Raise your hand if every day you open your planner and sigh. One minute we were buying overpriced posters at the Schine Student Center and soaking up the last warm days on the Quad, and now midterms are right around the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t panic. Whether you\u2019ve been a flawless student since syllabus week or you\u2019re just now finding out your class has a textbook, here\u2019s how to get your head back in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Open every syllabus and jot down every exam, paper and project due in the next few weeks. Almost like a brain dump. Then, put them in one place; like your phone calendar or a notes app. Seeing it all at once is scary for about five minutes. But once you have everything organized, it feels so much better than getting surprised by a quiz you forgot existed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then work backwards to prepare. If your exam is on a Thursday, plan short daily study sessions starting the week before, instead of one giant all-nighter on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This one hurts, but science says it. In a review of study techniques, Dunlosky and colleagues (2013)<\/a> found that rereading and highlighting were some of the least helpful ways to study. The winners? Quizzing yourself and spreading your studying out over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roediger and Karpicke (2006)<\/a> found that students who practiced recalling information remembered more of it later than students who just read over it again. So, make flashcards, cover your notes and explain the topic out loud or have your roommate quiz you. If you can say it without looking, you might actually know it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting started is always the hardest part. Set a 25-minute timer and study until the timer goes off. Then take a five-minute break. This is called the Pomodoro Technique, invented in the late 1980s by Francesco Cirillo and named after the Italian word for tomato. The idea is simple: work for a short stretch, take a break and then do it again. And if you find yourself wanting to keep going when the timer rings, even better! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your bed is for sleeping, not studying. Switch it up and find a place that puts you in focus mode. Bird Library is a classic, and you can pick your floor based on how quiet you need it. Carnegie Library is a good choice if you want to feel like you\u2019re at a big library in New York City. And if a little background noise helps you think, try a coffee shop on Marshall Street. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to figure out everything on your own. The Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS) offers group tutoring for tough intro courses<\/a>, individual tutoring for smaller and advanced classes<\/a> and academic coaching sessions<\/a> where a trained student helps you with time management, study strategies and procrastination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, go to office hours. Your professors want<\/em> to see you there. Ask questions, especially if there\u2019s something you\u2019re still trying to understand. Asking, \u201cWhat should I focus on for the exam?\u201d is a totally normal question!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the semester has gotten away from you, that\u2019s OK. You won\u2019t stay behind forever. Midterms are a checkpoint, not the finish line. Pick one class to focus on today, do one small thing and build from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, grab your flashcards, charge your laptop and find your spot in Bird Library. You\u2019ve got this, Orange. Let\u2019s lock in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Written By Ava Swidler \u201927, College of Arts and Sciences<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Have a Hard Time Studying? Try the Pomodoro Technique<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Find a Good Study Spot <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Use the Help That\u2019s Available to You (And Free) <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Remember, One Exam Doesn\u2019t Define You<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Syracuse University Libraries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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