Study Tips from Dr. Lopez

This is the last week of the semester before we enter final exams week. The LHC staff members and I want to wish you the very best for this last stretch before you go into the summer sessions or spend the next four months engaged in activities outside academic work. As a reminder, the LHC lounge will remain open from 9 to 2 during final exams, so (while following the protocols in place) use this beautiful space and environment to study! 

I also want to remind you of a few strategies that have proven effective for those students who have followed them. I hope they help you too.

Keep your ears open during the last week of class. Your professor will sometimes come right out and tell you about the exam, what the test will be like, or present study strategies. You need to be in class every day to receive such help, but this is particularly true as final exams approach. Use the review sheets and study guides professors give you, ask questions, and by no means miss a review session. 

Find a group of dedicated students with whom to study. A group study session with the proper social distancing is an ideal time to review and compare notes, ask each other questions, explain ideas to one another, discuss the upcoming exam and difficult concepts. Set an agenda and a specific time frame for your group study session so that your work together doesn't veer off topic. In addition, after the review, take a moment to gauge whether your study group was helpful. If you feel like your test preparation needs more help or your strategies need work, make a virtual appointment with your professor this week before finals. Preparing for your exam efficiently comes from learning how to study smarter, not harder.

Reward yourself. If you are studying conscientiously everyday, take a bit of time to relax before getting started with your studies again. Study in intervals and don’t cram!  Studying in 20-50 minute increments and giving yourself 5-10 minutes in between is more beneficial than cramming. As many experts point out, distributing learning over time typically benefits long-term retention more than trying to cram it in during a short period. Take breaks to go out for a walk, exercise or watch something fun that will alleviate the stress associated with final exams. Maintain time for yourself.

Make sure to get plenty of sleep. Psychologists point out over and over that sleeping hours are often the time when we completely synthesize information, especially topics we’ve covered in the couple of hours before bedtime. You want to be as fresh as possible and able to fully engage your working memory when you take the exams. Wake up every morning with determination to do your very best to prepare for your final!
 
“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden