With six finals periods already under my belt, I thought I would take the time to share some secrets of studying that I’ve learned along the way. The following is a list of the most important (and legal) tips and tricks, which I call - in an ode to Arrested Development - The Finals Countdown.

1. Pretending to study is not actually an effective technique. Talking to your friends in a Huntsman study room will not help you and neither will facebooking in Fine Arts. Take real breaks and do real work. After all, the motto is “Work hard, Play hard” not “Pretend to Work hard, Play in the library.”
2. Make use of free stuff. RAs and others with semester-long budgets are unloading the remainder of their money during Finals, and every one is going out of their way to prevent long falls from the top of a highrise (this isn’t Cornell). In the past I’ve seen free breakfasts, free massages, dessert study breaks and more. ABP always has free coffee at night and Houston Hall often has amazing buffet set-ups. Finals and binge eating are synonymous for many, so if you’re going to do it, do it for free.
3. Leave your books with pride. You know that pre-med who occupies a desk in your favorite study area for weeks at a time, leaving just enough behind to prevent desperate studiers from obtaining a seat? We all agree that guy’s a tool. But if you can’t beat ‘em, you’ve got to join ‘em.
4. Be prepared, but not too prepared. A few key comforts can make studying away from home much easier. Library-appropriate clothes, lots of layers (for the Tundra that is Van Pelt you might want to bring a parka), and an endless supply of Red Bull are all in order. Pillows and blankets are a little excessive but admissible. Lamps, coffeemakers, or any other appliances, however, should always be left at home.
5. Remember to breathe. It may sound cheesy, but no test is important enough to sacrifice your sanity. Besides, no one wants to be the girl gripping her cheat sheet and hyperventilating as she walks into the exam room. It really will be okay, I promise - especially if you’ve taken my above advice.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 7th, 2006 at 2:20 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.