Imagine it’s 2 am and you’re chugging coffee trying to pull an all-nighter studying for your final exams. Your textbooks are open, your notebooks are full of highlighted material, and you’re trying to memorize four months of material in one sitting. Sound familiar? Well, I hate to tell you this, but you’re cramming and ramping up your stress level, which is horrible for academic performance. I’m sure you don’t want your brain fried, so I’ve provided the following tips to efficiently prepare for finals week.

 1. If you’re concerned about your current grade, talk to your professor ASAP!

NOT when your professor is about to submit your grade to the registrar. Don’t email your prof. begging for a rounded-up grade. Some of my professors have warned their classes not to do this at the beginning of their courses, but this is your reminder that it’s not a good look.

2. If you’re in danger of failing, talk to your professor and/or your advisor.

• Go to your professor’s office hours to discuss your grade one-on-one if you think it can be saved. Check the syllabus for office hours—they’re usually listed at the top of the page near the prof’s contact information. Go over any material you don’t understand in preparation for any quizzes, projects, or final exams you have left. Ask questions if you’re unsure how to do an assignment.
• If your grade is unsalvageable, the withdrawal deadline for full-term courses is November 23^rd. Before you withdraw, you should consult with your advisor. It’s always good to get a second opinion and advice on what your next steps should be. Remember, skipping class when you’re enrolled doesn’t count as withdrawing. Go to e-Services and officially withdraw if you need to. Otherwise, the grade you ultimately receive will affect your GPA (and not in a good way.) Your withdrawal is successful if you don’t see the course in D2L anymore and if it’s not in your class schedule. A grade of W will appear on your transcript, and you won’t receive credit for the course. 

Pro tip: send an email to your professor saying that you’ve withdrawn to be polite, especially if you’re in a small class. It’s just nice to let the professor know that you’ll no longer be attending class (or a part of it anymore for that matter.) This way, no one will be wondering where you went. You don’t have to explain why unless you want to.

3. Study with your classmates.

If you have friends in class or even group members that you can turn to, I suggest studying with them, focusing on material that you don’t understand. Chances are your friends or classmates know some parts of the material very well, and you may know stuff they don’t. You can help them study; they can help you in return.

4. Study alone.

• Read over your notes and highlight important sections.
• Rewatch your professor’s lectures (if online).
• Use the study guide provided (if applicable).
• Look at your professor’s presentations again (if applicable).
• Listen to classical music. This genre increases concentration.
• Take breaks. You’re less likely to remember the material if you cram.

5. Take advantage of any breaks to catch up in classes or study early.

• Catching up – If you’ve fallen behind in your class(es), it’d be wise to use any time off from school to get caught up if your professor allows. Reread the syllabus for each professor’s policy on late work. If late work is not accepted or the window for accepting it has passed, I suggest focusing on the current assignments you have left to bring your grade up.
• Studying – I understand that even on breaks, it’s hard to set aside time or find the motivation to do any schoolwork; however, it is a smart move to begin studying days or weeks before your finals. When the exam dates come around, you will likely feel prepared and less stressed.

6. Check to see when your final exams are.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised by the countless stories of college students sleeping through their exams or forgetting what date the exams are held on. Usually, your professor will tell you on the syllabus and in-person (or online if that’s the class format) when your final will be. There is a slight possibility that the final dates and times will overlap between your classes. If this happens, contact one of your professors to reschedule in advance.

7. Begin final projects early.

For some classes, you may have final projects, papers, or other assignments in lieu of an exam. In any case, I suggest starting them at least three weeks before the due dates, especially if they make up a significant portion of your grade and if they involve research. (It takes time to find credible sources, to read them and decide which ones are suitable for your project, and to begin the project itself.) Starting your final projects early and gradually working on them will eliminate or alleviate any stress you may feel. In contrast, procrastinating and throwing your projects together last minute can negatively impact your grades and increase your stress level.

8. Find ways to destress.

Sometimes, stress can be good because it means you care about your performance and final grades; however, there are times when the stress and anxiety are unhealthy and excessive. If you find yourself overwhelmed and crying about finals (as I did my freshman year), talk to a friend, consider counseling, read self-help blogs, go to destress with pets or wellness walks hosted by Healthy Huskies, etc. Remember that you’re not alone in feeling like this.

 

With these tips in mind, I wish you good luck with the rest of your semester. If you’re finding it difficult to finish this semester on a high note, though, I strongly encourage you to see my post on academic burnout. That post includes resources for those struggling with their academics. I also recommend this Healthline article called, “How to ‘Unfry’ Your Brain.” It’s a worthwhile read because it provides great advice on how to cope with stress and how to study effectively. Now go ace those exams!