As students we know that this is the second hardest week of the semester; coming in second place, with finals week taking first place, is midterms week. The GIS Center gathered a list of our 6 favorite study tips and hacks that have helped us and will hopefully help you to ace these exams and help you get through the rest of the semester.

• Change up your surroundings. 
  • Trying a new change of scenery for your study spot has been proven to increase your information intake. Of course, don’t go to a crowded area like the City Forum and expect to get a good study session in; you still want to make sure that you are comfortable in the area and that there is light/moderate background noise. You could try a picnic in a park scenario, or a new library, even a Starbucks can make for a nice study area. Find an environment that suits you and your study needs best.

• Don’t wait until the last minute. 
  • This hack is pretty self explanatory- do not wait until the day before your exam to start rereading the chapters. Try to set some study time aside a few days before your exam. Also, don’t just take one day to study. You are more likely to remember information after being reintroduced to it a few times. Try to take at least 20- 30 minutes over the course of two days per subject that you are studying for. Take good notes and at the very least skim the chapters a bit during the week before your exam. 

• Get a study buddy.
  • Joining a study group with people from class or simply having someone there to study with you can help you tremendously. They can do study cards with you and go over the material together and help each other with subjects you are struggling in. This helps you review and double check your understanding of the material and take part in question-and-answer sessions.

• Take breaks.
  • There is such a thing as overstimulating your brain, this can  happen with hours of relentless studying. It is just as important to give your body rest as it is to study. Take a few minutes in between studying subjects to let your eyes rest from the blue light of your phone to the computer screen. Take time to eat a snack and drink water. 

• What you eat is important. 
  • Although it may not seem like it, eating Kraft mac and cheese for dinner the third night in a row is not going to help you when it comes to acing those exams. We know that a student’s food budget is tight but it is not impossible to squeeze some brain food in your meals. Bananas, eggs, even dark chocolate are all really cheap easy brain food snacks that will help you on your studying journey. This website here Brain Food: 20 Healthy Snacks for College Students | Fastweb lists 20 of the best brain foods that fit into a college student’s budget. Most of all stay hydrated, eating brain foods isn’t going to help you much if you are dehydrated. 

• Create To-Do lists. 
  • Now, I will say that although it may work for the majority creating lists and routines does not work for everyone. Creating To-Do lists can keep you organized and help you prioritize which subjects need to be touched up on more than others. It can also help you keep things in order and make sure that nothing is forgotten. This tip is flexible and works for some and not for others which is okay, find out what works best for you. 

Remember, midterms are not the end of the world – finals are lol. If you are having issues with your studying or classes in general reach out to a professor or the multitude of on campus course help options that are available here Academic Services. Here is a website with more study tips to help you get through the semester- Top 10 tips on how to study smarter, not longer | Science News for Students. Good luck with midterms!