With finals coming quickly approaching, it is crucial to know how to prepare for them. 

Getting ready for finals week can be very daunting, but with the right approach, you can prepare effectively. 

Here are some tips that you can use to set yourself up for success: 

1.) Start studying early: Do not allow yourself to wait until the last minute to look over your material. If you begin reviewing the material days in advance, your brain will have more time to retain it all. 

2.) Create a study schedule: Break up your material into memorable chunks, and plan specific times to study and review each section. 

3.) Use study techniques that fit for you: You may learn by just reading over notes, but there are more active techniques to studying than that. Some examples are making flashcards, teaching the material to someone else, or rewriting it all down. 

4.) Prioritize: As college students, we allow ourselves to get very distracted, and we forget to responsibly think about our studies. Do not spend too much time doing useless tasks, when you could be preparing for finals. 

5.) Take breaks: Don’t cram! This is not effective, and will only stress you out. Make sure to take short breaks while studying to recharge your brain and relax. 

6.) Treat yourself: After taking a final or studying, treat yourself to your favorite dessert or coffee. You deserve it! One place you can go for a treat is The Brew, which is located in the downstairs area of the library. On May 7-9, 13 and 14th, the Brew will have extended hours, which are 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

7.)  Stay positive: Maintain a positive attitude and believe in yourself! You can succeed! Imagine yourself doing well on the exams, and do not talk negatively about you or how you will perform. 

8.) Take care of your health: Even though you are stressed, do not forget to take care of yourself and your mental health. Make sure you eat enough and get rest. 

9.) Seek help: If you are struggling with a specific topic, do not be scared to reach out to a professor or classmate. You could even find tutors at the Tutoring Center on campus who would be more than willing to help you. 

Even though this is a very hard couple of weeks, do not forget to be kind to yourself and your brain. You have worked hard all year to get to this point, and you should be proud of yourself! 

Finish this semester strong by studying and preparing for finals in advance. You got this Colonels!