How to: Midterm Season

October 22nd, 2022

We are currently in the midst of midterm season! For those of you who are in first year and have never experienced midterms, I would just like to say good luck! Navigating midterm season was always a struggle for me, and every semester at about the 4th week in, I start to feel it.

I personally believe that midterm season is more agonizing than exam season. I know that may be a hot take, but I have prepared a small rant to back up my point. Not only do you have a midterm, sometimes two, for almost every course over the span of two months, you also have to keep up with your lectures and weekly assignments during this time. So on top of studying for your midterms, you usually have 4-5 other courses to keep up with and try not to fall behind in. Not to mention any other commitments you may have. If you have a job or are a part of a club this makes it even harder to keep up with your regular class work and studying. Yet during exam season, nothing else is going on. You don't have course work to keep up with. All of your attention is going to studying for your exams. I will DIE on this hill. I swear, midterms really do hit you like a truck.

But, luckily for you, I have been through midterms enough times to tell you a few hacks and tips on how to succeed during this time:

Keep yourself organized! I personally find it very helpful to put one sticky note for each course on my desktop screen. In each of those courses, I add in any midterms or assignments for the course, their due dates, as well as the percentage of my grade that each one counts for. This way, every time I open my laptop I can see when my upcoming assignments and midterms. I also find it helpful to add each one into my calendar, along with my work schedule. This helps me stay on top of what I need to get done by helping me plan out when I will have time to study or complete my work.

Create a to-do list! This one is a go-to for me. I put another sticky note on my desktop and I write down my weekly to-do list. Every Sunday, I plan what I need to do for the week and write down what needs to be done everyday, Monday to Sunday. This is extremely helpful because I can delete things off of my list as a go, and if I fall behind, I keep it on my list so that I know not to finish off the week without completing it all. I also add in fun events or things planned that have nothing to do with school or work, so that I can see when I have breaks and what I can look forward to!

Do what works for you! Personally, I'm not the type to fall behind on lecture work to make time for studying. I don't like to have that extra work sitting in the back of my brain, knowing that I still have to get it done. This is why staying super organized and creating my to-do lists help me. But if you're the type of person who can handle making more time for studying, knowing you'll have the time to make up on your lectures, then do it! Not everyone is the same, and just because something works for one person, doesn't mean it works for everyone! Figuring out what works best for you is the best way to tackle your studies!

Overall, midterm season can be sooooo stressful. One thing I hope you remember is to make time for yourself. Take a break, stretch, go out for drinks or dinner! School can sometimes become very overwhelming and professors quickly forget that many of us have four other courses on top of their course. Don't feel guilty for sleeping in, or taking the night off of studying to chill and watch a movie with friends. Prioritizing self-care and time to decompress is important so that you have the energy to keep going.

I hope this advice helps you and as always, feel free to contact me if you have questions or have an article topic that you would like to see in the future!

-Sam