As classes wind down for the fall semester and students approach Reading Week, a spirit of angst seems to permeate the Washington University community as students come to the realization that finals are near.
For many college students, finals represent a hectic week of long, sleepless nights, skipped meals, and pre-exam cram sessions. Even the typically over-achieving, forward-thinking student can feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of material that must be mastered and memorized prior to each exam.
Alan Glass, director of Student Health and Counseling Services, said students should be particularly vigilant about maintaining positive health habits during exam week.
“Sometimes because of increased stress or lack of sleep, immune systems aren’t what they should be, so we see an increase of infectious-type illnesses (i.e. sore throats, colds, and bronchitis),” said Glass.
He added, “The counseling service sees increased incidents of anxiety, stress, and sleep difficulties. Those who have pre-existing mental health issues become more severe during times of stress.”
With so many physical and mental health concerns exacerbated during finals, students must do all in their power to maintain the lowest stress levels possible. Glass recommended that students “be conscious of their diets – there’s sometimes a tendency to ‘get the munchies’ – and try to maintain a consistent schedule as much as possible; eat a balanced diet; drink plenty of fluids; try to limit caffeine intake or to keep it consistent with what you do the rest of the year; and attempt to get restful sleep. Your brain needs sleep to accurately process and retain information.”
Freshman Ningning Ma plans to do just that.
“I think I’m going to get seven to eight hours of sleep [every night]. I’m going to [keep from getting stressed] by setting aside some time for studying and some for relaxation,” she said.
Though following Glass’s suggestions can seem almost impossible during a time when academics are at the forefront of everyone’s mind, numerous resources are available on campus to assist students in reviewing for and preparing for exams and in eliminating as much stress as possible.
Cornerstone offers a number of study aids and help sessions for students during finals. According to Harvey Fields, assistant director of academic programs for Cornerstone, Peer Led Team Learning (PLTL) groups are an excellent resource for students already involved in them (students must register for these at the beginning of the semester).
For students not participating in PLTL or study groups or those who are participating in the programs but would like extra assistance, Cornerstone offers scheduled “work sessions” (exam review sessions between now and the times of the finals) for general chemistry, general chemistry lab, organic chemistry, organic chemistry lab, physics, all calculus classes, and Math 217. The schedule for these sessions is posted on the kiosk in front of Cornerstone and on Cornerstone’s Web site (cornerstone.wustl.edu/index.htm).
Fields also noted that those who live in Brookings, Wayman Crow, or William Greenleaf Eliot Residential Colleges have access to their residential peer mentors (RPMs) during their established office hours. RPMs are also willing to help a limited number of students who don’t live in their residential college but who are seeking help during office hours.
In describing how students should go about preparing for finals, Fields said, “It is never too late to utilize time management principles to prepare for one’s exams. Time management can be the tool to help students allocate adequate time for studying on a staggered basis.”
He further noted, “We always recommend that students use the course-designed materials – any office hours or help sessions that are offered by the department should always be utilized.”
The numerous resources mentioned above as well as those available through professors and departments will certainly assist students in preparing for exams in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
According to Glass, “This is a challenging time of year for students, and I’d encourage them to be sensible and make good decisions about health behaviors. And even the smartest students could use a little luck, so I wish them good luck.”