The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is usually very stressful for college students. After a short thanksgiving break, finals exams are scheduled, and end-of-semester finals projects are due. I have spent eight years in school post-high school, so I know this stress all too well. If you are amid this stress and anxiety, here are some tips that may help you to feel better.
Put the final exam into context
It is natural to freak out about a final exam that covers course material for 4 months and is worth a high percentage of your grade. Fortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes final exams are only worth 20% of your grade and sometimes they are not cumulative but rather only cover half or one-third of the semester material. If you have done well in the course up until the final, you can take comfort in the fact that if you do worse than expected you may still end up with a good final grade in the class. Additionally, if you have done well on the midterm or other exams you should feel confident that you will do well on the final exam as well. Additionally, keep in mind that doing badly in one class is just that, one class. Many courses factor into your overall grade point average and doing bad in one class should not deter you from your larger goals.
Attend office hours
If you are struggling with course material, you are most likely not alone. Speak to your professor about your struggles. Letting your professors know you and that you are trying will only make them think higher of you and can only help your performance. Most professors want their students to succeed, and they will welcome the opportunity to help you do better in their class.
Meet with others to study
It can be helpful to study in groups or with another classmate. This can be helpful for a couple of reasons. First, it will hold you accountable to study at a certain time and place, so you are less likely to procrastinate or put in a marginal effort. Second, you will have someone else to ask questions that you may not understand, and they may be able to explain the material to you in a way that makes more sense. Sometimes when studying with others we can be nervous to speak up for fear of feeling stupid. Try to overcome that feeling and realize that everyone struggles with some classes and that by having someone explain a concept to you, you are helping them solidify their understanding of the material as well.
Find something to look forward to over winter break
When dealing with something stressful, knowing that it has a finite end date can be very helpful. You will be able to see that there is a finish line and that no matter how stressful exams are, there will be a day and time when that stress will evaporate. Once you know what that date is, put it on a calendar or a sticky note to remind yourself of that time to celebrate. It is also helpful to have something to look forward to. If you are meeting with friends or family over Christmas or going on a beach vacation, keep that in mind when things get tough. Know that you will get through this and that soon enough you will be enjoying life with people important to you.
Ending a semester can be very difficult. If you are struggling during final exam week, put your exam into context, attend office hours, study with others, and find something to look forward to. If you are still struggling with anxiety, counseling for anxiety treatment can help. Contact me today.