The Chimes gives you five ways to end this year strong
The end of the semester brings good weather, excitement for summer as well as the dreaded finals week. This week leaves students just begging for some sort of escape and a way to end the year without the added stress of cram sessions and last-minute projects. So what are ways students can eliminate both of those, while also enjoying the last week of the school year?
Hopefully, these study tips will aid in a student’s journey towards good grades and academic success! The Chimes staff wishes you good luck on finals!
1. STAY HEALTHY – At the risk of sounding like an overbearing parent, this is vital to a student’s success on the academic front. Making sure to eat healthy foods, get enough exercise, and steer clear of caffeinated drinks is even more important in times of increased stress. “The end of the term is anxiety-inducing enough without adding stimulants to the mix,” CELT Professor Bruce Epps said. Maintaining a healthy disposition will give students a clear head and energy to study.
2. Manage time wisely – Managing time can prove to be one of the most useful tools when it comes to studying for finals. If done correctly, it can eliminate stress, anxiety and cramming all in one fell swoop.
“[Managing my time] makes me feel more confident going into exams. I allot my time so that I study for all of them equally, so I don’t end up putting one off because I was cramming for the other,” Courtney Cunningham, freshman Conservatory student, said.
Rather than conducting one or more marathon study sessions just a day or two before the exam, use what’s called “distributed practice”: divide your exam preparation into a greater number of shorter study sessions (about an hour or so each). This approach (in contrast to cramming) is proven to increase learning and retention.
3. Sleep – Everyone has pulled an all-nighter at least once in college, and finals week seems to be the ideal time for it to happen. But don’t be fooled. Lack of sleep can actually make you forget more information than it helps you learn.
“As much as you feel like you need to stay up all night to study, after about 2-3 am, it’s pointless,” Dylan Helber, junior Sociology major, said.
Without sleep, there is little one can do to fight off the inevitable yawns and yearnings to pass out during the test. So catch some shut eye and be well-rested!
4. Be social – Yes, this may seem very counterproductive and not conducive to normal study habits, but it is actually better to study in a group or with a partner than it is to study alone.
“Make group study sessions more productive by giving each member an assignment to complete (such as writing out ten possible exam questions) prior to each meeting,” Epps said.
Study groups can get a bit unruly when there are more than three or four people, so try and keep the number small.
5. Get help – The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (Blackmore Library, 2nd floor) offers free walk-in and scheduled tutoring in its Math, Science, and Writing Centers through the last day of classes; students can stop in or contact CELT at (614) 236-6327 or celt@capital.edu to make an appointment.
Free online tutoring for popular subjects is also available at www.etutoring.org. And finally, students can come to CELT for assistance with all kinds of study strategies, including time management, note taking, test preparation and test taking strategies, and more.
