Finals are Sooner than You Think

If you’re a high school or college student, it’s time to make a plan for final exams and projects. Your exact plan will depend on your final exam and project schedule (which will differ from school to school) and on the commitments you have outside of school. Some students will benefit from using Thanksgiving break to get ahead. For others, it might be better used as a chance to rest and dive into the last bit of the semester rejuvenated.

The important thing is to be intentional about your end-of-semester plan. It can be easy to go into Thanksgiving feeling like it is still mid-November and that there is plenty of time and then come back to realize that it is very suddenly December.

A good way to start is to compile a list of everything you will need to prepare for in December, both for school and out of school: tests, final projects, performances and their extra rehearsals, religious and/or family commitments, etc.

Put anything that has scheduled times onto a calendar and then make estimates for how much time you expect to spend studying for each test, working on each project, practicing outside of rehearsals, etc. Working backwards from due dates, block out time in your schedule for each thing. This doesn't have to be a schedule you will stick to exactly. The goal is to get a sense of when you need to start working on things to minimize how overwhelmed you get during the busiest times.

If you struggle with procrastination, consider some kind of accountability system. This could look like making study plans with a friend so that you keep each other on track. It could be breaking down each project or study plan into bite sized tasks and then making a list where you can check things off or add stickers as you complete them. It could involve scheduling check-ins with a parent, teacher, or other trusted adult that you share your plan with. Making and sticking to plans is a skill in and of itself and it can take experimentation and practice to find systems that work for you. If this is something you struggle with, Applerouth has Executive Function Coaches that can help.

If there are any classes you have been especially struggling with this fall, it's good to start preparing for those finals or projects as soon as possible. Applerouth has Academic Tutors that can help you get back on track with almost any high school subject. You’ll find your efforts are far more effective (whether you go it alone or work with a tutor) if you pace them over a few weeks rather than try to cram relearning an entire semester's worth of material into an hour or two right before the test.

If there’s one takeaway we can offer, it’s this: set aside an hour during your break this week to follow the process we’ve outlined above to plan out your work in December. That hour will pay you back in time saved, stress relieved, and higher grades.

And, remember, you don’t have to go it alone – whether you need help planning your work or catching up on the material – we’ve got you covered. Schedule a time to talk with an Applerouth Advisor about our tutoring and coaching programs. We’ll have you on the way to finals success in no time!