Midterm Survival Tips

This video basically sums up every college student’s life around midterms.Now as tempting as it may be, you must resist the urge to watch a DVD, or play PS3, or drink a lemon tea.

Make a Schedule and Stick to It

Sometimes it’s best to just jump right into something with no prep. Midterms aren’t one of those things. Without a plan, you can get lost in a whirlwind of exams and papers. It’s best to plan things out. Set aside detailed study time for each class and follow that schedule closely. This way, classes won’t be forgotten and you won’t lose track of time. Also make sure to schedule breaks. Four straight hours of reading a textbook and taking notes is a good way to burn yourself out.

Use White Noise

Even though midterms are taking place this week, campus life won’t screech to a halt. People will still eat with their friends, play loud music, or be generally distracting in some way. So try some white noise to block them out. I recommend avoiding using music as your white noise. Usually, it will end up being more distracting than helpful. There are numerous websites and applications that will give you a constant sound that can block out the noise around you. My personal favorite is the White Noise Lite app for android. The rain sound that the application plays kept me from strangling my roommate freshmen year. For those who don’t have an android device, the thunderstorm file on simplynoise.com is just as good.

Find Some Non-Traditional Study Places

Excluding midterms and finals week, you, usually, can find a spot for studying in the library or other study room on campus. But during these weeks, space is a commodity. That’s why you should always have one or two emergency study places that people don’t usually go to study, hang out, or bother you. Here are a few ideas:

Near a professor’s office

Bathroom

Your Car

Keep Study Guides and Notes Accessible

Where’s your phone?

Chances are it’s very close by…always. So save your study material on your phone so that it, too, is always close by. That few minutes before class begins, or that unexpected free time you get if your professor is running a little late is a great time to read over that study guide or class notes. If your professor sent out an electronic copy of the study guide, keep a copy of it on your phone. Or if there’s a paper copy or notes, take a picture of them and save them in your gallery. The large screens and zoom capabilities on smart phones makes small text a non-issue.

Comprehension or Memorization?

Different classes require different forms of studying. A foreign language class may require you to memorize vocabulary words while a science class may call for you to understand a process. Whatever midterm you’re prepping for, make sure you know which approach to take.

If you need to memorize something, use what I call “hidden down-time” to review things. When you’re heading to class or taking a shower, go over those words in your head. It definitely helps.

If you need to thoroughly understand something, slowly read your text and after every couple paragraphs, explain to yourself what you just read out loud. Talking through the process will help you get it better.

These tips should help you get through your midterms. And if all else fails, remember: you’re halfway to semester break.

By B. Tillman

www.evetos.com