Midterms can be an extremely stressful time for students. With many classes having a midterm exam that carries a heavy weight on the overall grade, it is easy to see why.
The various techniques students use to study and alleviate their stress differ greatly.
Some like to study nonstop up until the exam, while others like to study lightly and stop when they feel they have a good grasp on the topic.
Some listen to music to calm their nerves, while others do some yoga and other physical activities to channel their anxiety.
The right technique to prepare for a huge test, like midterms, all depends on a person’s personality and preferences.
“I just review the material. When I am stressed, I listen to music,” says Breonna Gillespie.
A few students are not stressed at all over exams, like Samuel Stuart. “I am not one that stresses over schoolwork. I feel I am pretty confident about it.”
Some tutor others and help them study. Teaching someone else about a topic can be a useful technique to help retain content, since they have to think about it from a different perspective.
“I am a tutor, so I help other people prep. I ask them to tutor me on what they are studying to help them think,” says David Griessmann. “When I study, I listen to music for tunnel vision.”
A more structured approach works better for some students. “I’m going to mellow down, meditate and try to understand what I read and study it, ”says Stella Hemingway.
While studying is an important part of preparing for an exam, too much can sometimes make it worse.
“I study a lot. Most of my stress comes from studying too much,” says Maria Salinas.
While there are many different resources and places to go for academic help, it is sometimes nice just to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.
“I like sitting at the Starbucks in the library,” says Meaad Almotairi.
Many people just like to do their best to study and turn in assignments to prepare themselves for midterms. Studying happens to be what relieves the stress for them.
“The best way I handle the stress of midterms is trying not to think about it, turning my homework in on time and by going to the library at least an hour a day to read and study,” says Matthew Tuuri.
Some colleges also hold events to help students cope with stress, much like Sinclair’s Puppies on Campus event where students are able to interact with dogs to alleviate their stress.
While there won’t be any events like this during the midterms, puppies will be on campus come Dec. 4 and 5. This will be to relieve stress during finals week.
According to UCLA health, something seemingly simple like interacting with dogs can reduce your blood pressure and slow breathing, which in turn helps to alleviate stress.
Whatever feelings you have about midterms, there are always many ways to prepare and de-stress for them. From techniques like listening to music, yoga and just hitting the books, students have a plethora of ways they get ready for the big test.
Sean Kahle
Staff Writer
Kali Macklin
Staff Writer