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By Kayli Allen

Nighthawk Navigator Peer Coach

Final exams are coming up, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed with everything you must do. There are two major components of a successful finals week: studying effectively and managing stress. Here are tips for both.

Study tips

Choose the right study strategy: If you've been in college for any length of time, you've probably received lots of advice about studying. While all the tips might be good, different study strategies should be used for different types of classes. Flashcards are useful in classes that rely heavily on memorization of definitions or formulas, but they won't be as helpful when you need to understand broader topics. 

On the other hand, study groups might not help you memorize information, but they can be useful when reviewing concepts from the class and analyzing problems together. Choosing the right study strategy for the type of test is an important part of having successful finals.

Use campus resources: ¹û¶³´«Ã½ has a lot of great resources to help students learn. If you're struggling in a class, check out Tutoring Services to see if they can help. To get specific help for a class, take advantage of your professor's office hours and email. Professors are there to help you learn, so don't be afraid to ask them for help! If you're having trouble with study skills, staying organized, or for other general college concerns, try meeting with an Academic Success Coach or a Nighthawk Navigator Peer Coach. The coaches have a lot of great strategies for how to succeed in college.

Managing stress:

Take breaks: It's easy to become so focused on studying that you forget to take care of yourself. As counterintuitive as it sounds, studying for long stretches of time doesn't necessarily mean that you're learning the material. Try setting timers to remind yourself to take a break from studying. During your breaks, let your mind rest for a few minutes and allow yourself to recharge so that you can stay focused when you go back to studying.

Practice self-care: You might be tired of hearing this one, but it's worth repeating. Pulling all-nighters and skipping showers isn't a recipe for success. If your brain is worn out from studying too much, it will be hard to focus on your finals. Try to make time for sleep and exercise, get some fresh air, spend time with a pet, or do other things that help you relax and recharge. While finals are important, your mental health should be your priority.

Visit Student Counseling: If you struggle with test anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns that interfere with your studies, try talking to someone at Student Counseling. Also, reference this calendar for finals preparation events they offer.