Pacer graphic / Clarissa Spitzley
With classes and the semester coming to an end, that means finals are only beginning.
Finals week is when all of the classes you have taken throughout the semester have one large project and/or exam due. Sometimes these are small assignments or it can be a 200-point exam that is over the whole semester. Most students dread this week.
“Going into my second finals week was a lot less nerve-wracking than the first, but is still very draining. This semester I have a final exam for every class I am taking, and it is a lot. I will be so much happier when these are done, and I get to enjoy summer,” says Tabitha McDunn, a UT Martin student from Clarksville, Tennessee.
Preparing for a philosophy final is completely different than a biology final and even more different than a health and human performance final. Even though these are all so different, there are still many things that can be done in order to help you prepare for your finals.
“Be sure to read your course syllabus and Canvas announcements to know what your final is over. Some professors choose the latest material covered and only have that on their exam, while other professors will test you over everything from this semester, such as math finals. Review your notes from the semester on your own, create your own Quizlets or flashcards, and then do a group study with others,” says Natalie Perkins, a former UT Martin Student Success counselor and current lecturer in Mass Media and Strategic Communication.
Finding a good place to study can be a very important start to getting a good understanding of the content. Some people love to study in their bedroom and some can’t focus in their room. The library is another good place to study until it gets too crowded. Once you find the perfect place to study where you can put away all distractions, then you are ready to begin.
“I prefer to study in the library when I can focus. When I study at home, I get easily distracted by wanting to lay in bed or watch TV. At the library, if I go in a study room alone or sit somewhere by myself, I’m able to just focus on my work without any outside distractions,” says Amarise Flores, a UT Martin student from Clarksville, Tennessee.
Now that you have a great location, you may be intimidated by the whole semester’s worth of information. Everyone has a different method of studying. No matter the method, the earlier you begin studying, the better off you will be in the long run.
“I’d say at the beginning I was studying a few hours a week, but as midterms and the end of the semester rolled around, I was getting ⅔ hours of studying in each day,” says Bryce Franks, a UT Martin student from Jackson, Tennessee.
Having your first finals week during freshman year also can come with a lot of mistakes since you have never experienced this before. Perkins says that some of these may include waiting until the night before to study, getting too over-caffeinated, or not using the resources that are available.
“I have used the library and other study areas on campus to help me focus on my studies. I love that the teachers here genuinely care about their students and want them to succeed. That has helped me more than anything,” says Rina Focht, a UT Martin student from Chicago.
Remember, studying for finals is a little different for everyone. Your major, the classes you are taking and your style of learning can all affect the way you may study. There are other things you can do to help your grades that do not always involve studying.
“Other advice would be to ask your professor to see if there is any extra credit you could possibly do, or submit past missed assignments for partial credit. When you have a study group of five or more, it typically turns into a social hour. If you do have to have that many or more people for the study group, designate someone to keep you all on task if the conversation turns away from what you are studying and respect the redirection. Also, set yourself time limits on studying. You need breaks for your mind and body, so don’t forget to walk around outside to help you de-stress,” Perkins says.
To feel better about having to study for all your upcoming finals, don’t forget: find the best place to study, start studying early, look over Canvas and the syllabus, use your resources, and study, study, study.
