There are too many study guides to write, too many units to review, too many questions to ask—too many things to fit onto a to-do list. It’s midterms time.
Midterms are undoubtedly stressful, but every student is in the same boat. Try to put the exams in perspective, and power through the interminable preparation.
Tessa Schroll ’13 and Griffin Noyer ’13 have compiled some nuggets of advice for the trek into midterm week:
T: Make a schedule. I make myself a schedule on Excel with all the days I have left until midterms and I tell myself how much I need to study each day for each subject.
G: Don’t procrastinate. Well, if you want to, go ahead, but I warn you, it wont look good when it comes to your report card.
T: Get a new binder and some new pens and flashcards. I always go to Staples before I start studying because I get more motivated if I have fresh nice pencils and flashcards waiting for me.
G: Studying with friends is either really useful or a total waste of time. Probably the latter.
T: Try and study in a quiet area. I use this app called Self Control that anyone can download onto a Mac and it lets you put in websites that you want it to block for a certain amount of time, so I always put in Facebook, Twitter and other sites for like an hour and it helps me concentrate.
G: Eat well, sleep right, frosted flakes.
T: Listen to classical music. I know this sounds super cheesy, but studies do show that if you listen to classical music you are more apt for learning material.
G: Make sure to be very clear on what the exams include, and what/how to study. Some teachers can be vague.
T: Relax! I know I was stressing out so much my freshman year, but if you prepare enough and walk into class confident, you will ace your test.
According to Suzanne Kammerman, Staples social studies teacher, “If students have been keeping up with work and staying organized, they shouldn’t feel so overwhelmed.”
Midterms do not determine anyone’s fate. Don’t make them into more than they are.
“Midterms aren’t there to catch students,” Kammerman said.
