Surviving College Finals

Many college students, especially freshmen freak out when finals arrive. The stress hits them like a tone of bricks, and sleeping is far from their minds as they cram and much as they possibly can, stay up late on coffee and avoid going out at all costs just so they can get that one last piece of information. You need not do all of that if you prepare in advance.

Prepare. Attend classes regularly. If you miss a class, find someone that takes accurate notes and get your own copy. You can photo copy these or handwrite them. As long as you have those days notes, you will not miss out on much information. If you attend class, you will have all the information needed to study for the final, which means it won't be as hard on you when it comes time to studying.

• Find out when the final is. Some classes don't require finals if you have A's or have pretty good attendance. Others require you to take the test no matter what. Find out when it is, that way you can better prepare. Mark the date on your calendar, or put it on a post-it-note somewhere that it is visible.
• Studying. Study for the class of which you'll take the final first. Study only in short bursts however. A lot of colleges keep their libraries open later during finals week to allow students plenty of time and a quiet place to go so they can study without distractions. If you are prone to distractions, make a note of the library times and post these with your final times. Have all materials with you that you'll need to look over for that particular class. Having the items within reach ensures that you won't have to get up over and over again to obtain these items, further distracting yourself. Studying in the library also ensures that you don't have clutter to distract you. I know that I myself have a hard time concentrating whenever my living area is cluttered. I sit down, begin to study and then have to get up only a few moments later to clean. If you don't want to study in the library, remove all clutter from your study area first.
• Take Breaks. No one can study for hours on end. The longer you sit staring at the same information over and over again will allow your mind to wander. A good rule of thumb for studying is for 15-20 minutes of material and then a break of some kind, even if the break is just you getting up, stretching and grabbing a snack. Any type of break is a good break, so make sure you take a break especially if you feel that you need one.
• Use Study Groups. If there is one subject out there that is absolutely confusing to you, chances are there are others that feel the same way. Thus, study groups are a great way to find others who are just as confused as you are so you can help each other understand what the other does not. Study groups for finals are usually formed a few weeks before finals week, or if a subject is really confusing, study groups may begin even earlier. Check bulletin boards for information or stop by your tutoring center on campus as ask. If you've shown interest in a study group, possibly others have as well. If you show a need, chances are they'll start one for you.
• Get plenty of rest. The night before finals, go to bed early! If you have to get up a bit earlier to look over some material, then so be it. But staying up all night to cram isn't going to help you one bit. Study an hour or so before bed, and then leave it. Push it aside, watch some TV and then hit the hay.
• Eat a good breakfast. The cliché answer, the one you hear the most. When you wake up, eat something good! Don't just grab a soda and a bag of chips. Instead, opt for a glass of milk or juice and a bowl of cereal. The better the meal, the better you'll feel thus helping you're memory.
• Don't let the stress get to you. When you're sitting in front of your test, don't freak out. Straighten up, take a few deep breaths and relax. By this point, you've done enough studying to ace the exam; the only thing stopping you from doing so is you. Relax, pick up your pencil and begin. Never spend too much time on any question, go onto the ones you know for sure, eliminate the answers to questions you are unsure of and pick the best answer, then go back and answer that ones you couldn't before!

With the above tips, you should survive finals and ace all your tests! Good luck!