I'm looking at my schedule for next semester and I will be having my first back to back final.. I feel scared because I fear being tired and worn out after taking the first exam and not be able to focus on the second final. Tips and suggestions to overcome this?
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having finals back to back
- Thread starter qwe7791
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Study way in advance.
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Had that happen to me last semester. I wouldn't be worried about being worn out on the second final...I'd worry about being able to study for both comprehensively. You just need to start early, and alternate between the two to give yourself a "break".
This. I had 3 finals back to back last year. Friday Morning, Friday night, and Saturday Morning. I didn't end up sleeping after my exam on Friday...
How did you do in those classes...?
I did very well. I got an A+ for all 3 (one being biochem). But it was sheer hell. I made sure that I rocked the midterms so I went in with high marks and had some leeway if I screwed up. The last week it was 5.5 hour studying for each one every day... 15 min break between each subject. I was extremely burnt out at the end though...
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study early and get some rest the night before. This same thing happened to me with genetics + physics 2 and it sucked.
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Yup, Babs is completely correct. I, too, had 3 finals back-to-back but they were all in the same day (9-11, 11:30-1:30, 2-4). I was too lazy to go through the administrative hoops to reschedule one of them so I went ahead and did it.
But... I already had pretty good grades in those classes (Human physiology and 2 humanities) so I had some space to falter a bit. Which leads into my next point: Do super duper well in your classes right now. Do everything you can to really understand the material and destroy the exams. Not only will it give you some leeway on your finals, but you'll also do yourself a bigger favor by knowing the material already. Ideally, you'll be able to retain most of the information (if not, at least the big picture concepts) and the time allocated by your university for finals studying can be best used to merely rehash concepts, as opposed to relearning them. You got this OP! 🙂
The thing is that I have a HUGE problem starting early.. I mean I have a gmail calendar with my class schedule and my daily appointments, but I NEVER put study times on there because I will then feel too confined to the schedule and will feel bad if I don't finish certain blocks of studying by that hour... any tips to help me begin?!?! I feel this is my biggest problem.
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Shut up, stop making new threads, and do it. If you can't motivate yourself to start studying, then there's nothing in the universe we can do to help you. Put them study hours on your calendar and JUST DO IT!
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Shut up, stop making new threads, and do it. If you can't motivate yourself to start studying, then there's nothing in the universe we can do to help you. Put them study hours on your calendar and JUST DO IT!
👍
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Shut up, stop making new threads, and do it. If you can't motivate yourself to start studying, then there's nothing in the universe we can do to help you. Put them study hours on your calendar and JUST DO IT!
👍
Shut up, stop making new threads, and do it. If you can't motivate yourself to start studying, then there's nothing in the universe we can do to help you. Put them study hours on your calendar and JUST DO IT!
How do I motivate myself though? I know getting that A is a pretty good motivator, but I don't feel it working.. How do you motivate yourself? thanks for all the advice so far!
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Yeah.. there's no magic bullet to be found here. Start studying way ahead of time. And don't half-ass this studying - put in real effort so that when finals hit, it's more of a review than learning everything again.
I've had semesters/quarters where I would have 2 back-to-back exams on two separate days. It sucked but what are you gonna do? Consider it a challenge on your personal development/habits: are you capable of rising to the challenge? Or are you going to let whatever superficial fear you have take you down?
I like this quote: He who rises with the wave is not swallowed by it.
I've had semesters/quarters where I would have 2 back-to-back exams on two separate days. It sucked but what are you gonna do? Consider it a challenge on your personal development/habits: are you capable of rising to the challenge? Or are you going to let whatever superficial fear you have take you down?
I like this quote: He who rises with the wave is not swallowed by it.
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this is preparation for medical school. treat it as such.
seriously, back to back finals are nothing compared to med school. rise to the challenge.
Thanks! that really gave me a slap in the face to start studying soon and helps put everything into perspective.. are there other good motivational quotes? I might go print them out and hang them on my wall as a reminder.
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Check out the one at the bottom of my MDApps. It's a personal favorite of mine - reminds me that if stuff gets tough all I can do is suck it up and keep going.
Is this the truth or are you just kidding? I can't tell. haha
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It's sarcasm.
The truth is that sometimes you will have multiple tests in a row and that each will be much harder than anything you had in undergrad. The time to correct your study problem is now.
How do you motivate yourself?
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Do people seriously not have finals 4 days in a row? Hell, I regularly had 2 in the same day. Start at 9 finish at 12, start next at 2, get out at 5.
Tip: Do NOT browse SDN instead of studying. Either study or sleep.
Tip: Do NOT browse SDN instead of studying. Either study or sleep.
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Family and friends who believe in my abilities and have worked hard to help me succeed. Desire to fulfill my goal of having a rewarding and challenging career that will put food on the table for my family. The decision that if I don't achieve all I aim to do I can at least try to make sure that I wasn't out worked.
Your reasons may be totally different than mine, and you may simply not have found them yet.
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Break up the material into small pieces, and just focus on finishing one "piece" of the material each day. Do a quick comprehensive review ~2 days before the final, and you'll be fine. Ditto on the eating between finals advice; or even bring in small snacks to eat during the second final (if allowed). Don't drink too much caffeinated beverages -- you'll be making bathroom trips every 10min.
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I'm sure there will be at most a 30 min break in between exams. Get something to eat, take a breather, get some fresh air, do something that relaxes you. Who knows, you might finish the first final early and have more of a break before the second exam begins!
Think of it as a prelude to the MCAT 😛
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Oh no!! Back to back exams?!!!
did someone call the
did someone call the
