Study Skills for Finals

By Brittany Jones

Hey Cougs!
Although I have written in my last two blogs the importance of enjoying the fresh air, and attending school activities in order to take breaks from studying I am fully aware that you do need to focus in these last two weeks of school. It is so stressful to think that you could spend all of those countless hours in a class listening to lecture and at home working out papers and homework and your grade could all come down to this last week. In one of my classes 50% of my grade is coming from the last two days! So I looked up some of the best tips that the experts can give for studying for finals.

I know that your goals are not only to ace your exams, but also to do so with a minimum number of mental breakdowns! Using some of these tips your sanity will stay intact and your grades will stay impressive.

• Manage your time! Before finals week arrives, make a calendar with a checklist for each day. If you schedule your goals for amount of time on each subject and or project you will be most likely to stick to it and not let yourself get distracted.
• Prioritize: when making your checklists make sure you put things in the order of importance that they get done. The problem happens when people have a checklist and do all of the easy or more enjoyable things first and check them off while continually putting of the hard important things.
• SLEEP! I know you’re thinking “yeah right I’ll sleep the second week of May, but it is proven that you will do much better during exams if you have good solid sleep. Your brain can also function much better and retain information.
• Study groups: Do not study with that kid that is ALWAYS texting you asking you questions and asking for your homework. Instead study with someone that is at the same caliber as you are so you don’t end up tutoring instead of studying.
• Don’t schedule other activities. Your mom may want to do lunch the day before your final and you may think that you will be in good shape by then and could use the break. When the day actually comes you will probably feel stressed and feel obligated to keep your plans with your mom, who would have understood in the first place if you told her you had to postpone a few days.
• Put things in perspective. When giving presentations, don’t be nervous- just know that you prepared the best you could. What is the worst that could happen? Nobody really cares if you stumble, so just laugh at yourself and keep moving. With finals, ask yourself what your goals are. and if it is to get a B in a course and you have a high B, you may only need a C on the final in which case you are stressing as if you need an A+ in order to graduate!
  

I hope these tips help! Until next time… GOOD LUCK COUGS!

Brittany Jones is a sophomore I/O psychology major from Tinley Park, IL. She is a Student Government Association senator, Vice President of the American Red Cross Club, and a forward on the Women's basketball team. Consideration for the student bloggers is provided by Saint Xavier University.