Written by Gabriel Castrillon, Assistant Editor
As ‘Roos prepare to head home for Thanksgiving break, many of us are beginning to realize that finals week is fast approaching. It’s a stressful time for everyone, but there are a few ways you can help yourself succeed without overloading yourself and spending all your time studying.
Plan Ahead
Not everyone is a meticulous planner, but for finals week, it is important that you have an idea of what you need to do and when you need to do it. Make sure to check the Final Exam Schedule and your classes’ syllabi. Even if you don’t like writing your schedule out or organizing it in a spreadsheet, at least make a mental note of when your finals are and see if they conflict with whatever else you might have to do that week. After that, get an idea of when you’re going to study, prioritizing finals that are nearer or those for courses in which you need a good grade the most.
Ask For Help (if you need it)
If you aren’t yet used to taking college-level finals, or are taking a lot of upper-level courses, finals week can feel overwhelming and isolating. If you’re in over your head in a class (or several) don’t be afraid to visit a professor during office hours or get help from the Academic Skills Center or Scarborough Center for Writing. Austin College has plenty of avenues for you to get the help you need to have a successful finals week– so make sure to take advantage of them!
Leave Time to Relax
Even if it feels like you’ve got an impossible amount of work to do, it’s still crucial to find time to relax and keep your mind off studying. When making your schedule for the week, leave yourself some free time and make sure to use it. If you don’t you might lose your momentum as the week goes on and struggle to keep your energy up for your last few finals. If you feel really overwhelmed to the point where not working on something stresses you out, meet with some friends for a study session so you can at least enjoy yourself while studying.
Even though finals week will be a stressful time for many of us, there are plenty of ways you can help yourself out. Relax as much as you can over Thanksgiving break and hit the ground running when you get back. Good luck in the coming weeks!
