It’s now Day 2 of finals at UM. You know all the right ways to study, but when you’re on a time crunch it’s really easy to slip up and just go through the motions even if you know it will more than likely hurt you (and your grades). Here’s a quick list of the biggest mistakes students make during this crucial time of the year and ways to avoid them.
1. Not Sleeping
Sleep can be so underrated. Without at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep, not only are your energy levels significantly diminished, but your memory capacity, productivity and attention span are reduced as well. So stop messaging your Tinder matches and get some sleep!
2. Starting Studying A Day Before The Test
Procrastination… It was cool in high school. Waiting until the day before the exam to print out the study guide from Blackboard is just crazy. Unless you’re an academic anomaly, do yourself a favor and start your studies early.
3. Trying To Memorize Everything
Memorizing the information may seem like the logical approach, but when your teacher throws a trick question on the test, all bets are off. Learn the material, grasp the concepts, and apply what you know. Who knows… it could even spare you a few extra points.
4. Study Sesh With Your Bros
For many of us, Club Richter is an excuse to get hyped up on Red Bull and chat with your buddies. But as the exam dates approach, treating a visit to the library as a social activity lacks long-term benefits. Study in an environment that encourages the highest productivity. And after you crush the test, you can meet your friends for a celebratory brew at The Rat.
5. Cheating
Didn’t your mom ever teach you that cheaters never win? Well there was some merit in that phrase after all. The testing rooms have eyes everywhere, and cheating will result in a big fat zero and an embarrassing ejection from the room. So think twice before you decide to “stretch” over your buddy’s paper. Mom would be very disappointed.
Originally from Bradenton, Florida, Natalie Marciniak is a senior at the University of Miami majoring in public relations with a minor in entrepreneurship. She is proficient in French and conversational Spanish, and currently lives in Coral Gables where she freelances in addition to completing her degree.
words_natalie marciniak.
