It seems like just yesterday I was looking forward to Fall Break, and now it’s November.
Suddenly my teachers are starting to talk about finals, I have to register for classes next semester and my mother is emailing me my plane tickets to go back home. It’s unbelievable — three weeks until we leave for Thanksgiving, then finals and then fall semester is over.
Though there isn’t much time left in the semester, the next few weeks can have a huge effect on the rest of your college career. Even though the semester is winding down, there are a few things you may want to focus on.
During my freshman year, an upperclassman told me course registration was like The Hunger Games: “Watch your back, trust no one.” Those were his exact words. Now having been through it twice, I completely understand what he was talking about.
Registration can be a huge pain, especially when your last name earns you a really late registration time. Situations like this are where planning is critical. If you haven’t done it already, I highly recommend creating a four-year plan so you have an idea of what you want to register for. At least once a semester, you should schedule appointments with your academic advisor and an advising specialist to make sure you are on track for graduation. Make sure you know your registration time, and be prepared to log in to OnTrack and secure your spot once your time starts. Despite how much you plan, most likely something will still go wrong. Don’t panic — make a list of secondary classes to register for in case your first choice fills up before your registration time. Just keep calm and I promise registration will go smoothly.
For some reason, even though I’ve been sitting in a class taking notes for an entire semester, the idea of a cumulative exam on all of that material scares me. Most college students cringe at the thought of taking a final, but for the most part, they are inevitable. My advice for getting through final exams is very similar to my advice for registration: remain calm and plan ahead. Even if you haven’t been the most studious note-taker, you can still make a great grade on your final. Usually, teachers review what is going to be on the final. Use that information to make a study guide and schedule a meeting with your professor so you can make sure you’re not missing anything.
Whether you like to study alone or with a group, put time in your schedule for you to study. Having a definite time makes you less likely to procrastinate. The library will definitely be full of people and study rooms will be scarce, so if you need to be alone, make use of some of the other reading and study rooms across campus.
Above all, the most important thing for finishing the semester strong is to keep yourself in good physical condition. Make sure you get enough sleep, try to eat breakfast everyday and drink plenty of water. It’s sure to get cold, so dress warmly, because the last thing you need when you’re stressed is a bad case of the flu.
While preparing for Winter Break, remember to take some time to enjoy yourself. Go get s’mores outside the gym on Wednesday nights, catch up with some friends at College Coffee, go look at the lights during Luminaries. College is about education, but you also need to take some time to have fun.
Plan ahead, keep a calm mind and you’ll ride out the rest of this semester in a blaze of glory.