First exams are coming, kinda like “winter is coming.” Yes, I just quoted Game of Thrones. “Winter Is Coming” is the motto of House Stark, one of the Great Houses of Westeros. On Game of Thrones, “winter is coming” is a warning to be vigilant and prepare for the worst. The Starks, lords of the North, strive to be prepared for winter, which hits their lands the hardest. (Hits us hard, too, but not ‘til December.) For now, be like the Starks (minus the Red Wedding episode) and be vigilant in your preparation for your first exams. There’s a D in cold, but there doesn’t need to be one on your transcript.
How will you prepare for the upcoming first round of exams? Have you made study guides, met with tutors, done all the readings? No? If not, you’re probably not alone, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t or couldn’t start now.
Some ideas on getting ready:
- Attend NH50 study groups
- Review the learning objectives in your syllabi
- Do the Chemistry problems
- Attend any and all Supplemental Instruction sessions
- Book an appointment with a tutor
- Go to your Professor’s office hours
- Go to your TA’s office hours
- Ask other students in your class how they are studying
- Pair up with someone in your link group and study together
- Speak to your advisor
- Make flashcards of vocab terms (quizlet works!)
- Rather than re-reading the text (again) test yourself by responding to the learning outcomes at the beginning of the chapter
It is completely okay to be nervous for your first round of college exams. It is not like high school. You might not know what to expect. I have mentioned before that my way of doing assignments was doing it all in one night. This is not actually a best practice. Especially with exams. Going over the material in advance and in increments will make you feel a bit less stressed and help you retain information long term. That said, everyone gets nervous about an exam even if you think you know the information cold.
The night before an exam, make sure you get a good night’s sleep. Feeling tired before and during an exam won’t seem fun and won’t be helpful. Eat something beforehand. Your brain is about to do something amazing- feed it! Being Hangry and Taking an exam do not mix.
When it’s all over, join the links and fellow CNHS students for pizza, chocolate, and conversation at the First Exam Debrief, 5:00 p.m. on September 26 in Rowell 118. Celebrate and commiserate with each other now. Stay vigilant. The next round of exams is coming soon.