Finals

Summer vacation is almost here, but before the finish line can be crossed,the final exam hurdles still need to be jumped.

Coordinator of Freshman Programs Academic Advising Beth Merrit Miller offerstips on how to best prepare for finals.

“Don’t leave all your studying for the last minute. It’s never too early toprepare,” Miller said.

Studying in small chunks of time instead of large blocks can be moreadvantageous, relieve monotony and allow you stay focused, Miller said.

Takebreaks if you start to zone out. Get up and walk around to clear your head.

Studying in small groups and talking the topics over with students can alsobring a more comprehensive understanding of the material, Miller said.

When you study, Miller said to find a place where you can get comfortablewith no distractions, but not too comfortable, and study the stuff you don’tknow, not the material you already know.

As far as time management is concerned, you should cut back your work hourswhile finals are going on and for studying on the weekend, you should get upan hour earlier. That way it will seem like you will have more free timelater in the day, Miller said.

For the students who haven’t cracked the class textbook all semester, Millersaid it isn’t a good idea to pick it up now. Instead she recommends that youread your notes and talk to other students. It also might be a good idea torewrite your notes.

“You’re better off studying for 80 percent of your classes instead of 100percent for one class,” Miller said.

Other study tips include making flash cards and to take advantage of yourprofessor’s office hours if you have any questions about the coursematerial, Miller said.

Various books on studying, including Effective Study Skills: A Step-By-StepSystem for Achieving Student Success by James K. Semones, all say to getplenty of sleep before taking exams and don’t take an exam on an emptystomach.

“There are no magic foods, vitamins, or herbs that can enhance your memory,”Professor Wendy Cunningham of the Family and Consumer Sciences Departmentsaid.

Cunningham recommends that you eat foods with sugar in them such as fruitsand vegetables, but she cautions to stay away form sugary junk foods such ascookies.

As far as places to study on campus go, the Library offers quiet areas androoms for group study. There is construction going on on the third floor,but one reference librarian said the fourth floor is designated a quietstudy area.

There are also group study rooms located in the University Union on thesecond floor.