It’s that time of year again. Snow is coming down, Thanksgiving decorations are up and final exams are looming around the corner.
This point in the semester can make or break a grade. Staying on top of things can be much less stressful if you stay organized. Final exams and term papers are almost a month away, too close for comfort if you ask me. The good news is organizing and preparing for finals is something you can start doing now.
Robert Stevens, the humanities librarian at Halle Library, said that while he was in graduate school he preferred to “create a fake deadline for papers” that was a week or so before it was due to make sure it was done ahead of time. By doing this he was able to relax when the real deadline was close.
Keeping a planner or calendar can be a great way to make sure you keep up with assignments.
Writing down not only when something is due, but what’s assigned and when you plan on doing it is a way to make sure you don’t forget. By planning out what homework you’re going to do each day you can eliminate the risk of having to scramble at the last minute.
“If you like keeping a calendar, that helps,” Stevens said.
Kelsey Lapping, a senior at EMU studying literature, said that so far the semester “is not going that well” but she added, “I’m a super perfectionist, so I guess I’m biased.” Lapping said she tends to “gear up for the last month of the semester rather than exam week” so that she isn’t overwhelmed when things are due.
“I’m an avid list maker so that I know what things I need to get done or start thinking about for the week,” Lapping said.
Along with organizing a planner, it’s important to keep all documents organized. This includes emails, Word document assignments and notes. The university email program, Eaglemail, lets you create folders for your inbox so each class can have a specific folder. Many professors email assignment reminders and if you keep them organized, you won’t skip over it or possibly delete it.
Eaglemail also lets you upload documents into the briefcase, where you can store Microsoft Word assignments and notes instead of relying on a flash drive.
If you don’t like taking notes in class but don’t want to miss out on the information, try recording the lecture. Many phones have downloadable apps that will record and cancel out background noise. That way you can listen to the lecture and take notes when you get home, where you are able to better listen and pay attention.
Study groups and professor office hours are something many students don’t take advantage of, but should. Professors are required to have office hours and it’s a great way to sit down with them and make sure you understand the material or get advice on what to study. Organizing a study group with other students can be helpful as well. The Halle library has study rooms available for groups to use that are soundproof, spacious and great for projects as well.
The Holman Success Center, located on the ground floor of Halle library, offers individual tutoring sessions. These are completely free to students and have been known to improve a grade by a full letter if utilized. You can sign up for an appointment on their website, emich.edu/hsc, and choose which class you need help with.
Sleep is critical to being successful in college. Staying up for a late night cram session may seem like a good idea until the next morning rolls around and you sleep through your alarm. Put away the homework and make sure to get at least seven hours of sleep every night, instead of napping during the day.
The worst thing you can do is put off getting help with classes. The sooner you seek out assistance the greater chance you have at improving your grade and study habits.
