A Message to Students: Study Smarter, Not Harder

I hope you are taking care of yourselves, pacing your workload and managing your stress well. The end of the semester and final exams week is a tough time of year. I want you to know I am wishing you well and rooting for you. Here are some things to consider:

Study smarter, not harder:  

• We are social creatures by our very nature. Study with friends. Break up large chunks of review material by dividing it, learning it, and then explaining it to a group. 
• Ask your classmates questions. Work together in moving beyond memorization of facts... Seek understanding, contextualization and applications of information.  
• Use a teachers (or my) whiteboard to brainstorm ideas and concepts ON YOUR FEET. Physical movement (particularly during learning) increases attention, memory and RECALL.  
• Make a detailed plan. Understand what grade you have, what you want, and what it will take on the final to achieve your goal. Meet with the teacher to share your goal and ask him or her to assist you in working towards it.  

Please be sure to ask for help if you need it. This is not the time to be cutting corners and taking the easy way out. (Unfortunately, the Student Life Office processes honor cases every year, this time of year). Teachers will move mountains for earnest students who are willing to work for their success. When in doubt about whether something constitutes an honor violation, ASK a teacher.  

Finally, while some stress can actually improve your performance, too much or the wrong kinds of stress can actually rob your brain of key fuels and inhibit higher level thinking. Take some time for yourself. It will actually pay off more than you know. Relax, sleep and healthy eating yield REAL performance gains during finals. Think positively and visualize yourself doing well and, in particular, remembering important information during your final.