Yes, final exams are about to begin. You’ve worked all semester to complete assignments, finish your term papers, and put the final touches on your studying. Now it comes down to one week of intense testing: final exams to gauge just how much how much information you absorbed for the past fifteen weeks.

Some students seem so prepared when it comes to taking finals, having all of their work
completed well in advance of exams, allowing them to relax and to concentrate on their studies. Others can barely keep up with the pressure and are cramming like crazy in a bid to pass their tests and move on.

Regardless of where you find yourself, the following tips can help relieve you of some pressure, allowing you to get prepared for finals week and be in the best frame of mind to excel on every test:

Get Organized – Thanksgiving break is over and you’re down to the nitty gritty. If, by chance, you didn’t use at least some of your long weekend off to get ready for finals, then you have your work cut out for you. Tip: Chart everything you have to do between now and the last day of the fall semester and resolve to make progress every day on one or more projects during that time. Incremental gains are so much more relaxing and satisfying than to wait until the last minute when you’re stressed out and forced to cram it all in at the last moment.

Find Rest – Illnesses are more prevalent when the weather is cooler and with everyone inside spending a lot of time together and sharing germs. You’re much more likely to get sick if you haven’t been getting enough sleep, so turn in early and catch some important “zees” while you can.

Eat Right – Along with rest, what kind of fuel are you giving your body? Sorry, pizza and beer aren’t foods that your body needs, at least on a daily basis. Balance your diet by eating meat, fruit, vegetables, starch, and dairy. Limit your consumption of fats – you’ll get plenty of that stuff over the Christmas break!

Shop Later – One big distraction for students who celebrate Christmas and finish up exams just before the holiday is shopping. If you wait too late, will you be able to find what you want? Tip: This year especially there will be good bargains and enough inventory on hand to make waiting worthwhile. Concentrate on finishing the semester strongly and shop later. Besides, you’ll have gotten all the rest you needed and can spend one or two days between the end of exams and Christmas day to knock out all of your shopping.

As far as studying goes, give yourself some breaks while you prepare for each exam. Study for a few hours and then put your books to the side, stretch, go for a walk, hook up with your Facebook friends, and have ten to fifteen minutes of online fun. When you’re done, you’ll be ready to return to continue your studies, in a much better frame of mind to absorb and retain what you need to remember for your exams.

Adv. — Visit nBuy Plaza for “The Big Big Book Fair” where you can find discounts on textbooks, audio books, children’s books and more. You can also find magazines and college textbooks at discount prices.

Tags: Christmas break, college, final exams, Study Tips, university

One of the biggest challenges facing college students is the desire to quit school before obtaining their degree. Money, time, and a whole host of other issues can conspire to encourage students to drop out of college, perhaps never to return.

Yorktown University, which describes itself as an accredited internet university based in Denver, Colorado, is trying to help financially challenged students to stay in college. To that end, the school has created a blog, Don’t Quit U., whose “… purpose is to exchange notes and our thoughts about the high cost of college tuition and to seek ways by which to deal with this crisis.”

The blog features news stories, essays and links to podcasts and videos including a growing listing of podcasts of college courses that are offered to the public free of charge. These courses are taught at a number of different colleges and can be one way for students to reduce the cost of their education. At the very least, when credit isn’t given, free online courses can help keep students stimulated as they consider different ways to finance their education.

Don’t Quit U. is seeking reader participation in the form of sharing personal stories on how people are managing during the current financial aid crisis. Visitors are encouraged to sign up on for the blog, log-in, and to leave their personal experiences which will then be featured in the “Your Stories” section of the blog once approved.

One of the most recent webcasts was held just yesterday, an event that discussed the meaning of Thanksgiving. That discussion featured Dr. William Allen and Dr. Carey Roberts, who are specialists in the colonial and early national period of American government. It was disseminated by BlogTalkRadio where listeners were able to log on for live chat.

For more information about Don’t Quit U. and to follow the programs being offered, check out the blog directly to explore the latest news and happenings.

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Adv. — Is your family experiencing a financial shortfall this academic year? Scholarships, grants, 529 money, and part time work may not be enough. Learn about private student loans by visiting SayStudent.com, your portal for college financial assistance. We have free tools for your download and updated information about current college financing requirements.

Tags: advice, college, financial aid, money, quit college, Scholarships, student aid, university