Students studying on campus. Found on thurstontalk.com, credit to SPSCC foundation.

There are only three finals weeks within each consecutive school year, for each quarter. With each one come its own difficulties, but they offer at least a two-week break until the next one. It is vital to perform well on these finals because most professors assign them as the largest percentage of the grade. Finals weeks are always challenging, especially if you have at least two classes or more, often with five credits leading into more difficult finals. With this knowledge, people can prepare themselves accurately for these challenging exams.

Finals are known to be difficult, and with the strenuous homework that usually comes with college, it can be challenging to know how to manage them. There are the basics that people seem to know, which is to try to keep a healthy diet and schedule, but that doesn’t always work for everyone. Most people aren’t willing to try that, even with the healthy snacks that SPSCC provides during finals week in the Fall Quarter. Here are four general tips that, even if you attempt just one of them, are better than none.

Usually, finals are based on an essay or a project that directly connects to what you’ve learned throughout the quarter. For example, an essay about the history subject you’ve been studying or a multi-layered project that has been hinted at throughout the entire semester. Understanding what is coming up and knowing the rubric in advance is essential, even if it’s just a glance at the middle of the semester. This can be beneficial to you down the line when you finally have to buckle down and do it.

A little trick that people are aware of, but don’t necessarily see, is their professor’s office hours. Office hours are hours that professors usually have between classes or when they are in their office, allowing any student to come in and ask questions. In college, professors don’t necessarily know who you are as a student unless you make yourself clear in class, such as sitting at the front of the room or asking questions. It helps to make yourself known in these office hours, even if it’s just a simple question. If a professor sees that you’re trying to gain more knowledge outside of the perceived school hours, they’ll see you as an actual student. These hours will allow you to get to know the subject a bit more and possibly gain insider knowledge about the subject outside of the rubric that the professor has laid out. Professor hours are usually displayed within the syllabus, typically near the top of the page.

As classic as it sounds, SPSCC genuinely wants to help you with your schooling and allows those resources for it. It has multiple places and resources throughout campus that help with this if you reach out to them. For writing help of any kind, whether you’re in a humanities class, English, or history class, there’s the LSS West Writing and Language Tutoring Center, along with the LSS East Accounting, Math & Physics Tutoring. These two centers have other students who are trained to help you with your work, no matter what stage you’re at with your knowledge.

Having a level head is also essential. Being able to keep track of all the homework you might have to finish up is crucial. Even setting small reminders or knowing when your finals are due can make a significant difference. Remembering all of this or, at least, not buckling under the stress that comes with it is essential. Try to reduce your stress as much as possible because stress can lead to headaches or the urge to break down more easily. It’s easy to get riled up in the grand scheme of it all, but at least drinking water more often or having important dates marked down is better in the long run.

Remember, college can be challenging, but with the right mindset and preparation, you can succeed during finals week. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and support when you need it, and most importantly, believe in yourself and your abilities. You got this, Clippers!