Brittany Reynolds, Staff Writer
Every final and midterm starts with the same mindset: “This semester I am going to do better.” However, it’s more as if we did a better job of torturing ourselves than we did preparing. As we near the end of fall semester, finals are coming up and we have two options: either stick to your same old routine, and end up having to tape your eyes open just to stay awake through the final or we can Crush the Cram and prove ourselves right.
Here are some tips that can help you avoid cramming to remember the material:
Begin with writing down everything you need to do. If you think you can remember everything you need to do, you cannot and you will not. Start by writing on a sheet of paper the dates of your finals. Look at your syllabi to know what information will be on the finals. Afterward, write down the remainder of your homework assignments.
- If you have reading assignments to do, write the due date for three days prior to the actual due date.
- Count the pages that need to be read and divide them by the amount of days you need to have them read by. This will give you an approximate amount of pages that need to be read per day.
- If you do not think you are going to read on the weekends, DO NOT pretend like you will. You know yourself better than you think.
You cannot afford to lose points when it comes finals time. It never hurts to have a bit of cushion room. Complete your assignments on time. Turn in all homework assignments. Even if you are unsure of an assignment, turn all of them in. Some credit is always better than no credit.
Take advantage of FLRC (Foreign Language Resource Center), Writing Lab, and all of the science and math tutoring centers. It is technically free, paid for by student fees. Moreover, the Writing Lab gives out free coffee, so there is always an incentive to getting your papers edited.
When it comes down to the last week or so before finals, it may be hard, but you are going to need to say no to those parties and all night movie nights with your friends. Discipline is a key factor to being successful in college and even more so in the workforce. Schedule study periods for yourself and stick to them. Tell your friends and family that those specific times are your time to prevent unnecessary distractions. Treating school like a job can prepare you for a less stressful semester. Putting in the time and effort can help you reap the most from an education you are paying for.
Try turning your phone off or putting it on airplane mode so that you do not get any interruptions. Create a checklist to keep a record of everything you need to do and everything you have finished. The less time wasted the better.
Treat yourself throughout those study periods. Try putting a piece of candy at the end of each paragraph when reading, or allowing yourself a 15 minute break for every hour and a half of undistracted work. If you get distracted easily, try tuning everyone out by listening to music or isolating yourself. If you work better in groups, try studying in well-lit public places. Avoid study groups in dim lighting or places that are too comfortable. In class, students perform better because of the setting. Regardless of a study group or individual studying, try to recreate the feeling so that you can focus better.
Studying does not have to be hard. Trying different methods can really help you properly prepare. Not every person is the same and neither are their study habits. Just remember that when picking a process, pick one that is tailored for you. Your friends will be there when finals are over.
If you like the study and organization tips in this article, please let us know on Twitter at @ksusentinel. If you have any tips that you want to share, send them to @ksusentinel with the hashtag(s): #SentinelStudyTips or #CrushtheCram
