Hey everyone, Here’s some general tips for surviving final season! Figure out your finals schedule. At NIU we have a separate finals schedule that sometimes take place outside of the regular scheduled class times. Some classes also have departmental exams where everyone in that course number takes the exam at the same time as the other sections. For NIU Students here is the link for the standard exam times: https://www.niu.edu/registration-records/dates/exams/standard-exams-spring.shtml Also be sure to check your syllabus for the time and location of your final exam and to make sure none of your final exams overlap. Study schedule. It is good to study two weeks before finals so that you can study in little chunks every day instead of cramming the day before. Some final exams are accumulative across the whole semester verses others that are on specific chapters towards the end of the semester, be sure to talk to your professor about which way your exam will be. Attending office hours is another create way to prepare yourself for what material your final exam will be covering. Find a designated study spot that's only dedicated to studying like a desk, a table or with the weather getting nicer outside. Make sure to remove any distractions that are in your study space. I find it helpful to use your phone as a timer for the duration you are studying. I use my phone timer to study for 30 minutes to an hour and then take around a 15 to 25 minute break. It is important to care about yourself and with studying for an intense subject, it's easy to burn out. Even as short as a 5-minute break can prevent that. During my breaks I like to grab a snack, stretch, and relax. If you are still having difficulty focusing, put on some white noise, classical music, or lofi music to help set the mood.
Night Before
Do NOT pull an allnighter before a final exam or any exam in general. You will be sleepy the next day, and even worse, you won't retain any of your late-night studying. Sleep helps you create long-term memories and without it all the studying done the night before will not be in your long-term memory.
Reward Yourself
Yay! You made it through finals! Remember to reward yourself for all the hard work and long hours you put in to make it through this semester!
I hope my advice helps as we quickly are approaching finals season. Good luck with finals! SWE will be rooting for you!
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