Final Preparation

By Lori Greene | May 5, 2011

It’s finally starting to feel like springtime in Chicago! Boats are beginning to venture out onto Lake Michigan, the is sun shining a little brighter with a glimpse into summer, and the mad dash for current students to get through final exam week is underway. May 2-10 marks this time period here at Loyola. When finals conclude, we will move into numerous graduation activities and ceremonies beginning May 12. We are so pleased to welcome such great commencement speakers for the Class of 2011. Congratulations, seniors!

Back to final exams for a minute. Are these exams really that big of a deal? Aren’t these the same type of exams you take in high school? You may take honors or advanced placement courses, so is the academic experience in college really going to be that different? YES, it will be different. I was chatting recently with a current freshman nursing major who stopped by my office on her way to a final exam. We chatted about how she got involved this year, assumed leadership roles, and really has done well academically. She commented that she wished someone had told her a little more about what to expect with college classes. She said the biggest adjustment is having more free time but realizing how much of it you have to dedicate to studying.

I want to take a moment to give you a “heads-up” on what to expect next December when you are sitting for your first college final exams. You will be successful if you keep in mind a few pointers throughout the first semester:

Show up. Go to class and be an active participant. Take in all that the professor is trying to share with you, whether it is about supply and demand or solving linear differential equations. While a professor works to impart knowledge on a particular subject, he or she might also be the very person who can share with you other ways to get involved on campus, recommend outside lectures or exhibits, or even write a recommendation letter for you later when you are applying for an internship, fellowship, or job.
Read the material carefully. At the start of a class, you will review a syllabus outlining the material to be covered. In high school, you are used to frequent tests, papers, or quizzes to gauge your knowledge. In college, you may have only 2-3 chances to make the grade in a particular class, and the material will likely be more complex and presented at a faster pace. Set aside time to make notes and prepare for class. Work with classmates when you are struggling with a topic or concept. Ask questions in class.
Focus on key concepts. The professor will assume you are keeping up with the readings and assignments. He or she will also assume that you are able to draw out the important discussion points from a series of lectures or a lab sequence. The goal is for you to begin to draw upon your knowledge base as a whole and develop an analytical approach to a specific topic that shows synthesis rather than just memorization.
Seek out formal help early. An advisor is a great resource, so do take the time to build a working relationship with this person so he or she can get to know you and your goals. You might also have a first-year course that exposes you to additional resources such as accessing all that the library has to offer, or how to begin research, or whether or not small group tutoring or workshops are available in specific subjects. If not, seek out the administrative offices that offer student support. Campuses are filled with staff members and current students dedicated to these needs.

Right now, keep up the hard work that got you into college in the first place. Remember the Admission Office expects that you will finish strong, and that means doing well this final semester and, of course, on your exams. For a little insight into how we support our students at Loyola and encourage them to take a break during exam week, you might check out this video taken at our annual finals breakfast, where this year there was a little music and coordinated dancing to boot!