The Shabby Guide to Surviving Exams

I have gone through many an exam process, and not one has been easy. I remember my freshman year exams where I almost went into a nervous breakdown, overdosed on coffee, and lived in the library for a week leading up to them. I, of course, was overreacting and overanalyzing the situation. When I got to my exams, they were far easier than I had expected, and I got through them without any major difficulty (well maybe one panic attack when I momentarily forgot that the fifth king of Rome was Tarquinius Priscus). However, having gone through the "finals" process several times now and studied the habits of highly successful students, I consider myself a proverbial old hand and have refined my studying tactics to both an art and exact science so that I no longer require a sedative to go to sleep or am called an ATC troll. Follow these pointers and you shall be well prepared for any exam. 

1. Don't be a squatter- The library is great until exams. Then it gets flooded with people who have never been there all semester, remarkably discover how wonderful a place it is, pick a computer in the ATC and then do not move for a week. Even when they go to Stirling's or talk with a professor, they remain signed on to the computer, leave their facebook page up, and do not return for several hours. Be respectful and only take over a computer if you need it. People need to write papers or take take-home exams, so let them have priority and study somewhere else; you might even find that you are more productive away from other people and technological distractions. Moreover, I have been asked (don't shoot the messenger) to request that, if you are not a chemistry or biology student, please do not use the classrooms (especially the chem. rooms upstairs) or the GIS computer room in Spencer. 

2. Drink water- Red Bull, Monster, double espresso, 5 hour energy, and my personal favorite, Diet Coke, are great and effective beverages to keep you up all night and focused on your studies; however, the resulting crash will leave you worse off than you started. Caffeine is a diuretic, so if you drink to much of it, your body will be depleted of water, leaving you extremely tired and with a splitting headache . Dehydration wreaks havoc on your ability to study, so try to limit your caffeine intake and make sure you balance it with water in a one to one ratio. (Four Loco is not a good choice as an energy drink by the way) 

3. Sleep- It may seem counter productive but sleep is your best friend. Numerous studies have shown that even a quick 40 minute nap helps with memorization and declarative memory. Moreover, you will wake up refreshed and able to focus more. Try what the Japanese, one of most sleep deprived but productive nations in the world, do; drink a cup of green tea before a twenty to forty minute nap. When you wake up, the caffeine will be flowing through your system and you will be all ready to hit the books for the next round. 

4. Have breakfast- Nothing is more annoying while studying or taking an exam than a growling stomach. Avoid the distraction of hunger by keeping your normal eating pattern throughout studying and exams. The normality will calm your nerves, give you a sense of control, and keep your mind on your books rather than on McClurg. 

5. Shut down Facebook- Facebook is the thief of time. Promising yourself that you will only spend five minutes to check how everyone else's studying is going or see if your Farmville has raised another barn is a sham. You are going to get distracted, and before you know it that five minutes has turned into fifty. Taking a study break is fine and in fact needed at times; however, set a timer and do something productive like taking a walk or stretching. 

6. Breathe! Such a simple act can have a huge effect on your mood and body. No matter how deep a hole you think you have dug yourself this year, just remind yourself that you will get through, exams will end, and once you are done, you can kick back, forget everything you crammed into your brain, and enjoy winter break. 

7. Start Studying!! There is a Chinese proverb that says that the best time to plant a sapling was ten years ago. The second best time is right now. Enough with the procrastination and crack open those books. While a lot of nerds and child progenies are able to memorize facts while in class, the average student, myself included, actually needs to review the material. Ideally, you should have started a week before the exam so that you can figure out what you know really well, kind of well, and not at all and thus are able to create the appropriate study guide that addresses your weak points. However, if you have not studied yet, there is no time like the present.