My finals prep started a good month out. On April 8, I noted the one-month countdown – and crunch time is getting near.
For me, this meant adding an extra week to my “Spring Break.” Even though I didn’t travel to some far-off, sun-soaked destination, that doesn’t mean I didn’t feel like I was in Cabo. Even though I was busy studying, I did so with a laid-back state of mind. Now, this may sound like highly irresponsible behavior to any student concerned about his or her grade point average, but this is far from the case.
Here is where I work to convince you that my extra week in mental Cabo is actually beneficial to my grades and finals. I’m speaking from the luxury of experience, but I have learned that I need about two to three weeks to prepare for my finals. It starts with the calm before the storm at about four weeks out. This is where I relax in preparation for the road ahead. This self-imposed second week of spring break isn’t purely for my relaxation – it is to ensure I do not burn myself out. I, personally, tend to procrastinate from time to time, which may lead to my intense work periods, which then requires rest. While this works for me, it may not be the ideal process or even what I would recommend for incoming Lions.
This brings me to another topic of college, which is advice. Trust me; you’re going to hear a lot of it. The problem with advice is that while the person giving it most likely relies on their strategies and benefits from them, but that doesn’t mean everyone will. What works for one, may not work for another. This leads to my main point: everyone’s personality is individual and different in at least a few ways from one another. This doesn’t mean either person is better or worse, just different.
This is most important to know when it comes to advice regarding your major. For instance, if you are undecided and asking an economics student or major their advice, I would bet that they’re going to tell you to be an economics major or at least try it.
You will find that the best advice you receive on such important matters will come from a person who isn’t speaking solely from their own experience, but tailoring their experience in a way that fits your personality. I hope this advice helps you as you prepare for life at LMU!