BY KAROLINA DOMBAXI, STAFF WRITER
It is officially that time of the semester. Final papers and projects are due and exams are coming up next week. It is the last week of classes and it may seem like everyone is scrambling to get things done. Students, especially freshmen, may have a hard time finding places to study on campus. Here are some recommendations.
The library is of course going to be number one on the list. All three floors of the library make for great study spaces, especially the third floor known as the “quiet floor.” There is no talking allowed up there. It is a great space for students who need total quiet to concentrate on their work. There is also a pod in the library where students can buy coffee and other microwavable foods to snack on while studying. Starting Dec. 10 until Dec. 17 the library will be open for 24 hours so students can come in anytime to study for finals.
Another good study place on campus is Swan. Swan is open late at night and also has vending machines. In Swan there are big classrooms with whiteboards and projectors. However, the second floor of Swan is closed after 9:30 p.m. Similar to Swan is Plassmann Hall. Plassmann is also open late at night and has lots of classrooms available as well as vending machines. Cafe La Verna is a good space for studying because food can easily be purchased. Students are able to sit at the cafe until it closes at 11 p.m.
Students should not study in their dorm rooms or places of residence because they might be distracted by the people around them. However, according to an email that was sent out to students from Residential Education, 24-hour quiet hours for residence halls will start at noon on Dec 10. This will take place in all residence buildings until Friday, Dec. 17. Here are also some tips for finals that students can utilize.
Do not cram. A lot of students are going to do it anyway but cramming for a final is not a good idea. Trying to recall a lot of information before an exam will not help with memory retention. Instead, do a little bit everyday. Use resources available and even take little quizzes on Quizlet or play Kahoot with some friends or study buddies.
Find your area. Find an area where you will not be bothered or distracted. Hydrate and make sure to eat and sleep. When studying for finals students can get in a bit of a frenzy. Eating out, not drinking enough water and studying well into the early hours of morning can have a negative effect on the body. The human body cannot function the way it needs to if it is not being taken care of. Take some breaks. Study for 40 minutes or an hour and take a break. Have some dinner, drink some water and workout. Give the eyes a break from the screen and stand up and move around. This goes back to the idea of cramming. After a while, staring at the computer screen can make the eyes tired and give a bit of brain fog. Finals don’t have to be stressful and with some preparation can go a lot smoother than expected.
