The time has come to hunker down, study all the information you’ve been learning these past few weeks and hopefully ace those midterms. But don’t worry, the Clarion is here to help. For the incoming freshmen, and those who forgot how to study this summer break, here are some tips to get ready for those up-and-coming midterms.
1. Start Early
Your professor will usually give you a syllabus of what the quarter is going to look like. Make sure you note at the beginning of the quarter when major tests, projects or presentations are due. Knowing when things are due in class will allow you to start preparing a week or two in advance and avoid studying or forming a presentation the night before. In order to learn the information effectively, spacing your studying out will be the most useful tactic throughout the year.
2. Take Breaks
When you’re in the library for eight hours, you’re going to hit a point where your brain feels burnt-out. Make sure you are aware of how your studying is going. Ask questions like: are you in the zone, or are you mainly on social media or spacing out? When you hit a point of inefficiency in studying or preparing, it is time to take a break. Go work out, take a nap or watch some TV. Eating is a good break too. When you’re studying hungry, the only thing you’ll focus on is your stomach growling. Brain food is a real thing. These are great ways to give your brain a break from loading information. At the very least, step outside for just a couple minutes for some fresh air.
3. Utilize Professors’ Office Hours
Your professors are here to help you. You have probably heard that more than a few times, but it’s true. You get what you put into your college education; go to your professor’s office hours, and they will tell you what is going to be the most beneficial information to study, saving you tons of time. Along with learning the information, you’ll create a bond with your professor that may work to your benefit in the future. Also, keep in mind that if your schedule doesn’t match up with your professor’s office hours, you can email them and set up a time that will work. They love to see students reaching out and having a drive to learn.
4. Study in Groups
Get to know your classmates or people taking the same classes as you, and study with them. You may think you know all of the information, but other students are likely to help you learn even more. Your classmates can clarify any questions you have by making you think about the topic in a different way. Studying with students from other sections of the class can be helpful too. Their professor is bound to teach the information a different way and that way may be beneficial to your learning, or vice versa. More views of the topic mean more ways of learning, which leads to mastery of the topic.
5. Switch it Up
When studying for multiple subjects, make sure that changing up what subject you’re learning about. This way you can avoid getting burnt out on subjects before you even start studying for other classes. You can plan ahead and decide that once you reach a certain point in studying, you can stop, take a break and switch subjects.
Switching what you’re studying will keep your brain focused and less likely to feel overloaded with information. Make sure to create a schedule of when you’re going to stop studying for one class and begin the other. Try to schedule studying in equal lengths so you can learn the most information from all of your classes.
