering the information. So rewrite your notes from the semester to help
you refresh your memory. Also, if your professor has handed out a study guide,
you may also want to rewrite the entire guide with the answers.
Flashcards: Create
flashcards where you write questions on the front and answers on the back.
These are great because they incorporate writing notes to help memorize, they
help you reinforce what you don’t know and can be used in groups.
Acronyms: Do you remember “My Very Educated Mother Just
Served Us Nine Pizzas” (M.V.E.M.J.S.U.N.P)? Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Nine, Pluto. When you have a list that you need to
remember, create a sentence that uses the first letter of each word. This will
help you remember how many words you need to remember, what letter they start
with and what order they belong in.
Verbalize: After
you have all your notes gathered, grab a study partner and verbalize your notes
as your partner confirms your accuracy. This will not only help you check where
you need extra studying but will also reinforce what you already know.
Study Groups: Create
a small study group of 2-5 people. It is best to keep it small so there aren’t excessive
distractions. You will also want to study in a group that isn’t full of close
friends. This will minimize distractions because friends tend to divert conversations
and minimize the productivity of the group.
Seclude Yourself: If
you study better on your own, go to a quiet place where you can study such as
the library, school or local Park, coffee shops or your town’s waterfront area etc.
Stay Healthy: Although
it may seem like an insignificant reminder, remember to stay hydrated and eat
well. This will help your body and mind take on the stress, if not your body
will wear out quickly. So drink plenty of water and don’t skip any meals due to
studying. For the all-nighters, try to keep some healthy snack bars on hand
instead of junk food, your body will thank you later.
