The Semester is Over - What To Do Next

Your finals are over and you are headed home for the semester break.  Here are some things to consider:

• Keep all of your papers and returned exams until you receive your final grade for each course.  If you think there was an error you will need these to prove your point.
• Keep all of your syllabii.  If you ever decide to transfer the new school may want to see them in order to determine is the credits will transfer.
• If you were unable to sell your textbooks, consider selling them yourself at the beginning of the next semester – at a price below the used book price at the book store but higher than you would have received during Book-Buy-Back.
• Consider reading a book that relates to you field.  Go to your local library for suggestions.
• Many schools offer short winter sessions on-line.  If you take a class somewhere else, be sure it will transfer before registering.  Your own institution can help with this.
• Reflect on what went well this semester.  Think about how you will continue to do the same thing next semester.
• Reflect on what you could have done better.  What changes can you make next semester and how can you implement them?
• Use this time to recharge your motivation.  Reflect on your goal.  Visualize yourself doing what it is that you want to do.
• Relax!  Rest!  Enjoy time with family and friends!

What to do if you are not prepared for finals!

First of all, shame on you!  You must have missed the posting that explained that learning needs repeated and varied exposure to the material spread out over TIME!  But here we are, so what should you do?

You will not be able to review every small detail.  So first, go through the material and identify the major topics.  Then, do the following:

1. Write each topic at the top of a page or on a large (5”x7”) index card. 
2. Working with one topic at a time, go through each topic and outline the next level of topics, leaving some spaces in between.
3. Go back again and write important information under each sub-topic.
4. Do this for each of the major topics.
5. Now focus on one card at a time and begin to learn the information. 

 Depending on how much time you actually have before the final you can go deeper and deeper into the material.  If time, go back and reread your notes after reviewing your basic outline on each major topic.  Depending on how much of the final is from the textbook, go back and skim the book, again according to each major topic you identified.

You should NOT

• Stay up all night
• Take no-doze or some other drug
• Panic

 Next semester remember to review and learn your notes after each class!   When it comes time for the final exam it will be a breeze!

Preparing for Finals

Finals are a week or two away, so it is time to start preparing.  Be sure you know the following:

• Date, time and location
• What the exam will cover – is it cumulative or on the material since the last exam?
• Open book, open notes, or from memory?
• Same or different format from previous exams?

 Then check to be sure you have all of the material.

• Are your notes complete?
• Do you have all the handouts from class?

 Leading up to this point you have been reviewing your notes after each class and periodically reviewing all of them.  Now you need to do something so that you can see the big picture:

• Make a large review chart with all of the topics displayed on the chart
• Condense your notes into one page with only the main topics and points written

 Leading up to the final, you can study one topic each day.  Also, keep going back and reviewing the topics you studied for the past few days.    If there is something you do not understand you have time to talk with your professor or other students in the class for some help.

Next week:  What to do if you have NOT been studying your notes after every class and you are now PANICKED?

Studying over Thanksgiving Break

Everyone is excited and ready to go home for Thanksgiving break.  Everyone is looking forward to exactly that – a break!  But don’t take too much of a break from studying.  Remember that learning takes varied and repeated exposure over time.   If you take a week completely off, when you return to school you will have to relearn some of the information.   While you don’t have to study all the time, here are a few quick and easy suggestions:

• Put some of the most important or hardest information you want to master on study cards.  Review them for about 20 minutes several times over break.  You can do this while exercising, right before bed, while eating, or whenever you have a few quiet minutes.
• Schedule an hour or two to go to your local library and study.  You will feel more like studying in an academic atmosphere.  (I think Starbucks works for this too!)
• If you have some friends at home from your school, make plans to meet and study and then go out for lunch.
• Tell your family right from the beginning of the break when you plan to study and ask their help to make it happen.
• Do your studying early in the break.  You are more likely to do it then than at the very end.
• Plan something fun that you will do after you complete the study session.
• If you plan to stay home to study, don’t try to do it in your room (on your bed!) or in front of the television.  Pick another place – either where you did you studying in high school or someplace completely different – wherever you think you will have the most concentration and motivation and the fewest distractions.

 Have a Happy Thanksgiving!  Return to school relaxed and rested, ready to finish strong!