Hello. If you’re reading this, you’re either curious about what midterms are like in college, or you know the horrors. There’s no in between really. It’s usually a bad time, but everyone who ends up going to college has to go through it! The highs of social bonding and making fun memories wouldn’t be as meaningful if the treachery of struggling through material really late at night didn’t accompany it.
There are lots of strategies you can implement, and ways to optimize your time. But here are a couple helpful tips that have helped me through these truly tough times.
Pay attention in class! The more material you absorb beforehand the less you have to cram for it right before the exam.
Do the homework well! There is a difference between completing the homework for points and truly understanding the material. A+ students make sure that they dig into the details and understand challenging topics, rather than just striving for completion.
GO to OffICe HoURS!!! This is by far the most underutilized resource on campus. You can get the answer to the problem from the person who gave you the problem in the first place! Why beat around the bush when you don’t have to.
Study groups! This is one of the best ways to prepare for exams. They are especially useful because peers can help fill gaps in your knowledge that you wouldn’t be able to figure out by yourself. You can also help teach your peers, which will reinforce your understanding of these topics.
Sleep! I did poorly on my most recent physics exam because even though I prepared heavily for it, I was not well rested and it clouded my focus during the test. Don’t scam yourself, get some sleep!!!
However, there’s one thing that’s important to keep in mind throughout your collegiate career: failures will inevitably happen, and grades are not indicative of who you are as a student and a person. We’ve all failed exams – all that’s important is how we bounce back from it and what we take away.
With these strategies in mind, good luck on your midterms. Study well, eat well, and sleep well (like this adorable cat)!
