Finals Week
This is it--my last week of finals ever! This is, of course, excluding the ultimate "final exam," the board exam I will take after graduation in May.
I have a very successful system when it comes to studying for exams. Basically, I spend most of the week just getting organized. I have piles of study guides, handouts and articles to review. I paperclip them together and then take a study break. I feel very overwhelmed with even the preparatory phase of studying.
Part of one of my practical exams next week involves watching videos of patients prior to the practical exam, and then having a discussion based on those patients. Doing the work for this practical is more mental stress for me than some of my final written exams. I know I have set aside time to get on a computer with internet access to get the videos, watch them, write down notes on their impairments and functional limitations, then refer to my class notes to imagine what I would do in that setting. This is a lot of work.
Anyway, for written exams, my studying process is not a good example for young children trying to perfect their study habits. I usually take my study guides and flip through them a few times-in front of the TV. Football games are wonderful for studying. On the morning of the exam I wake up between 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning and go to Starbucks. I enjoy the background noise at Starbucks. I am completely focused and cram as much information as I can until the exam begins.
I'm kind of going to miss those mornings at Starbucks! It's a nice change of pace from the regular routine of classes. Maybe when I am a clinician I can read the paper at Starbucks every morning before going to work! The paper, and my monthly APTA magazines.