The fateful time has come around once more: midterms. The beautiful green leaves on the trees begin to wither away into the golden browns and reds of fall, and the crisp autumn breeze welcomes us into the season. Although everyone has crammed for exams before, there’s just something about midterms that looms over us like an ominous storm cloud waiting to rain on our parade.
In order to survive this stressful time, we must relax, energize, and prioritize. Waiting until the last minute to study for an exam may not seem like a big deal…until the grade is handed back, and it isn’t exactly what you were hoping for. Crossing your fingers, and wearing your lucky underwear won’t help you through college exams.. only sweet, sweet coffee and hard work can do the trick.
When the course syllabus is posted on Blackboard, make sure that you print it out, and jot down all of the important dates onto your calendar; you don’t want to be surprised by a Chemistry midterm or English essay that you just weren’t awake enough in class to hear about. Prioritizing your schedule can make all the difference in the long run, and let’s face it: no one wants to live in the library, so why force it?
Study as you go along! After class, instead of returning to your room for a “well-deserved” nap or hours of Netflix, crack open your book, or read over your class notes; the information will be stored longer in your memory, and it won’t look completely foreign when you begin studying at 10 p.m. on midterm-exam-eve.
Stay healthy in the process! Make a habit of going for a run, or the gym and then studying afterwards. Your blood is still pumping, and your brain is ready for its workout! The night before the exam, get plenty of rest, and be sure to eat a good breakfast the next morning because you will need the energy.
Lastly, trust your instincts! While taking the exam, always answer according to the first answer that pops into your mind. More often than not, your first inclination will turn out being correct; you don’t want to put down the correct answer and end up changing it (we’ve all done it… and don’t want to go back to that dark, dismal place of self-loathing). And don’t forget your supplies: #2 pencils for Scantrons, water, and a jacket. Good luck to us all!