During October, students start to begin the process of studying for midterms. There are several resources available around campus to consider when preparing for exams.
Students can utilize the Academic Success Center for strategies and the Student Services Building for student wellness.
“Any type of exam period can be distressing for students, and preparation for exams can easily feel overwhelming,” Wellness Program Specialist at ISU Brody Norton said. “Looking out for your mental, emotional and physical wellness is key to being able to perform well.”
Students can easily get overwhelmed with the workload before midterms, but there are techniques students can use to prepare.
“Ideally, students should be reviewing what they’ve learned on a regular basis throughout the semester, but we recommend starting more intensive study sessions at least a week before midterms,” Academic Success Center Director Adriana Gonzalez-Elliott said.
Eliza Teske, a freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, open option undergraduate undeclared major, gave a view into her study routine.
“My study routine includes making Quizlets, reviewing study guides and taking the practice quizzes provided for the chapters,” Teske said.
For first-year students, midterms can seem more complex.
“I’m definitely a little nervous about midterms, especially because teachers talk about them being harder than final exams,” Teske said. “I felt like sometimes the exams aren’t reflective of what has been emphasized most in class.”
Freshmen are not alone during exam sessions, as there are many Cyclones around campus that are going through the same thing.
“You don’t have to do it all alone,” Gonzalez-Elliott said. “Reach out to classmates about studying together, attend SI exam review sessions or drop-in tutoring if they are offered for your classes.”
ISU has resources available to provide support. The Student Success Center is a resource to help with the challenges students face.
“Common challenges we see around midterms include procrastination, not knowing how to study effectively and high levels of stress,” Gonzalez-Elliott said. “Meeting with an Academic Success Navigator can help students talk through these challenges and get personalized recommendations for strategies to try.”
It is encouraged by the Academic Success Center that students check out Student Wellness and Cyclone Support Central, located in Parks Library.
“One helpful thing to do while preparing for midterms is to take a survey of your upcoming midterms in each class to look at the details of each exam, paper or project, and use that information to create a personal study plan,” Gonzalez-Elliott said.
To find more information about the Academic Success Center, click here.
