Be Prepared for Finals

     Once more we get to that time in the semester where we worry about upcoming finals and fear that we may not receive the grades that we hoped to. Here are some ways to prepare for finals (provided by this website).
Start early
Preparation for exams should begin earlier than the day before the test. You can’t cram an entire unit of information into an all-nighter. Get started at least a week before the exam.
Organize
Begin by making yourself a calendar outlining a daily schedule of topics for review. Cover a small amount of material for each class each day. Every time you complete a topic, give yourself a mini review.
Outline
Once you have decided what you need to study and how much time you need to spend studying, it is time to actually study. One of the best ways is to make succinct outlines. As you read over your textbook and class notes, write a brief summary for each topic. Highlight the areas in your outline that were most troublesome. When you have finished with all the material, you will have an outline you can review.
Make flashcards
Similar to outlining, making flashcards is a really helpful technique for studying. By writing down the information from your outline, you are already doing half the studying. Once the flashcards are complete, you will have a portable study packet to look over.
Sleep
You need at least seven hours of sleep a night to function. Tests are designed to make you think. If you are sleep-deprived, you won’t be able to remember any of the information you worked so hard to cram into your brain.
Stay calm
Do not panic at the exam! Even if at first glance the test is overwhelming, remember to breathe. If a question seems too hard, answer all the questions you know, then return to the ones you left blank. Remind yourself that you are prepared.
Don’t rush
You have spent at least two weeks studying, so what’s another couple of minutes? Work through the exam slowly and read all the questions before answering them. If you are done before the time is up, look over your answers.
Relax post-exam
Don’t let panic overwhelm you. Even if you think you bombed the exam, worrying will not change your score. It may, however, affect your mindset for your next final. Zone out the last test and stay focused on the next one. Odds are, you didn’t do as badly as you think.
     Other ways to prepare can be planning your schedule out (doing this can make you feel secure about things that have to be done that week), and utilizing the sources that are available to you. Campus has sources available for a reason: so you, the student, can be successful. Hopefully these tips will help you prepare within the next few weeks before finals!

Classes

It’s getting closer and closer to the end of the Spring 2012 semester. Students who have slacked off at the beginning of the semester are now kicking it into high gear to raise their grades before this semester ends. One thing that I have learned this semester is to make sure you keep track of how many days you can miss, and if you’ve gone over that limit. Also, keeping track of tardies is also a good thing - some professors count two tardies as an absence. At this point in the semester, I don’t think that students want to end up dropping out because their tardies added up and caused them to fail a class.
In comparison to last semester, I feel that I’ve improved a lot as a student. Keeping my grades up hasn’t been a problem, but getting them to where I want them is now my goal for the rest of the semester (along with passing finals).
If you’re unaware of your grade in a class, I would suggest emailing your professor asking them what your grade is and, if it’s low, how to improve it. It may seem like improving your grade will be an extremely hard task, but it may be as simple as getting a good grade on the next exam (depending on your grade and where you want it, it could be harder than that).
For some students, dropping out seems like the best option. However, despite that it may seem like the best and easiest option, it is not the only option. It is best to improve your class standing now rather than later, as there would be less pressure/stress.

“Chemistry is a class you take in high school or college, where you figure out two plus two is 10, or something.” -Dennis Rodman

Spring Break

The pollen count is high, the sun is out (for the most part), and it’s getting warmer each day... it’s official - Spring is in our midst! We are more than midway through the semester, Spring Break is next week, and the end of the Spring semester seems to be getting closer a lot faster than last semester. Whether this is a good thing or not, I do not know. For the time being, however, I suggest we bask in the greatness that is Frostburg weather and patiently await the upcoming Spring Break!

Top Ten Things To Do/Not To Do This Spring Break gives great examples of things to do/look forward to do during your Spring Break, as well as things to avoid. Or, if you’re a geek and would rather not do the things on the first list, I suggest this list of Top Five Things to do on Spring Break.
Also, if you’re low on money (like myself), there are some cheap things you can do as well while on Spring Break - as shown in 10 Cheap Things To Do Over Spring Break. My favorite from that list would have to be number 4.
4. FINISH THAT…
Finish reading that book you started but never got around to finishing during school. Finish that art project that you weren’t able to find time to do. Finish watching that series that you started but got too busy to watch every week. Instead of taking this time to try completing a new project in a week, take this time to get older things done. Don’t overwhelm yourself with the task of completing everything! Choose one or two things you’d like to complete and get to work.

We set things aside for classes, exams, and college life... why not pick up everything you started but never finished? It seems like Spring Break is a great time to finish, especially if you want to relax.
I hope that these links have helped those of you who were clueless about what you were going to do this Spring Break. I, for one, know that I’m going to start reading the Hunger Games - due to the recommendation of a friend.

Have a great Spring Break! : )

Welcome Back!

    Welcome back FSU students! It may just be me, but it felt as though Winter Break would never end! Not that we would want it to... I hope that all of you have had an amazing break and are ready for the Spring semester!  I know, for one, that I couldn't bare the thought of classes starting and tried to prolong coming back to campus for as long as possibly I could.  Now that I’m here, I don’t understand why I was pushing it off for so long.

    This semester is going to be a bit different from the first, not only because it’s my second semester as a freshman, but because I’m also taking an online course.  I’m sure that some of you are getting into the swing of things while others are trying to figure out how to manage themselves this semester.  My fear at the start of this semester was that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with my online course; now I know that said fear was irrelevant, as long as I make enough time for myself and the class.
    Some of you may already be having trouble with your classes, but do not fret, for it is not too late! There is still time before it’s too late to drop/add a class; so I suggest that if you don’t feel as though you’re capable of handling a class, then make a decision on whether you should keep it or drop it.
    In addition, a special thank you to those who have read this blog and contacted me about it! : ) I enjoy getting feedback on how I’m doing and learning whether the tips I give are complete garbage or not.
    Good luck to all of you this semester!

“We all have ability. The difference is how we use it.”

- Stevie Wonder.