10 Tips You Need to Survive Finals Week
December 5, 2019 | 2:00 PM
Natasha Wright '22, Social Work Major
With the end of the semester rapidly approaching, it’s easy to become stressed, anxious and down-right frantic during finals weeks. But I don’t want you to feel that way, and you shouldn’t have to. So, here are 10 TIPS YOU NEED to survive finals week!
- Use a study tool.
I personally think that Quizlet is one of the best study tools ever invented. Not only can you make your own set of study flashcards, but if you Google the subject in question along with the chapter and the book associated with the class, it’s likely the study set is already made for you and all you have to do is study it a few times a day and … BAM – Knowledge!
- Use your professor as a resource.
The faculty at Mac really want you to succeed and, if you’re finished with the content in the class, it’s likely the professor will be around to answer any questions or offer extra time to help you understand the material or study with you.
- Drink AT LEAST 3 cups of coffee a day.
We all know you’ll be pulling multiple all-nighters before your finals so you can cram 13 weeks of material in your brain for a class you barely physically and/or mentally attended all semester. The 
coffee will help keep you awake, but I’m not sure there’s enough concealer in the world to cover those bags under your eyes (It’s okay, girl. My bags are designer).
- Attend the Late Night Breakfast.
If you're anything like me, you know breakfast is so much better at dinner time and you know the saying, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” even if it is for dinner! So, grab a group of pals Sunday, December 8, and enjoy breakfast for dinner starting at 9 p.m. in D-Hall.
- Find a quiet study space.
Some people can study with music blaring, friends talking and the world around them going crazy, while the rest of us need complete silence to read and understand one sentence. While the dorms will be on 24/7 quiet hours, maybe a change of environment would be helpful. The CLE and the library basement are both great options for a quiet study space, and they also have easy access to helpful resources like the library staff and the CLE directors and tutors.
- Make your own study guides.
Although the professors may give you a study guide to go off of, not everybody learns the same way. Only you know how you study best. Going over all of the information for the semester on top of organizing it in a way that you understand it could be the key to success in a class you may be struggling with.
- Chew Gum!
They say that if you chew gum while you study and while you take the exam you were studying for, you’re more likely to remember more of what you studied. I’m not sure how accurate this is, but the reasoning sounds logical. Plus, it’ll help cover that coffee breath.
- Study with a group.
Even though your friends may not always be the brightest crayons in the box, when it comes to studying, they may think of something in a way you never thought about before. It could also 
help you understand the material better when studying together or in groups.
- Tell your friends you love them.
Speaking of your friends, they are going through the same things you are. They, too, are overly stressed about exams, writing six papers due in a matter of days and forgetting to drink water. Show them the same love you show yourself and they will reciprocate that back to you, making your environment all-around a positive one during one of the craziest times of the semester.
- Watch the magic happen.
Somehow, when it comes down to going in that room and sitting down to take that final exam or give that final presentation, there’s some kind of magic that occurs to help you finish that class strong and you end up getting a better grade than you expected. So, just believe in yourself and try your best, and the magic will happen.
We are all capable of achieving success, and the work you put in this semester is the work you’ll get out of it. Although college is challenging, the point of that challenge is to make us better individuals and prepare us for life after college. So, I say, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! I believe in us, MacFam, so let’s finish this semester strong!!