Written by Grace Lemoine, Cisneros Scholar '25
In high school, I remember daydreaming about college life during band practice. It was a mystery to me, as no one in my family had attended college. The one thing I knew for sure, thanks to the hushed whispers in the hallway, was finals week– something so straightforward, yet I was left stressed by the mere thought of it. As I approach my fifth finals week of college, I can confidently say that it’s nothing special, though it will always come with some stress. As a Cisneros Scholar, I know a thing or two about academic excellence. Here are five strategies to approaching finals which have never led me astray!
Set Realistic Goals
The first step to a successful finals season is setting goals you can reasonably achieve. It isn’t a time to reach for the stars. Put simply, your primary goal should be to pass. It doesn’t hurt to aim for an A+, but this mindset raises the stakes (and stress) much too high. To figure out your goals, start by looking at your previous grades. By doing so, you’ll have a better idea of (1) what to expect for your final, (2) the topics you need to review, and (3) how you’re likely to perform on your final. This process is also helpful to gauge which classes you’ll need to spend the most time studying for.
Create a Study Schedule
Speaking of study time, use it wisely! Write out when all of your finals take place and where. Once you have your calendar, think about how much time you need to prepare for each task. Will it take you two days or eight days to write your essay? How many times will you need to rehearse your five-minute presentation to feel ready for the big day? Don’t wait until the day before your deadline to start working. In my experience, creating a schedule for each day during finals helps maximize your time. Plan to spend one or two hours on each task before switching. When you change tasks, change your study location, drink some water, and stretch. This way, you can reset your mind and body, replenishing your energy.
Diversify Review Techniques
The key to productively preparing for finals is to make your studying as interesting as possible. Don’t just spend your days hunched over your computer! Create flashcards, diagrams, and maps with bright colors to help you mentally categorize information. Create an essay outline or rewrite the key points from your lecture notes on notebook paper, a dry-erase board, or a poster. Talk out loud to a friend about a topic, idea, or something you’re confused about (with their permission, of course). Whatever you decide, pay attention to the small things but not too much so that you lose track of the bigger picture.
Utilize Available Resources
This isn’t Survivor. Reach out to classmates, tutors, TAs, or professors. Go to office hours if you have questions or want clarification on a particular concept. Test your knowledge using textbooks, library resources, and online study tools. You can’t succeed solely with your lecture notes and grit (though, trust me, I’ve tried).
Take Care of Yourself!
Finals have a funny way of becoming all-consuming, but at the end of the day, they aren’t that important. Be sure to balance your academic success with your health. Otherwise, you’ll be left worse off than when you started. Remember to eat, drink water, move your body, and feel the sun on your face. Don’t feel like you must spend every waking minute preparing for your finals. Make time to take a walk, watch a movie, or get dinner with a friend. You deserve to rest every once in a while.
As you navigate your finals, remember that success takes many different forms. The bumps on the road don’t matter as long as you get to where you want to go. You are more than a letter grade!
Grace Lemoine is a Cisneros Scholar majoring in International Affairs and Geography. Grace's views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.