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Finals survival guide: Studying sooner than later will pay off

So, finals week is here, and there are many of us who want one more week to catch up and improve our grades. There are others who have worked hard all semester, are mostly satisfied with their grades and have been antsy for the school year to be over. This is the finals guide executed by the well-prepared students and explained for us, the ill-prepared students.

It’s very funny because many students joke about the fact that they shouldn’t study for a final the day before, but somehow still end up studying the night before. A student who started studying and reviewing a week or two before compared to a student who pulled an all-nighter, has more time to truly understand course material that cannot be crammed overnight. 

All-nighters — though common and somewhat helpful — cause more harm than good. The brain needs rest; no sleep leads to slower cognitive and social processing, problems with memory and makes it hard to concentrate. So yes, you may have survived staying up all night, but along with the high possibility of falling asleep in class, you are slower. This brings us back to the point of studying earlier than the night before.

Start making your study schedule; what days will be focused on what subjects. No one wants to end up studying a lot for one final and not at all for another. At least by jotting down a study schedule you can see how much time you need to put into preparing for each subject.

After you have a study schedule, start making your own study guide. Even if all you have to do is read pages out of a textbook, bring out a pen and paper and take personal notes in words you can understand. If you write down course material as you are reading it you are basically reviewing that material twice. 

Flashcards, flashcards, flashcards! Those little cards are miracle workers. Since carrying full notebook pages around can be annoying, flashcards make it easier to carry your study guide on the go. If there are terms you need to know before your final, put them on note cards and take them around all day.

Have you heard the saying, “Pride comes before the fall?” Well, when relating it to finals, it practically means get rid of your ego and ask for help. Look for study partners if you don’t have any right now and ask for help in areas that you do not understand. If you need extra help, e-mail your professors with questions, go to office hours for help or book an appointment, but get tutoring. Get help. One that does not know and does not acknowledge the fact that they don’t know is a fool.

Eat right. This keeps the brain sharp. A caffeine-based diet for finals week can cause nervousness, irritability, anxiety and restlessness. Everything in moderation is always better, and this applies to how much caffeine one consumes in a day.

Finally, relax. Pre- or post- finals, relax. There is no problem worrying over finals, but don’t over think it. Try your hardest and take your time during the actual exam. Read and re-read the instructions on your finals, double check your spelling and answers — you might have thought “C” but circled “A.” And when its all over, take off your thinking-cap and enjoy your well-deserved winter break. Good luck on finals everyone. 

Uzo Umeh is a junior communications major and a contributing writer for the Daily 49er.


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