5 Tips Your End-of-Semester Self Will Thank You For

The college calendar follows a predictable pattern: there’s the fun-filled return to campus, then a week of optimistic syllabus collection, then some severe learning begins, and quickly midterms and deadlines start to pile up and by semester’s end the eager has become beleaguered. So, while you’re still that bright-eyed, eager learner, let’s look ahead to your exhausted three-months-from-now self and ask: What do you have to do to be proud of your end of semester reflection? You'll likely wish you had done these five things:

Self-assess your study schedule

Browsing the class catalog is like clothes shopping online: so many things look terrific and you can easily work with the logistics. But just like with clothes, classes are something you really need to “try on” for size–and do it early in the return window.  While there’s still time to rework your schedule, do an honest self-assessment: can you really keep up with the workload now that you’ve met your professors and syllabi? Will you really be awake and alert for that 8am Calc class now that you know your learning style and after-class activities? Or are there classes where you should audit a different time or professor, consider shifting to another term, or consider taking pass/fail?

Within a few weeks, your schedule–and its impact on your stress, GPA, and performance in other classes–becomes permanent. Of course you can do anything you set your mind to…but this is the window to determine where you set your mind.  

Stay on campus 

College campuses never sleep: at any given hour of any given day, someone is studying, someone is relaxing, and someone is having fun. And in most cases, there’s a very physical dividing line between where people do the productive pursuits and people do the extracurriculars: where libraries and class buildings stop and dorms and off-campus housing and commerce begin. When class ends it’s easy to want to cross that line, even if just for an hour or two to eat, rest, or blow off steam. But as physics students know well, inertia is powerful: the most likely time for you to find a productive study space is before, between, or after classes when you’re already on campus. 

So stay on campus until your daily study goals are met. Use that quiet, productive space to review and organize your notes, get ahead of class readings, study for exams before the wee hours of the morning-of. You’ll be more productive and efficient, and have less to worry about when you do cross that line to finally relax.

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Attend office hours

Most professors have a similar experience: office hours are typically slow until 1) just before the midterm when everyone needs help; 2) just after the midterm when students want to plead for higher grades; and 3) just before the final when everyone needs help again. For all of those other weeks, you just have an incredibly knowledgeable expert–who in many cases wrote the exam and/or the textbook itself–standing at the ready to offer help that no one takes them up on.

Savvy students know that attending office hours in those low-volume weeks pays huge dividends for personal growth. Professors may provide insight into what will definitely be on the exam, or through discussion help you identify and answer questions you didn’t know you had. And come career or grad school application time, having a professor who knows you well can be a major asset in letters of recommendation. So make it a point to at least show up and make an effort.

Form study groups

Two axioms have proven significant for college students: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and you’re a lot more likely to remember something if you teach it to someone else. And study groups are a great way to do that–plus make friends and build a network for your professional future. Encourage students to stay late after class and share questions, ideas, and pain points. Seeing the study habits of other students could introduce new ways for you to approach your own learning.

Too often, you don’t realize you need help until later, but group study sessions force you to talk about the material in a way that helps you find out if you really know it or are just fooling yourself. In the cases where you’re thriving, you help others and deepen your understanding by explaining it. And in the cases where you’re not, you’ve already invested in a group that will therefore go out of their way to help you identify areas for improvement and provide new study tips.

DID YOU KNOW? With AI Tutor you have a built-in study buddy at your fingertips. Ask AI Tutor to quiz you on concepts or just talk to you about a topic so you can get the benefit of a study group, anytime and anywhere.

Make your own midterms

What is the purpose of midterm exams? Sure they’re a big part of your grade and a stressful part of the semester, but ultimately the goal is to give students and professors an assessment of how things are going: are you making the progress you should? Is the class itself progressing on schedule?  Ultimately midterm assessments are interim measurements to help students and professors understand where their academic performance stacks up against peers.

You don’t need your professor to schedule a 2-hour, high-stakes exam in order to measure your progress. You can give yourself midterm assessments by leveraging practice content, quizzing yourself on flashcards, reviewing and rephrasing your notes, or any other kind of activity that helps you determine whether you remember or understand what you’ve been learning. Regular, informal “midterm” self-checks can help you recognize when you need help and which topics are giving you trouble–and you’ll know when there’s still plenty of time to address it and without learning “the hard way” via an official score that will drag down your overall grade.

Be proud at the end of the year with the help of Varsity Tutors

The college semester can feel like a rollercoaster, with highs and lows that can leave you feeling exhilarated or exhausted. By implementing these five tips early on, you're not just setting yourself up for a smoother ride, but also ensuring that your end-of-semester self looks back with pride and satisfaction. Remember, success isn't just about crossing the finish line; it's about the journey you take to get there.

Need a little extra help navigating the college journey? Varsity Tutors is your one-stop shop for academic support. From expert tutors to AI-powered study tools, we're here to help you achieve your full potential. Don't wait until the end of the semester to begin identifying areas for improvement – let Varsity Tutors be your partner in success from day one.