Finals

[Pudding]

Well, it's almost 2 AM and I'm on the internet. Must be finals time.

I've only got one actual exam, and it's self-scheduled and in my best subject, so I'm not very worried there. I've got quite a few papers due before the exam period, though, and they're stressing me out. Does anyone have any good tips for staying both focused and relaxed during a crunch time like this? I can do one but not the other, and my usual methods are failing me.

Anyone else getting geared up for finals?

[Alex]

Stay away from the internets. They're shiny and deceptive D:

I don't have finals this semester and I'm so glad I don't have to deal with the rubbish that comes along with it!!

You know what's the best part about finals, though? The inevitable partying that you're just waiting for as soon as it's over with.

[Fiddelysquat]

I'm creating my final projects right now. And freaking out.
AHHHHHH!

[Ammer]

I originally had my finals scheduled for this month but due to the university striking, they've now been postponed.

It's a shame really, I was really looking forward to them. Oh well, I'll keep this optimistic attitude as I know they'll be coming up sooner or later and will most likely swing in my favour

[Mongrel]

Food! I eat chocolate. Lots of chocolate. And I talk to my friends on AIM. I've been getting lots of IMs lately, and it makes me feel special
I'll be so relieved when finaly are over--my semester has been incredibly bleh so far. One of my profs has been so hard to get along with, and the others are kind of distracted.
It's not even like I'll have to work hard on my finals, but I'll be glad when they're over. It's just good to get things out of the way lol

[Pudding]

Stay away from the internets. They're shiny and deceptive D:

But they're shiny! And they insist that they're going to take me to full-text criticism of race and class in Othello on JSTOR right after I'm done on PPT and tired of Sudoku. The internets are my friend!

I'm creating my final projects right now. And freaking out.
AHHHHHH!

From what I've seen, you have absolutely no reason to freak out.

I originally had my finals scheduled for this month but due to the university striking, they've now been postponed.

Luuuuuucky.

Food! I eat chocolate. Lots of chocolate. And I talk to my friends on AIM. I've been getting lots of IMs lately, and it makes me feel special

So...you're saying I should come back to town and steal your chocolate, then. I can do that.

[Mongrel]

Food! I eat chocolate. Lots of chocolate. And I talk to my friends on AIM. I've been getting lots of IMs lately, and it makes me feel special

So...you're saying I should come back to town and steal your chocolate, then. I can do that.

My chocolate and my friends, silly.

[Pudding]

According to the internet, I should schedule in study breaks and sleep. And put things off, especially shopping. I was just going to buy a blue book, but the internet says to wait!

Food! I eat chocolate. Lots of chocolate. And I talk to my friends on AIM. I've been getting lots of IMs lately, and it makes me feel special

So...you're saying I should come back to town and steal your chocolate, then. I can do that.

My chocolate and my friends, silly.

I'm not really clear on how I can steal myself, and all of your other friends smell funny. It doesn't seem terribly conducive to a good study experience, at any rate.

[Skynetmain]

Whoooo! I'm in the middle of dead week!

We just had teacher evals in all of my classes today. All of my homework was canceled. Turned in my last test today as well. Next weekjust have Monday afternoon and Friday finals. Whoo!

My stress relief suggestion is come to Friday sports with the Physics dept. We're playing kickball then going to dinner then probably a ton of video games before studying. Whoo video games!

[Fiddelysquat]

It is 6:30AM and I am still up doing design work, and I probably won't even be able to sleep tonight either.

Someone shoot me.

[Igg]

you americans with your crazy school systems.

I break up 2 weeks today for christmas, my last piece of work is due in on Friday and I finished it last Sunday....

Man, your system is MEAN. Poor you.

[Siniri]

Well, I have 2 papers to finish today. Then I have to meet with my group at 1 to make our slide deck for a 30-minute presentation we have on Saturday. Then I have a take-home final I'll get on Thursday due on Monday (as well as a project, all for the same class). Then it's 1 in-class final on Monday (plus a project due for the same class), 2 in-class finals on Tuesday (well, one is open-book and not due until 9am the next morning because he makes the tests too long), and 2 more take-homes due (one Thursday and one Friday of next week -- the former is supposed to take ~40 hours to complete). Finally, the Monday after that, I'm taking the SAS certification exam (not for a grade, but it'd be nice to put on my resume). I'd seriously love it if I could just get sick and be able to reschedule some of the stuff between Monday and Tuesday of next week.

But yes, study breaks are important. I have to use a timer to make sure I end the break on time, though. Getting enough sleep is important, too. I pulled an all-nighter 2 nights ago, so last night I went to bed early (~10:30) and slept until I woke up (and then made myself go back to sleep twice, since the first time I woke up was at 5:30).

edited to add another assignment I'd forgotten about. Waah!

[May]

Thankfully, I don't have to deal with any of this anymore (unless I go back to grad school, which may happen at some point down the road).

But for writing papers, since I hate it so much, I created an incentive program for myself. Now remember, my last final exams were in 2003...

For every paragraph I wrote, I got to take a break and play a game on Neopets. Today, I might do the same thing. Or I may give myself a 10 minute break to read through forums, go play a Facebook game, read a couple of forum boards somewhere. Those frequent, short breaks really help my concentration quite a bit. And it allows my brain too cool down do to over-exertion...

[Pink]

Let's see...I have 2 finals and 4 final projects/papers left. But this will be the LAST TIME for me! YAY! 15 days 12 hours 56 minutes and 10 seconds until I graduate!

[Pickles]

May! I totally used to bribe myself with Neo as well!

It's a good strategy though - taking brief breaks as you get done with certain parts. I also always had to have a big mug of hot tea - usually something black and caffeinated, as I discovered it helped me concentrate.

I don't miss school...at ALL. I'm daily reminded of this fact, as my husband is in grad school at this time, and prepping for candidacy exams at the moment on top of his normal finals. Talk about stressful - he either passes them and goes on to get his degree after his thesis, or he fails them and is kicked out of school.