By Atilla Azami —
‘Tis the season! That time of the year when you got to juggle; work, shopping, research papers, football stats—and of course, everyone’s favorite—preparing for final exams. Ugh. Here are some tips collected from various professors and staff to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to preparing for finals.
Carla Deschamp, a grad student at NJCU and CSS tutor offered the following:
Work on good note-taking ahead of time. If you haven’t done so hitherto, no better time than now to pick up the essential skill and habit.
Establish a daily study program and adhere to the schedule.
Be aware of times of the day when you possess optimal focus. (For those who need a triple shot of espresso Starbucks coffee to spell their name correctly, nighttime studying might be the best.)
Avoid time wasters: cell phones, TV, Facebook, distracting friends, etc.
Professor Elizabeth Lenn, an English adjunct advised:
Know the facts: what is the date and time of your final? Is it cumulative, meaning it covers information from the whole semester, or just since the midterm? Will it be multiple choice, or are you expected to write short answers or essays? Knowing what you need to study is the first step in preparing to study.
Buddy up and use technology: many people find it useful to study with a classmate. This means you can split up the class material and share your work. With technology, like a Google doc or a Wiki page, iChat or Skype, or the creation and sharing of podcasts, group study can be both productive and convenient.
Determine the following questions: What is your studying style? Do you remember information better if there is a visual, like a flow chart or diagram? Does outlining help you organize information?
Be healthy. Make sure you are eating a balanced diet, sleeping at least 7 1/2 hours every night, and staying active, whether that be hitting the gym or just going for a daily walk. A healthy body is key to a healthy mind.
Not surprisingly, Dr. Dina Lieb, chair of the Political Science Department, strayed from specific tips and shared her insight as an ideologue and veteran educator. She said, “From day one, make a commitment to dive into the material 120% and be proactive throughout.”
Dr. Lieb added, “Who remembers if you had a 3.8 or a 4.0 twenty years from now?” She elaborated that it’s more important that students really grasp the concepts being taught rather than just getting a good grade. She noted that she sympathizes with her current students because we live in a society of “instant gratification.” But, the dictum “easy come, easy go” rings true.
And if all else fails, you can always follow NJCU student and managing editor of the Gothic Times Monir Khilla’s method of studying via osmosis: sleep with the book under your pillow!
