Finals Survival A guide to making the grade

Take a break  Get the proper amount of rest. Stress is incredibly harmful to the body’s immune system and other systems.  When studying, be sure to take a 5-10 minute break at the end of every hour to do some jumping jacks, get a drink of water, have a snack, or something else that will keep you energized and focused.

Study  It is never too early to begin studying.  Study ahead and don’t wait until the last minute to start studying for that horrible final you have been stressing about since midterms.

Find an “accountabilibuddy”  Find someone in your class who can hold you accountable for studying.  Hold them accountable, too.  This way, you are guaranteed to make progress toward your goals.

Set goals  There is no point in sitting down at your desk with 15 books and notebooks with no game plan.  You will feel overwhelmed and most likely just give up.  Set a realistic goal for yourself every day from here to the end.  If you start now, 2-3 hours PER WEEK, PER CLASS should suffice.

More goals  Only you know what you need to do for your classes. If you need more than 2-3 hours per week, increase it. If you need less, take less.  Don’t fall into the pitfall of being underprepared for your exams. I would rather go in to an exam and be mad that the professor didn’t ask me something I knew than have him ask me something I don’t know.

Find a consistent study area  The library, your room, a coffee shop, the lounge of your residence hall.  There are plenty of excellent study spots available, both on- and off-campus. UTLIZE THEM! Find one that works for your study habits, and stick with it. Studies have shown that consistent study habits increase students’ focus and consequently, their test scores.

Helpful tricks  Chew gum when you are studying, and chew the same flavor gum while taking your exams. This will help your brain recollect information.  Pro-tip: Use a different flavor for each class.  Use different colored notecards/pens for each class. This will help your brain associate similar material.

Resources  Online flash-cards:    Library  The library may seem like an obvious resource to some, but many students never think to go there for help.  The Math and Writing Center offers help on a wide variety of topics. Just be sure to make an appointment early!

More resources  Your friends – chances are, they need a break, too. Take some time to go to the gym or get some food.  Your professors – they’ve been there. They can and probably want to help! Just ask.  Your RA – we’re here to help you be successful. We’re students, too, so just ask us if we have any helpful hints.

Prepared by Josh Mannix, RA Indiana State University