Finals are rapidly approaching at Parkland and students are beginning to prepare. Whether a class has a final project or final exam, this can be a busy time for students. Professors know this time can be hard for students and have some advice to lend.
Before preparing for finals, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the finals schedule. Finals week will be from December 13th through the 17th but class times are irregular. In order to provide two hours for each exam period, classes will meet according to the final exam schedule that can be found online.
Beth Bachtold, Director of Parkland’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, said, “Your final exam must be given at the date and time set by the college, and the day and time of your exam might be different from the day and time of your class meetings.” Further, she explained, “It’s especially important to note this if you need to work in advance with your employer or childcare provider.”
After becoming familiar with the class schedule, it’s important to plan personal activities in advance. With an irregular schedule and high-stakes testing taking place, finals week may not be the best time to plan your studying. In order to manage your time with a clear mind, it may be beneficial to plan the week before. Bachtold added that gathering study materials in advance of study sessions can help to strategically focus. Save as much time as you can for necessary activities during finals week by knocking out logistics beforehand.
Planning your personal schedule can be difficult as well. Sometimes prioritizing can be a challenge when classes vary in their expectations. For example, some will test all course materials while some will only test the final chapters. Dr. Willie Fowler, Parkland Political Science professor, suggested that students should meet with their professors in the weeks prior to finals. He explained that professors can provide some clarity about what will be expected of students. Having expectations clarified can help to prioritize studying.
Even with thoughtful planning, finals week is still a lot of work for students. It can be hard to get motivated when feeling overwhelmed. Giving into the lack of motivation can help to ease discomfort in the short term but can hurt grades in the long run.
Meeting with professors could help with this as well. Amber Landis, Parkland English professor, said “Get help from them in person before the big day. They may even just inspire or encourage you to do better than you thought possible.” Having a helping hand in studies is always beneficial, but professors can also help to cheerlead students over the finish line.
Most importantly, students should remember to take care of themselves prior to and during finals week. Before any test students can be tempted to spend long periods studying, sometimes late into the night. This may work for some, but by enlarge it’s much more important to be well rested.
Bachtold suggested that when planning your personal schedule for finals week, it’s best to plan breaks into your allotted study time. Giving your mind a chance to refresh is healthy and can help you digest course material. One way to refresh throughout finals week is to visit the Learning Commons. Bachtold added that throughout finals week, the Learning Commons will offer free coffee and tea.
Part of taking care of yourself includes recognizing your accomplishments. The mountain of work ahead may be daunting but can’t take away what you’ve accomplished to get here. Dr. Umeeta Sadarangani, Parkland English professor, said, “Remind yourself of all you have done to make it to this point in the semester. Pat yourself on the back for the effort you have made.” She concluded, “You’re nearly there! Congratulations!”
