Midterm Madness

It’s the middle of the semester, and you know what that means: MIDTERMS! In my college experience, I haven’t had a lot of midterms. Most of my classes focused on exams periodically throughout the semester. However, when I do have midterms I always try to make sure that I am well prepared so I can rock my tests. Here are a few tips on how to manage your internships during midterm week.

Plan your study schedule.

Between working, school, and now studying for midterms, your schedule can become pretty hectic. Make sure that you work in time for studying somewhere in your calendar, whether that means blocking out an hour or two, or saying no to going out with your friends. Better yet, plan some time to study with your friends. Being in a group and studying can help you focus and keep you accountable to actually studying.

Don’t put too much on your plate.

The biggest issue that I’ve had when studying for midterms and finals is putting too much on my plate when I should be studying. It’s ok to ask if you can start that big project next week instead of the week of midterms. If that’s not an option for you, see the previous tip. Additionally, plan your time before midterms. Make sure that you have everything you can done before the week of your midterms. This will alleviate stress from your midterm week.

It’s OK to request time off.

If your supervisor allows it, take some time off from your internship. If you have three finals on Wednesday, talk to your boss about taking off Tuesday so you can study. If this isn’t a possibility, talk about adjusting your hours to accommodate your study schedule. Instead of taking all of Tuesday off, propose taking a half day on Tuesday instead.

Get some sleep.

Sleep is one of the most vital aspects to doing well on a test. Studies have shown that the more sleep you get, the better you focus and retain information. In an article from Psychology Today, sleeping after learning material is better than staying awake for the equivalent amount of time. So, plan for plenty of time to study before bed.

While midterms can be a very stressful time, they’re not impossible to finish. With the right balance, you can do well while still excelling in your internship!