It’s finally at the point in the semester where the talk of finals is upon us. For some of you that means graduation is right around the corner and for others it means winter break is so close you can taste it. As tempting as it is to just coast for the remaining of the semester it’s important to end with a bang. The best way to end your semester with the highest grades as possible is to know what you need to do from now until your semester is officially over.

A few ways to make sure you’re not missing anything you need to complete is to check blackboard and speak to your teachers about assignments and times of your finals. Once you have all the information you need, a checklist can be really helpful to make sure you don’t miss any deadlines or finals. Make sure your checklist is somewhere you can see it at least once a day and to carry a copy with you at school just in case. The simplest of ways to feeling prepared for your finals is to study as much as you can.

Each person has a unique studying style that works best for them so it is important to know which method of studying benefits you the most. A few study techniques that always help me grasp the material better is to find a quiet place where I can rewrite my notes over and make flashcards. Once I create the flashcards I study them in small intervals, give myself a break and then quiz myself an hour or two later on to see what I have down and what I need to work on. Another useful tactic is to have a friend, family member or classmate meet with you to help you. Just simply discussing what you need to know or even teaching concepts to other people can be the most effective action to memorizing your notes.

Some quick tips to mastering studying for your finals on campus, is to utilize what FSC has to offer. Students can reach out to the writing center and the tutoring center for help and guidance. Both the writing center and the tutoring center are located in the library of Greenley Hall. While in the library, you can easily find a sectioned off cube with closed walls for you and classmates to study in or print study guides to read over in the quiet. As busy as campus can be it can be difficult to find places with minimal distractions but there are many places available to find. The best places to go to in my experience would be the library, Lupton, Roosevelt and Whitman halls. The most crowded places on campus are usually the campus center, Gleeson and Hale halls due to classes and where many people hang out on during breaks to eat their meals.

The key to success when studying for finals is to dedicate a specific amount of time each day to study for all of your finals. The more you study, the more you will be prepared for your finals but it is important not to overload and stress yourself out too much. Finding the perfect balance between working hard and giving yourself enough breaks between studying for each class is the best way to survive finals week and preparing for it. Good luck to everyone studying for their finals, may the odds be ever in your favor!