YOUR 5-STEP PLAN TO SUCCESSFUL STUDYING

It's the most stressful time of the year: spring final exams! We are so close to the end, and this means packing up our rooms, making summer plans, and lots of studying. I'm lucky enough to have finals on Thursday and Friday next week (giving me time to write this post), so I've created a fool-proof plan to doing well on finals. It's about not only what you study, but *how* you study! Here is my 5-step plan to maximizing your study time. Step One: Calculate your predicted GPA Before you start studying, use a website with a GPA calculator. This isn't high school where every class is worth the same grade point, so focus on classes with 4 and 5 semester hours, because these will be the most influential. Play around with outcomes for your borderline grades, because these could be the difference between a 2-point-something and a 3-point-something. It's better to know what to expect rather than be surprised once it gets posted! Step Two: Prioritize and manage your time Now that you know what you need to study for, prioritize. Your borderline grades will require more work than your secure grades. Not to discredit the 96 you have in that gen ed you love so much, but maybe you should focus more on that 82 you have in calculus! If you're anything like me, you do very well in classes you enjoy studying for, but that one class you dislike requires more effort. As painful as it is, try to put more work into this area. Step Three: Create a schedule and stick to it Before you open any textbooks, go to Google Calendar. If you're obsessed with it like me, you already know how easy it is to create a schedule and visualize your day. If you've never used it, get on it! Blocking out your study sessions and your breaks is the easiest way to stick to a schedule, because it's right in front of you. Referring to step two, allot the most time to classes that need more work then others. Now it's time to study! Step Four: Study the way you study best It's time to sit down and get to work. Now don't get me wrong, I love studying with my friends (UI students, second floor main lib East Asia is the ish and we all know it), but when I have to crack down, I like to go to a coffee shop by myself. Determine your best and most productive environment when it comes to studying, whether that's alone in your dorm room or outside with lots of people moving around you. ​ Step Five: Take your time So you've made it to your exam on time, good job! Now when it comes to taking the test, make sure you relax and take your time. If you're anything like me, you rush through things when you're on edge. I tend to speed up in exams where I feel less confident in my work, so make sure you take most of, if not all of, the time you are given in your exams. Double check your answers, make sure your bubbles are filled out correctly, and go slowly for questions you're unsure about. Once you've checked over your work, turn in that test and walk out the door! You did it! Good luck to all my fellow Hawkeyes and other students on your finals! You're gonna do great! xo Kate