With finals approaching, I thought it would be nice if I did something with all the useless information floating around in my head and give advice about studying. Because this quarter marks the 11th time I have studied for final exams and written final papers, I consider myself an expert at finishing everything before deadline and doing it somewhat successfully.
The best way to start is to figure out what you need to do and when it needs to be finished. I like to make color-coded lists and detailed day-by-day plans, which inevitably will be altered based on the TV schedule during finals week.
After figuring what to do and how many hours you have, make a playlist on iTunes (or Windows Media Player, for those of you who have not jumped on the fabulous iPod bandwagon). Though some of you might not listen to music when you study because it's a distraction
I find that the music is helpful in distracting me from anything else I could be listening to at the moment - my roommates' telephone conversations, the television or the people yelling outside my apartment building.
When the music starts it is a good time to check all the away messages of your online buddies. Once you know what all your friends are studying, you will be able to come up with your own creative away message that does not repeat anything they already have said.
This is also a good time to check your e-mail. After all, your professor might have sent out a message with a study guide or a detailed outline of exam topics. If that is the case, you are free to push back the studying a few more hours and see which VH1 show with B-list celebrities making jokes about pop culture is on.
If you are not that lucky, it's time to start studying. Some people start with making a study guide or reviewing class notes. I like to start with deciding if I want a snack while I am studying - it simply is impossible to study on an empty stomach. Quick snacks like crackers or sandwiches are good, but if you are really hungry, you might as well go all-out and make a meal or try out that recipe for cheddar chicken. The aroma of homemade food might stimulate the brain cells necessary for proper studying.
This is also the best time to refill your glass of water/juice/pop/alcohol because you're already in the kitchen. Drinking alcohol might not be the best idea while studying, but it might help you do something such as write a communication law paper the night before it is due while your boyfriend is sitting on the other couch watching World Poker Tour, for example. And so I am not held responsible for any underage binge drinking, let me remind you that it is illegal to consume alcohol if you are under the age of 21.
With your food now prepared, make an outline of the information you need to study. Brush the dust off your textbook and open it for the first time. Find the chapters your instructor has covered to figure out what information you should have learned during the past 10 weeks.
After about 10 minutes of actual studying, log onto Facebook. Don't have an account? Now is the time to make one! See which of your friends have recently updated profiles and search through photo albums of people you don't know. You might even find someone who is in your class and check out his or her away message about attempting to study for the same dreaded exam.
Check your buddies' away messages and your e-mail again because something might have changed in the past 15 minutes. If the feng shui in your room isn't conducive to properly channeling your academic chi, you should rearrange the furniture, which might result in full-out spring-cleaning. It's easier to pass a final if you know there is no dust under the couch.
These steps can be repeated as many times as needed until the exam actually begins. They might not help you ace your exams or help you pass your classes, but they will give you something to think about other than failing.
- Cheryl Sadler is a senior journalism major. Send her an e-mail at cs334202@ohiou.edu. 17
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Cheryl Sadler
