It’s finally December which means one thing for the end of our first semester: It is finals season! Although finals can be extremely stressful and most of the time feel like a huge weight, luckily our finals here at Dee-Mack are split up! We have first through fourth hour class finals on December 17th, and fifth through eighth hour finals on December 18th! Our last day of the semester is December 19th, but if you finish all your finals and have nothing to make up, your last day is the 18th! One of the main things that makes finals season so stressful is that a lot of students are unsure of how to prepare themselves; but don’t worry, the Red & White Review is here to save you from finals season anxiety!
There are a few main tips that can save you from over-stressing yourself during this time of year, but one of the biggest ones is finding a study method that works for you. What works for your friends or people on TikTok might not work for you, and that’s okay! There are a ton of study methods out there that all can excellently prepare you, it is only a matter of trying different things and finding yours! Some common study methods include: active recall, the Pomodoro method, the Feynman technique, and spaced repetition. These are just a few of the most common methods that work for people, but if you try these and find that none of them work for you, there are plenty more to choose from!
Another huge part of preventing stress is creating a study schedule. Oftentimes students find themselves overwhelmed with all the material from all of their different classes, so creating a study schedule can greatly reduce your stress. Create a specific time that you can study the material for each of your classes, and try to prioritize the classes that are a bit more difficult! Whether that means taking multiple days on a subject or just simply spending more time on it, definitely ensure you spend more time on harder subjects! Balancing school, jobs, sports, and other activities can feel like a lot during finals season, but taking the time to create a schedule will help you a great deal on your finals!
Something that most people overlook during finals is one that is the most simple: asking your teachers for help! If you are having trouble understanding anything in a certain subject, do not be afraid to ask for help! We have a wonderful faculty here at Dee-Mack, and I can say with full confidence that they are ALL willing to help you! So whether you are a freshman who is not all that familiar with your teachers, or a senior simply intimidated by your teacher, do not hesitate to ask questions and ask for help!
The last big part of assuring an excellent performance on your finals is making sure you do not overwork yourself. While finals are important, maintaining your sleep schedule, eating well, and taking breaks are also just as important. Do not let your finals consume you! Make sure you are still taking care of you even through the anxiety of finals season!
If I could personally give one piece of advice to anybody worried about finals, it would be to start as early as you can! Studying material over a longer period of time in contrast to cramming the night before truly makes such a difference. As somebody who has done both, I have noticed a better performance when I study little by little over a long period of time. It also helps you feel more prepared when you finally sit down to take your finals. Sitting down at that desk to take your final knowing you have spent all night studying and cramming for this test is going to make you feel a lot less prepared!
Ultimately, the biggest part of being prepared for your finals is finding what works for you! Find a study method that works for you and a schedule that works for you, and you will be perfectly fine! If you are struggling to understand material in a class, don’t be afraid to speak up! You might regret not asking for help, but you will never regret asking and receiving the help you need! Finals season can definitely feel like a lot for most students, but just these few simple things can improve your performance immensely. Good luck, Chiefs!
