Making It After Midterms

So midterms have come and gone. (If you haven't checked your midterm grades yet, check out the post from October 10). Whether you're calling home boasting about how well you’re doing or crying your eyes out at the thought of failing out of a course, congratulations on making it through a very busy and stressful time in the semester!

There are many ways to overcome a midterm crisis. Some of the most important tips include talking to your professor (and your advisor!) visiting the Learning Centers, and re-evaluating your study habits. But what if that’s not enough? Here are a few other tips to help you make it after midterms.

Make Healthy Choices and Add in Study Spurts

Balancing your social life and academic life is one of the hardest parts of the transition to college. As hard as it may be, you may have to decline offers to hang out with friends in order to focus a bit more on studying if you want to pull yourself out of the hole. And, just cutting out the social time does not always mean you are going to have any more time to study on your hands. We know your schedule is packed full and that it can be difficult to find more opportunities to study. That’s why you’re going to have to get creative. Review notes on the elliptical at UREC. Make flashcards that you can read through on your walk between classes or while you're riding the bus. You’ll retain more information from these study spurts than you think, which will make the process much easier when you sit down for a longer study session.

Make Friends and Use a Study Group

You know that student in your class that never puts his pencil down? Or that student who is always speaking up or asking questions? These are the type of students you want to consider getting to know. Perhaps you are struggling because your notes are sub par or maybe you could benefit from a study group. Note: no one will want to work with you if you don’t show up to class. The key is to show others how hard you work so you can work together to stay motivated. (Take a look at the post from September 12 for other study tips and great resources to get you back on your feet).

Show A Little Love

Yes, the majority of students tend to go under the radar (and may like living there). Maybe you don't want to be singled out in class, or are intimidated by your professor. But, now is the time to establish new habits and get a little more involved in your learning. If you have been more passive and not as engaged in your class, now is a great time to turn it around and have your professor know you for being the student who cares about her grade and is trying to make an effort. Show up early to class to clarify any questions you had from the last lecture. And participate! Professors will assume you are happy with the grade you've earned unless you give them a reason to know otherwise. Take the time now to get to know your professors so you can work together to help you make it after midterms. (Not sure how to get the conversation started? Check out the post from October 14).

Exploration Resources | Studying

Spotlight on Exploring Resources

This is the first in a series to spotlight resources and events that can help you explore your major and career possibilities.

Your Undeclared Advisor!

Already, students have begun utilizing their advisor to help figure out what to do for a major or career! During the meeting, it’s a very individualized exploration about yourself, academic and career resources, and how to make decisions knowing these things. Schedule your first appointment today by emailing your advisor your availability for the next 4-5 business days.

Studying

As I know you’re learning, there’s a lot of work for classes in college. If you need some help on how to study effectively or time manage, utilize Learning Strategies Instruction or Academic Support Instruction for an individual appointment. If English is your second or third language, you may also want to visit English Language Learner Services for support with reading the dense amount of English assigned to you. Below, I’m briefly discussing how study spaces and time management can help you study better.

Time Management

This sounds a lot easier than it is. Utilizing your time effectively is challenging, because you have competing goals that demand your time. Checkout Learning Strategies Instruction's tips for improving your time management. Listen to JMU students talk about the balancing everything...

“If you want to achieve academically, learn how to balance having fun and doing your work.  You’ve got to make sacrifices a lot of times.”

Study Spaces

Don’t study in your dorm room. Seriously, how can you study when Facebook/Twitter, video games, TV, friends, your bed, and everything else is there tempting you not to study? Find places around campus that support your ability to focus on your studies.

• Student Success Center include group study rooms and Learning Centers [mixture of quiet and background noise]
• Rose Library including 45 group study rooms [mixture of quiet and background noise]
• Carrier Library including 29 group study rooms [mixture of quiet and background noise]
• Taylor Down Under (TDU) on the 1st floor of Taylor Hall [background noise]
• Educational Technology & Media Center in Memorial Hall [quiet]
• Career & Academic Planning Resource Center on the 3rd floor of Student Success Center [background noise]
• Your Residence Hall Study Lounge [quiet]
• Lounge by the Post Office in Warren Hall.

You will also find nooks and crannies in many buildings you have classes in around campus, such as the 2nd and 3rd floors of HHS. The bottom line... almost anywhere can be a more effective study space than your room!