With finals week comes more stress and a heavier workload, but knowing how to prepare and maintain good study habits can help Bowling Green State University (BGSU) students succeed.
Planning for finals is essential, as students have to juggle studying for multiple classes at once.
Lisa Maag, a learning specialist with the Falcon Learning Your Way (FLY) Program, said starting two to three weeks early is the best time for students to start studying.
“Begin by understanding your finals schedule, organizing materials and notes from the class and creating a study schedule to manage time,” Maag said. “Plan specific times for each subject throughout the week and break big tasks into smaller chunks to spread them out.”
There are a variety of study habits that students can utilize to help with exams. Although each student learns and studies differently, it’s good to try out different techniques to see what works best for them.
“Students can try out active study methods like summarizing notes, quizzing yourself, teaching material to a friend or recording yourself teaching the material,” Maag said. “They can also try spaced repetition, collaborating with other students to fill knowledge gaps, or to make studying more engaging, communicating with their professor and inquiring if there are study tools for the exam.”
Cherish Galvez, a third year biology major, said there are a couple of methods that work really well for her.
“I like to use the whiteboards because when you write certain things down so many times, you remember it more, rather than if you’re just looking at it through a screen,” Galvez said. “I also really enjoy chewing a piece of gum so my mind is focused on me chewing that gum, but I’m also able to focus on something else, so it kind of helps me not get distracted by other things.”
Studying nonstop can be exhausting, but students can take steps to help prevent burnout and stay motivated.
“It’s good to plan ahead and not procrastinate, make sure you’re sleeping well, eating and hydrating properly and limiting distractions,” Maag said. “Taking breaks is important as well, and you can study for 30-40 minutes and take a 10-minute break, but make sure to still be active during that break.”
The week before finals, students can visit the Learning Commons for a free Supplemental Instruction (SI) session, drop-in tutoring, tutoring at the Math & Stats Lab or help with writing at the Writing Center.
The Schmidthorst College of Business Tutoring Center also provides help with math and statistics, accounting, economics and finance.
Additionally, the Office of Health and Wellness will be offering resources for students, free events for students and access to a personalized Well-Being coach.
The BGSU Counseling Center will also be offering services and hosting events at the end of the semester.
The Jerome Library will have extended hours for the last two weeks of the semester, and will be open 24 hours a day, five days a week.
For more information on tutoring and resources, visit the websites below:
Library Services: https://www.bgsu.edu/library/services.html
Course-Based Tutoring: https://www.bgsu.edu/learning-commons/tutoring-services/course-based-tutoring.html
