Believe it or not, we only have a few weeks of classes left in the semester. This means that finals week is quickly approaching! If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we need to embrace flexibility in order to traverse college life. Below are lists of options for you to utilize in crafting your schedule for finals week. Selecting two out of three will set you up for success, but feel free to use as many or as few that work best for you! Embrace every aspect of wellbeing in order to totally dominate your finals!
Exam Preparation
- Handwrite a study guide: Feeling a bit overwhelmed by how much content you will be tested on? A great way to synthesize and summarize information is to generate your own study sheet in your own handwriting. Research shows that students are better at recalling information when they wrote it instead of typing it. This study guide will especially come in very handy if your exam is open-note!
- Schedule your study time: Avoid feeling overwhelmed with work right before exams by starting to study earlier. Set some reminders in your calendar to dedicate a small amount of time daily to final exam preparation. Even 15 minutes of review each day will make a huge difference in your performance and morale heading into finals week.
- Attend group tutoring: The Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS) once again comes in clutch with their free tutoring services. These small group sessions are perfect for reviewing for upcoming exams and also discussing content with peers. Plus, hear tips for exam success from experienced tutors! Visit class.syr.edu to learn more!
Final Essay Writing
- Write all your intro paragraphs: If you have multiple papers to write, consider taking an hour or so to crank out the introductory paragraphs for each assignment. This will get the ball rolling on every paper and develop a plan to conquer each task.
- Visit the Writing Center: The Writing Center is an awesome resource for all students looking for assistance with any writing assignment. Specialists will help you start, proofread, or edit your writing to ensure your content and quality are on point! Visit their website to learn more and make an appointment!
- Organize your sources: If your desktop resembles a traditional college student, chances are you have links, folders, and random documents spread out everywhere. You will save yourself time in the writing process if you generate a list of sources in one folder for each separate assignment. Not only will you find out if you lack the required sources but will also know right where to find them next time you open your laptop!
Self-Care
- Enjoy a quality meal: The pandemic has altered our dining plans, but so has the busy semester. A healthy way to recharge is to sit down and enjoy a meal without distractions or multitasking. A lot of students do not realize that they may feel tired simply because they are dehydrated! Savor mealtimes as a way to relax!
- Zoom out: Feeling drained from all the screen time? You need to ensure you turn off the tech in order to do your best when you are studying! This is a lot easier said than done because there can be a lot of pressure to constantly be productive as a college student. Even setting aside an hour before bed without technology can make you feel better!
- Relax in your own way or try something new: If you have a go-to way to relax or activities you enjoy outside of school, then you should absolutely work to incorporate those into your routine! However, a lot of us may not be sure what options exist to help students manage stress. The Barnes Center at The Arch offers a variety of programming to help students in this tumultuous time. Visit syracuse.edu/BeWell to learn more!
Written by Ava Breitbeck ’22, College of Arts and Sciences, CLASS Office Assistant