Surviving Finals Week

The words “finals week” put a sense of dread in the hearts of college students at the end of every term. But don’t worry, success is well within reach! I have compiled tips from upperclassmen to take your studying to the next level.  

Increasing Productivity 

1. Make sure you are not studying everything the night before. It is easier to remember content when it is studied in shorter intervals over several days rather than all at once.  
2. Studying with a classmate can give you both a deeper understanding of the content, but make sure that you choose someone who will help you focus, not someone you’ll be too easily distracted by. 
3. If, like most of us, you struggle with distractions on your phone, it may be helpful to turn it off, give it to a friend while you study, or put it on the other side of the room.  

The Importance of Breaks 

Breaks can be instrumental in the success of memorization. While you should carefully watch how much time you aren't working, a short break can be just as productive as continuing to work.  

1. One technique is to work for an hour and break for 5-10 minutes. The goal is to allow your mind to recharge and increase focus. Along those lines, you can also set a timer for your study time and decide when the timer rings whether you want to take a break then or keep working and take a break later.  
2. Treat yourself! You can set a specific reward that you get to enjoy when you have completed a goal, such as going to get ice cream or watching an episode of a show, or doing something artsy or creative. Whatever will motivate you to finish the task. 
3. Walks are also a productive way to spend a break, as they increase focus. A little exercise and fresh air could also help wake you up after spending a long time studying. 
4. Enjoy a campus finals week activity! Cumberlands knows finals week is stressful, so they always plan extra activities for us during the week to help us unwind and get our minds off school for a while. Keep your eyes on the UC’s Instagram account; that’s often where you can find a schedule of the finals week activities. 

Specific Study Suggestions 

1. During finals week, lots of people will want to study in a quiet place, so make sure to reserve a room in the library ahead of time and be respectful to others who are studying. 
2. Along the lines of being respectful, this is the perfect time to start using headphones or AirPods while in your dorm room or public spaces, so your roommate and/or friends can focus just as well as you can. 
3. Set aside time slots each day for studying and prioritize those times over other opportunities that may arise. Setting specific goals for what you want to learn each day can also add structure to your process and help you to feel accomplished.  
4. In general, it is better to understand the concepts than to memorize your notes exactly. While it is important to know definitions, rather than exact wording, you should try and understand how they relate to other concepts you have learned.  
5. Previous tests or quizzes can act as guides for what kinds of questions to expect on the final. Use those to study! 
6. Flashcards are a helpful resource for understanding concepts. If you don't have paper flashcards, programs like Quizlet or Anki can be just as helpful. 
7. Maybe it’s a bit late to say this, but I’ll say it anyway: make sure that you are attending your classes! That way, you can learn all the information you need to know about the upcoming finals. You’ll feel more confident on exam day if you do. 
8. Breathe. I’m serious. If you start to feel overwhelmed, remember that it is just one final, it is not everything. Step back, close your eyes, and take a few long, deep breaths. It’ll relax you and clear your head, helping you feel more grounded. 

You don’t have to dread finals week. If you follow even just a few of these tips, the week will go smoother for you, you’ll do better on your finals, and you will have fun during study breaks!  

Good luck on your finals! I’m rooting for you, and I know you will do an amazing job! The words “finals week” put a sense of dread in the hearts of college students at the end of every term. But don’t worry, success is well within reach! I have complied tips from upperclassmen to take your studying to the next level.   

Increasing Productivity 

1. Make sure you are not studying everything the night before. It is easier to remember content when it is studied in shorter intervals over several days rather than all at once.  
2. Studying with a classmate can give you both a deeper understanding of the content, but make sure that you choose someone who will help you focus, not someone you’ll be too easily distracted by. 
3. If, like most of us, you struggle with distractions on your phone, it may be helpful to turn it off, give your it to a friend while you study, or put it on the other side of the room.  

The Importance of Breaks 

Breaks can be instrumental in the success of memorization. While you should carefully watch how much time you aren't working, a short break can be just as productive as continuing to work.  

1. One technique is to work for an hour and break for 5-10 minutes. The goal is to allow your mind to recharge and increase focus. Along those lines, you can also set a timer for your study time and decide when the timer rings whether you want to take a break then or keep working and take a break later.  
2. Treat yourself! You can set a specific reward that you get to enjoy when you have completed a goal, such as going to get ice cream or watch an episode of a show, or do something artsy creative. Whatever will motivate you to finish the task. 
3. Walks are also a productive way to spend a break, as they increase focus. A little exercise and fresh air could also help wake you up after spending a long time studying. 
4. Enjoy a campus finals week activity! Cumberlands knows finals week is stressful, so they always plan extra activities for us during the week to help us unwind and get our minds off school for a while. Keep your eyes on the UC’s Instagram account; that’s often where you can find a schedule of the finals week activities. 

Specific Study Suggestions 

1. During finals week, lots of people will want to study in a quiet place, so make sure to reserve a room in the library ahead of time and be respectful to others who are studying. 
2. Along the lines of being respectful, this is the perfect time to start using headphones or AirPods while in your dorm room or public spaces, so your roommate and/or friends can focus just as well as you can. 
3. Set aside time slots each day for studying and prioritize those times over other opportunities that may arise. Setting specific goals for what you want to learn each day can also add structure to your process and help you to feel accomplished.  
4. In general, it is better to understand the concepts than to memorize your notes exactly. While it is important to know definitions, rather than exact wording, you should try and understand how they relate to other concepts you have learned.  
5. Previous tests or quizzes can act as guides for what kinds of questions to expect on the final. Use those to study! 
6. Flashcards are a helpful resource for understanding concepts. If you don't have paper flashcards, programs like Quizlet or Anki can be just as helpful. 
7. Maybe it’s a bit late to say this, but I’ll say it anyway: make sure that you are attending your classes! That way, you can learn all the information you need to know about the upcoming finals. You’ll feel more confident on exam day if you do. 
8. Breathe. I’m serious. If you start to feel overwhelmed, remember that it is just one final, it is not everything. Step back, close your eyes, and take a few long, deep breaths. It’ll relax you and clear your head, helping you feel more grounded. 

You don’t have to dread finals week. If you follow even just a few of these tips, the week will go smoother for you, you’ll do better on your finals, and you will have fun during study breaks!  

Good luck on your finals! I’m rooting for you, and I know you will do an amazing job!