Top dog, head honcho, the big cheese, senior. All of these guys and girls know exactly what they’re talking about after three years of experience. Don’t know how to overcome the mid-semester hump? They’re here to help!
J.P. ‘The Rocket Scientist’ Muncks, aerospace engineering, University of Virginia: “Make sure to block out time to relax,” says Muncks. You can get so lost in studying for midterms that you'll forget about sleep, watching TV, [and] all sorts of fun things. Obviously you can't just chill out all mid-term season, but make sure that you at least plan some ‘me’ time.”
Laura ‘The World-Changer’ Levitt, broadcast journalism, Elon University: “Make a schedule for yourself, so you're aware of when things are due,” says Levitt. “The first half of the semester is generally kind of slow and not crazy busy, but the second half gets crazy. Look ahead for when projects are due, and make sure you're planning ahead. Enjoy yourself, but don't get so relaxed that you kill yourself at the end.”
Sheila ‘The Future Doctor’ Razdan, public health studies, Johns Hopkins University: “Reward yourself with a trip either during spring break or early in the summer. A break in [the middle of] the semester is a good incentive to power through the exams that always happen before spring break. Planning for a trip right after finals can be the perfect light at the end of tunnel to motivate yourself through a crazy finals schedule,” says Razdan.
Laura ‘The Ivy-Leaguer’ Morrison, human biology, health and society, Cornell University: “Take a minute to relax with your friends!” Morrison suggests, “[i]f it is snowy, have a snowball fight or admire the gorgeous snow. If it is just cold, grab a hot chocolate with some friends and catch up.” She warns, “[d]on't get too cooped up inside—try to exercise and keep yourself stress free.”
Kristi ‘The Singer’ Ferguson, biology, Virginia Tech: “The most important tip is to stay focused. As much as you would like to slack off, keep your mind focused on your end goal,” says Ferguson. “Make sure to schedule your time even more carefully, and add in extra incentives like taking a break for a movie or [time with] friends to keep you motivated. This will definitely pay off in the future because you will not be worried about flunking your classes or start to panic about getting your grade up!”
