Finals week can be the most stressful time of the semester for students, but there is no need to panic. There are several options students can use to ensure they get their work or studying done on time.

Registered dietician at Student Health and Counseling Services Shauna Schultz suggests students take a look at their finals schedule. This will help them make a template so they have the opportunity to plan their meals and the rest of their schedule for finals week accordingly.

Schultz said having a protein-filled snack every three to four hours can help constant studiers and students who pull all-nighters to stay alert. Schultz said to try not to survive off coffee, since coffee does not provide any nutrients to the body. When the body hits the crashing point after consuming too much caffeine, it will make it harder to concentrate.

“The brain uses carbohydrates as an energy source while muscles use fat as an energy source,” said Schultz. “Eating the proper meal can satisfy the brain and muscles.”

Nutrition professor Lynn Hanna said the website chosemyplate.gov shows what fruits, vegetables and proteins students should be eating to keep their bodies and minds healthy throughout finals week by including a diagram to follow.

Finding out what kind of learner a student is can be helpful for students looking for better strategies for studying and learning new material.

“Take a learning style quiz (to find the kind of learner you are),” Hanna said. “(Learning style quizzes) can be found with a simple internet search.”

Not all learning style quizzes are the same, but the purpose of the quizzes are. The quiz will ask several questions to find if student is a visual, auditory, kinesthetic, mathematical, linguistic or inter- or intrapersonal learner. Once students figure out what kind of learner they are, they can find study methods that strengthen their specific learning style and find the proper study guide in order to maximize information comprehension and intake.

Finding the proper study guide can still be hard for any student even if he or she knows his or her learning styles. Sacramento State has several resources to help a student find the correct study guide and improve his or her technique.

The University Library offers videos, books and websites for students to learn how to improve study strategies, memory skills, time management and exam-taking skills.

If students still feel lost on what material to study, using professors’ office hours or forming study groups can help clear up many questions students have about their upcoming exams.

“Finding the proper study group can be very helpful,” said astrophysics senior Oscar Castillo. “With the right people, I have (been) learning things I didn’t know or weren’t clear to me.”

Study groups can fill in the learning gaps that a student may have according to debtfreescholar.com. By comparing notes and asking and answering questions, study groups can help students who struggle studying on their own stay focused.

Castillo said students should try to relax and suggests not cramning a semester’s worth of work into a few weeks.

“Don’t begin worrying about finals a week before your first final,” said Castillo.

Starting early and knowing where to go for more information and resources could mean the difference between an A or C on that last final exam.

Miguel Lopez can be reached at [email protected]