Fasten your seat belts, it's time for finals at UAA!

by Tracy Kalytiak  |   

UAA students prepare for finals, studying in the ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building on Dec. 9. (Photo by Philip Hall / University of Alaska Anchorage)

UAA students prepare for finals, studying in the ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building on Dec. 9. (Photo by Philip Hall / University of Alaska Anchorage)

Ah, finals week. For many, it's a time associated with an explosion of papers, dog-eared books and uncapped highlighters; the taste of scorched coffee; alternating rushes of adrenaline fear and profound sleep-deprived exhaustion.

But finals week doesn't have to be that way. We talked to some of UAA's students to get their thoughts and tips for how they prepare for and power through the frenzy of finals.

Sophie Leshan, student speaker for Commencement:

  • Designate one space just for studying. "Utilizing one space will allow you to achieve a high level of focus more quickly than if you are frequently moving to different spaces with new distractions to process and overcome. The library has become my study sanctuary, as the routine of studying in this less-stimulating environment helps kick my focus into high gear."
  • Consider listening to ambient noise rather than music with lyrics.

"I find listening to music leaves me paying more attention to the lyrics than what I'm supposed to be learning. One app I really like is called Relax Melodies, as it empowers you to become an ambient-noise DJ from your phone. You can select relaxing ambient sounds like wind in the trees, birds, and rain to play together or individually. I'd highly recommend this app to students who like to listen to something while they study!"

  • Take time for physical activity. Research suggests just half an hour of aerobic exercise can improve our brain-processing speed. Consider taking an exercise study break in between a long study session to re-approach your work revitalized.
    UAA students Janet Carson, Maricris Cayabyab, and Kristin Carroll study in the Spine on Dec. 9. (Photo by Philip Hall / University of Alaska Anchorage)

    UAA students Janet Carson, Maricris Cayabyab, and Kristin Carroll study in the Spine on Dec. 9. (Photo by Philip Hall / University of Alaska Anchorage)

Kenyon Wright, UAA AHAINA 2016 Man of Excellence:

  • Prepare. "It's always good to know when your finals are, so you can strategically focus on those you need more time to master...no cramming (if you can help it)."
  • Pamper. "Getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet is extremely important since it helps everything run smoother."
  • Stay as calm as you can. "I would tell any student not to overthink and stress themselves out because it's only going to hurt them in the long run; brief sessions of cardio are great for relieving stress and improving cognitive ability.
  • Settle in. "I personally like the library or the Spine (when it's not too cold) because the atmosphere enables me to be productive."

Iain Miller, undergraduate researcher/aspiring emergency room physician:

  • Sleep: "I know it can be tempting to stay up late for that last-minute studying but I've found it is more beneficial to get a good night's sleep prior to an exam. Studies have shown this helps with memory recall when you get up. Study earlier in the day so you can get some sleep!"
  • Strategize: "Don't wait to the last minute. We all did it all semester, but finals are the best time to plan a little more ahead. Get your essays out of the way now so you can focus on exams."
  • Relax: "Get to campus early. Don't be rushed during finals. It'd be better to do some last-minute studying instead of running late looking for a parking spot on campus."
Laura Bedard, Hospitality and Restaurant Management student, 365 Whole Foods intern, Bellevue, Wash.
"The best tool I have found to help me prepare for any finals has been Quizlet... it's an online free Flash Card app. With multiple classes and so many things to remember for finals, this program helps me learn the information quickly and has fun learning games. You can also create your own tests. Throughout the semester, I create Quizlet study sets for each chapter or materials covered, so when finals come I can easily go back to those sets for review."

Chelsea Parrocha, 2016 AHAINA Woman of Excellence

  • Make your own study guides: "I find that writing concepts from lecture in your own words and making an outline of the semester helps increase your understanding of topics that were presented. By making a study guide, it helps you condense the topics from lecture, and make connections from either other relatable classes that may provide insight in the class you're studying for or make certain topics better to understand."
  • Study groups: "Before an exam or during a class review, one of the most influential professors I've had always told the class "show me what you know" and that's what you're essentially doing in the exam. You're communicating to your professor that you know the material. By working with a classmate or a group of people in your class and quizzing each other on certain topics, you're preparing yourself to communicate to your professor on the final. Plus, by working with other people, you gain another perspective on topics that you were having a hard time understanding in lecture."
  • Finding the perfect balance: "When I'm really focused on studying, I make sure to put an alarm that tells me to go to bed at a certain time that I know will give me at least seven hours of sleep. Then, as I'm ready to go to bed, I read my notes or study guides. This helps me solidify the material and gain confidence that I'm ready for the exam. I have found this to be my most effective way to prepare for a final."
Maia Wen, a UAA community-engaged student assistant (CESA) with the Stalking the Bogeyman theatre-psychology project
  • Keeping procrastination at bay: "I try to embrace the reality that the studying, writing, practicing, or whatever will have to happen eventually. Before the final. And ideally as soon as possible. It just feels so much better to finish your tasks and then spend hours on social media than the other way around."
  • Stay on task: "If you're watching TV while reading a journal article, your retention of the information is going to be less successful because your finite attention span is consuming two different inputs. It'll be less likely that the information is encoded properly in your memory, so chances are diminished that you'll be able to retrieve it when you're taking the test."
  • Organize: "One of the most effective methods that I use is planning out my day in 30-minute time intervals. This tactic forces me to look at the time I have available before and during finals week. I decide how much of it I want to dedicate to studying. Then I divide that time up and write down when and how long I want to study for a test or work on a report. It might sound like overkill, and maybe it is, but it holds me accountable, gets me organized, prioritizes my tasks, and it ensures I allocate time for breaks and nights off (which is really important)."

Reminder: The UAA/APU Consortium Library will be open until 2 a.m. each night up to Dec. 17 for UAA/APU students, staff and faculty. Your university ID will be required to use "after hours" at the library. Card swipe will be used for entry after 10 p.m. The UAA Student Union will also be open late for finals week. The Den at the Student Union serves free dinner every night during finals week. And, the UAA Multicultural Center will offer extended hours during finals week, thanks to a partnership with the Anchorage Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. The MCC will have Nights of Achievement finals study halls in Rasmuson Hall, Room 106, from 5-8 p.m., Dec. 12-15, with computer lounge, quiet study area, and refreshments. All students are welcome.

Written by Tracy Kalytiak, University of Alaska Anchorage
Creative Commons License "Fasten your seat belts, it's time for finals at UAA!" is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
December Archive