It’s time for Final Exam Boot Camp.

There are just a few days left until finals, and how you choose to spend them may make all the difference in the outcome of this semester.

For those of you on lottery scholarships, the stakes are particularly high, but most students certainly want their final exams to boost their academic progress, not to blast it.

The first step is to examine your expectations. If you haven’t cracked a book all semester, you are probably not going to ace your exams. It is statistically unlikely that you will raise Ds and Fs to As and Bs through a fabulous final grade.

Realistically, you can hope to perform to the best of your ability and preparation on your exams if you devote some effort and energy from now until the end of the exam period.

First, take a little time to organize your studying. Make sure you have all the materials you need to study, and get your notebooks and papers in order.

Use your calendar or planner to note when your exams will be held and to block off realistic periods of time for studying.

Note what subject you will study when. Try to reserve the periods of the day when you are most alert for studying your most difficult subjects.

Clear away any unnecessary time-wasters and activities.
Yes, you can take 10 minutes to call your grandma who is in the hospital, but can you really afford three nights out at the bar?

If you have friends who aren’t committed to studying, either because they are mega-geniuses or because they just don’t care, warn them that you will not be available for socializing until exams are over.

Those of you who have children and/or partners would benefit from taking time to have a little pow-wow with your household members.

Please remember that they can’t read your mind and don’t know what you need unless you communicate clearly.

If you have young children, arrange for extra child care if possible. Plan to do your studying in the library or some other quiet spot unless the kids are cared for out of your home.

Ask for your partner’s cooperation and support, as specifically as you can.

Don’t just say, “I have to study and I need more time.”

Say something like, “Could you please take the kids to your mom’s house all day Saturday so I can really concentrate on preparing for my math exam?”

Know yourself. If you can’t limit yourself to 30 minutes of video games, don’t use them as your recreation or you’ll be up until 4 a.m. studying and you’ll be too tired to think during your exams.

Be honest with yourself about whether studying in front of the TV set really allows you to concentrate sufficiently. If you have a short attention span, plan brief but frequent blocks of time for study.

Find your professors during office hours and ask any last-minute questions about things that have been puzzling you.

Make sure you carefully review any study guides or outlines your professors have given you, and make notes about things you still don’t understand so you can clarify them with the professor.

Take a little time and stock up on healthy snacks. You’ll think better after eating an apple and a few nuts than you will after candy and soda. Try not to rely on caffeine to keep you up for studying, because you’ll be fatigued and shaky the next day.

If you plan your time well, you may be able to avoid too many all-nighters.

The day of your exam, be sure to allow sufficient time to wake up thoroughly, eat breakfast and review your materials. Not everyone benefits from a last-minute opportunity to look over notes, but many students do.

Take advantage of the Stress Free Zone, a fun activity area for students to relax between or after exams.

It will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday of exam week in UC rooms 230 A, B, and C. Free snacks, massages and activities will allow you to relax and refresh yourself.

By having a game plan and devoting some time to preparing yourself for finals week, you will make the most of all your hard work this semester.