It’s finally midterm season. Boston’s hot summer days are beginning to trickle behind us, and the dry leaves of autumn are starting to make their way up the trees. The fresh school year rolls around and as people’s routines settle in, the dreaded weeks of exams and presentations become the prominent event in almost everyone’s schedules. Right before the week of Halloween costume parties and the annual spring of frat flu, we must first overcome the dreaded midterm season. College is finally collegeing, so here are a few tips to get through the first patch of the school year grind.
1. Don’t Panic
Tests, readings, and stress are all part of the College experience. Believe me, if you think you have a lot of assignments to do, there will always be someone on campus with double the work you have. In other words, look at the bright side – you don’t have it the worst. Almost everyone around you will be feeling the weight of this time of the year, so don’t be afraid to vent about it to your friends.
2. Resources, resources, resources
If you’re struggling with a class, you need to take advantage of the resources at BU. All professors hold office hours, which is a great way to get yourself settled into a topic you’re unsure about. Office hours are a time when you can sit with your professor (or a teaching assistant) and discuss ANYTHING you need help with in class. If office hours aren’t your vibe, reach out to your friends in class. The educational resource center at BU offers free tutoring for certain classes, and booking an appointment would only take 5 minutes of your time. There are so many places you can get help in the weeks leading up to it. Don’t feel embarrassed to ask for help, because at the end of the day, your grade is on the line.
3. Take breaks
The days leading up to midterm season can seem overwhelming, and at times the built-up pressure will compel you to study for hours on end. It’s never a good idea to pull an all-nighter, regardless of how difficult the class may be. If you don’t procrastinate, you won’t have to cram a large chunk of information into a full day of revising. Doing up to an hour of studying every day a week or two before a midterm will help you immensely. I’ve tried both routes and the latter has always proved more successful.
4. Balance your social life
It’s never a good idea to completely cut out any form of human interaction during a stressful week. Your friends will be your support system, so don’t forget to take study breaks and
actually TALK to people during the week. Your emotional and mental health are just as important as a good grade. That being said, try to skimp out on the frat parties and late-night
rendezvous. Instead, go on study dates or lunch breaks to stay in full study mode.
5. After…
Skipping class the next day may seem like the way to go the night after a big test. However, believe me when I say once you start skipping lectures you cannot, and may never, stop. We’re not halfway through the semester yet, so the grind is far from over. A few weeks will go by before it gets to THAT point again. The best thing to do would be to reward yourself a bit outside of class. Go to a nice dinner place, spend the weekend sleeping in, or explore the city with some friends.
The college experience wouldn’t be complete without the haunting weeks of deadlines, exams, and endless assignments. This time of the year may seem like the worst part of being in university, but at the end of the day, everyone comes here to learn. Regardless of what grade you get, or how difficult your classes are, there will always be something to learn out of every experience. That being said, the ideal outcome would be for you to succeed while doing so. Post midterm season, you’ll finally have time again to live a little outside of those textbooks and office hours, so take advantage of that. Before you know it, the second set of midterms will show itself without warning. Except this time, you’ll know how to handle it.