Category: Geena

Getting through midterms and finals is one of the most stressful times on a college campus. Now that my midterm cloud has passed I’m going to give you some fool-proof methods for surviving midterms and finals!

1. Exercise. Exercise. Exercise.

Whether you like it or not, setting time out to exercise is one of the biggest tips I could give for exam success. Even if it’s just walking around, doing some push-ups and squats for 30 minutes, a little goes a long way. Exercising is proven to keep you more alert, it clears your mind and allows you to retain the information better and it can be a great stress relief. The biggest benefit I find from exercise is that when I discipline myself to do a quick hour of working out, I feel a lot more motivated and disciplined to sit and study for hours. It’s as if the discipline from working out spills over into my work.

2.  Avoid drinking more caffeine than you usually drink.

We all need our caffeine fix in the mornings and around midday when we start to get groggy. But one of the more important tips to remember is to not over-do your caffeine intake. Drinking excess coffee, energy drinks and the like can make you jittery, can cause extreme crashes in energy and can cause you to have a hard time falling asleep after all the work is done. When studying it’s super important to stick to your regular routine so you don’t shock your body too much.

3. Get no less than 7 hours of sleep.

Sleep is vital to learning and memorizing new information. It helps all the hard work that you did to stick in your minds, it helps to stabilize your mood and it prevent those study time mood swings. Most importantly, your body needs sleep to perform its functions, so never neglect your sleep cycle for an extra hour of studying.

4.. Make a study schedule and stick to it.

Finally, it’s extremely important to make a study schedule. First figure out all the free time that you have before the exam date. Then calculate how many hours you will need to study for each course. Print out or write up your schedule and look at it right before you start your work every day— this will help to remind you that you do not have any time to waste. Remember, that we often take more time that we expect to complete readings so account for the extra time that we’ll need. Also remember to leave time to make up for inevitable distractions along the way.

That being said! These are the study tips that have helped me get though my midterms! I hope they’ll help those of you who still have midterms and for the finals week that is only five weeks away!

Hi everyone! My name is Geena. Trust me, deciding to come to BU was one of the most exciting times of my life. But as an island girl through and through, the thought of leaving the Jamaican heat to brave Boston’s stormy weather was terrifying and exciting all at once. Here are my four best tips to help you fellow warm weather lovers to not only survive but LOVE your first winter!

1. Stock up on winter gear as soon as possible!

Boston’s weather can be quite unpredictable. Just two days ago it was 50 degrees, but one day later we had to brave an all day snow storm. It can be really exciting to go out in the snow to go to classes, to watch a movie, or to go get dinner. But if you're not prepared for the weather you might be tempted to stay snuggled in bed all day. So my tip is always be prepared for whatever weather The Bean throws at you so that you can still get up, go out and enjoy the city.

2. Ensure your Charlie Card is stocked up!

For those of you who don’t know, one of Boston’s major transport systems is called the “T”. It’s my personal subway savior for those days when even walking to class feels like too much of an undertaking. BU’s city campus facilitates its warm-weather students well because the T runs all through campus. On those days when the snow mounds appear to be impassable and you don’t have the will to walk to class, hopping on the T is the perfect alternative. So I suggest making sure those Charlie Cards, your subway card, is always stocked up so you can hop on the T and make your life a lot easier!

3. Make a note of all the entertainment options nearby!

One of my favorite weekend adventures is going out to do simple things like eating out, going to the movies and shopping. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you should stay in your dorm all day! Find out where all the nearby entertainment options are so you still get to go out and have fun with your friends, but don't have to walk too far to get to. My personal favorites are going to Newbury Street for shopping and eating which you can get to on the T, Regal Fenway movie theatre which is just a 10 minute walk from Kenmore Square and taking advantage of all the restaurants on the Fenway and Kenmore compounds.

4. And finally, find a way to have fun with your friends in your dorms.

With all that was said in point 3, sometimes it’s nice to just chill and have fun with your friends (especially if you’re not up to snow-walking late at night). So have game nights, hot chocolate, movie nights and even dance parties with your friends in your dorm rooms. It’s great to spend time with your friends and having chill nights is one of the best ways to form real and true bonds.

There is absolutely no need to fear coming to school in Boston if you’re coming from a warmer city. Just follow these tips and you’re sure to love your experience here at BU!