Tips to stop fretting over finals

By Jennifer Griggs •

Finals week, which runs from Dec. 5 to Dec this semester, can often elicit stress.

NSU offers a variety of resources to aid students during this time, from freshmen who have never taken college finals to juniors and seniors who have been down this path many times.

Some students, like Ritika Vonguru, have some valuable tips. Vonguru, a junior biology major, advises students to incorporate a mix of studying habits and techniques into their routines. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious, Vonguru likes to split up her notes into sections, which she studies one-by-one. She said this strategy is a practical approach to studying that helps her learn and relearn concepts while taking breaks.

“By organizing and spacing out what you study, you can take a break from really difficult classes and then study a class more interesting to you, where it may be more relaxing to study,” Vonguru said.

She said students should not just sit in the library all day studying for finals but should take frequent breaks, like going to the gym to exercise, reading a book, eating, relaxing or talking to loved ones.

Her biggest tip, when it comes to studying, is to have a positive mindset.

“When you focus and put so much emphasis on this exam that you need to do good on and put pressure on yourself, you are going to blank out when you take the exam. You have all this built up, ‘I need to do good or else I am going to fail’ mentality,” Vonguru said. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized there is always more to study, always more that I could’ve done, but ultimately, I did what I could, and this is the best I could possibility do.”

Vonguru is an example of a student who has switched majors hoping to find the career path that is right for her.

With the help of the Center for Academic and Professional Success office, students like Vonguru are better able to figure out what classes fit their major and career goals. The CAPS office is in the Horvitz Administration Building on the second floor. Students can meet with advisers, who are there to help and support students with their academic goals, through 15-minute drop-ins or longer, scheduled meetings.

“Whatever area you are in, we love to get to know our students,” said CAPS adviser Marissa Montgomery. “We want to know what your plans are, who you are, what your interests are, and what you want to get out of your four years.”

CAPS advises students studying for finals to pay attention to the syllabus, reach out to their professors, study in a comfortable environment and not to study the morning of the exam.

“If you feel overwhelmed or a little burnt out, stop for the night. You’re not going to retain any information if you are pushing through it to just push through it,” Montogomery said. “Give yourself at least 10 days to pace out. If your midterm or final is in a few weeks, then maybe start preparing now by taking a couple of hours or maybe just 30 minutes a day to focus on a subject.”

Montgomery also pointed out that each student can have a variety of study techniques and habits based on how they receive information.

“Retaining knowledge is based on each student. A student can learn 50 percent of knowledge in about two days while another student could need a week to retain that 50 percent,” she said. “So, it really depends on your comfortability as a student.”

One of the main things that CAPS advises is to schedule an appointment with the Tutoring and Testing Center located on the second floor of the Student Affairs Building. Students can request tutors for a specific class. To make an appointment, students can walk in, call the front desk, or select a time slot through Navigate, an NSU web application accessible through Sharklink. Students can also make a CAPS appointment through Navigate.

Taaron Branch, a second-year academic success coach at the Tutoring and Testing Center, said that during finals season, the Tutoring and Testing Center gets very busy and appointments for academic success coaching fill up quickly. Many students attempt to do walk-in sessions, but it is highly recommended to schedule an appointment two to three weeks in advance to avoid cramming and to ensure a tutor is secured before all the tutors become booked up.

“[The Tutoring Testing Center] is extremely very beneficial,” Branch said. “Finals and midterms are the busiest, but what many people don’t understand is that people who use our services successfully are the people who don’t just come during midterms and finals.”