MU students reflect on semester
by Abby Grimmett, posted Dec. 8, 2007
MU students are winding down the 2007 fall semester. After 15 weeks of classes, most are now focused on preparing for finals.
"I'm excited for [finals] to be over," said Margo Short, a sophomore biology student. "It's going to be a little bit of a mad dash here at the end. I have three on Monday and one on Tuesday. Needless to say, I'm going to be busy for those 48 hours."
Heather Wischmeier, a junior communications major, has a different view on finals week.
"It's nice not having to go to class," Wischmeier said. "And, you get breakfast at midnight."
Each semester, the Missouri Student Unions, the Department of Student Life and Campus Dining Services sponsor the late night pancake breakfast. This semester, the free breakfast will be held on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 10 p.m. to midnight in the food court of Brady Student Commons.
Many students said they are thankful they have next week off to devote their time to studying. This year, stop day has been moved to Friday, allowing students one extra day for exam preparation.
"It's great," Short said. "It's freakin' amazing!"
Other students have finals the week before the designated finals week, and they enjoy the change in schedule.
"It spreads all of the tests out so you don't have five plus finals within three to five days," said John Tienjaroonkul, a junior history major.
Mary Bixby, learning resource specialist at the Student Success Center, prepared a list of advice on how to prepare for finals. She recommends that students go through their notes and not only reread them, but utilize them by forming questions to recall the information without using books or notes. She also said that studying competitively with other students can be a good tool.
"Cramming" for a test is not the best way to study, according to Bixby. She said the best way to study is to break it up into short, intense intervals throughout the day.
To see the complete finals preparation checklist, visit the Residential Life Web site.
According to the Wellness Resource Center, substantial sleep is essential to perform well on finals. Studies have shown that higher amounts of sleep correlate with higher GPAs. The center also said that taking naps is a great way to relieve stress. In fact, 68 percent of MU students utilize this method.
When looking back on the semester, Carrie Casper, a sophomore strategic communications student, remembers homecoming.
"It was a blast," Casper said. "We got to meet a lot of new people, I became closer with my sorority sisters and seeing our finished product was unforgettable."
Other students wish they would've utilized their time better.
"At the beginning of the semester I was hoping I would get better grades," said Katherine Ford, a sophomore textile and apparel management student. "I wish I would've studied harder for my previous test [this semester]."
Even though she may deem some of her learning as useless, Short felt the semester was successful.
"I was actually pretty impressed with my teachers," Short said. "They were definitely better than some in the past."
Casper said she is ready for next week to be over so she can go home. The sophomore from Northbrook, Ill., said she has only had the opportunity to go home once this semester, and that was for Thanksgiving break. She is especially looking forward to the Caribbean cruise she and her family will be taking.
Even though she won't be lounging on any beaches, Short is looking forward to the five and a half week break, and she summed up what many students are feeling about the past semester.
"I need the break," Short said.
Classes ended Thursday, Dec. 6 and will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
