Top Ten Tips for Midterms
Written by Alexa LoSchiavo. Graphic by Avery Melhado.
- Stake out your favorite coffee shop
No, I don’t mean actually stake out your favorite coffee shop the entire midterm week. What I mean is start coffee-shop shopping. Start figuring out what place has the best vibe for maximum studying. What place is open late, what place has the best coffee, tea, or scones. Choose your favorite and use it as a crutch to get through midterms. Let it be your safe place for studying and sipping on lattes. Let it be your celebratory spot after.
- Don’t wait ’til the last minute
It’s tempting to want to wait until the last second to start those boring projects or finish those intimidating paintings. Despite your wanting, take this as your sign to start now! There’s no time like the present!
- Ask your professors for help
Ask the questions everyone has but no one wants to ask. Make sure you understand what the assignment is. Ask the hard-hitting questions, everyone will thank you later.
- Make a study plan
Plan out how much time you think each task will take. Make a list and let yourself feel proud every time you check something off. You can create a sense of order in the madness that is midterms.
- Take breaks
Be kind to yourself this week where sleep feels optional and work feels neverending. You are in control and everything will get done. Schedule breaks to rest even if it’s just for half an hour. Take a break to drink water, eat food, etc..
- Do the most daunting task first
You have a still-life due in two days and you don’t want to start? Do it first. Get the hardest things out of the way right now. Just start and jump right off the deep end. Doing the hard stuff first gives you more time to get the hang of it, instead of rushing at the last minute.
- Plan a study party
What’s the best way to relieve study stress? Have a study party! Show all your friends that they’re not alone. Everyone is stressed and you can all help each other out. Lean on your support system and the weight of all your midterms will slowly feel a little less like an anvil.
- Get outside
Remember those breaks I told you about earlier? If you don’t want to take a break, take your work outside. Put out a blanket in Forsyth as the sun sets, and do your work while breathing in the fresh air. You’ll feel better and likely will get just as much done.
- Go to Jen Library
Jen Library is an underutilized resource with private study rooms, tons of nooks and crannies and computers. Now, Press cafe is only a few feet away too. Go to the library and let yourself disappear into your research. Let the fluorescent lights offer you a kind of sanctuary.
- Know when to celebrate
Once you’ve checked the last thing off your list and you know you’ve studied more than enough, let yourself put the computer away and jump up and down. Let yourself celebrate. Don’t go back and overwork yourself or strain your eyes because you’re nervous. A big part of being a student is having intuition, knowing when you know enough. Let yourself celebrate, whether it’s your first SCAD midterms or what feels like your 100th, you did it!
Alexa is a sophomore majoring in Writing and hopes to pursue a career in publishing and writing books. Outside of writing for District, she can be found writing about almost anything, reading in the park, or taking pictures of beautiful things.
