ACADEMIC SUCCESS GUIDE
Terps,
Congrats — the end of the semester is in sight! Just a few weeks to go. We recognize the hard work, time, and energy that you put into your academics and co-curricular activities! As the weather is getting warmer, take a break, sit in the sunshine, go out for a walk with friends, play a game outside in between preparing for your final exams. Preparing for finals is important and your mental and physical well-being is critical. Please check-out this guide to see how you can holistically prepare for finals.
In the Department of Resident Life, we are always here to support your academic ambitions and promote your success, but the strength and forward propulsion comes from you. Good luck on spring finals!
You’ve got this!
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RESIDENT LIFE | Spring 2023
WELLNESS
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WELLNESS
Wellness plays a large role in your ability to be academically successful. Here are some wellness tips that may be beneficial for you as you prepare for finals (and for life in general).
FOOD & DIET
Handling stress and anxiety is easier if your body is healthy. One way of keeping your body healthy is being mindful of what you are eating.
• Eat breakfast . Start your day off right. Whether you’re rolling out of bed at noon or up at the crack of dawn, try to start your day with a balanced, healthy meal.
• Keep healthy snacks around . It’s easy to eat healthy if you keep the Cheetos at bay and stock your room with fruits and other healthy snacks. You’ll be more likely to reach for these rather than junk food if you keep them nearby or in your backpack.
• Drink water. Drinking enough water can help boost your concentration. Make sure to keep hydrated as you go through your day.
• Try to eat fruits and veggies. Even if fruits and vegetables don’t comprise some of your favorite foods, try to get a few of them into your diet each day.
• Don’t skip meals. With so much to do, it’s easy to forgo eating in order to get to class or the library. Don’t skip meals. Think of what you can eat on the go so you’ll have the energy to keep going.
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EXERCISE
Fitting exercise into a busy schedule isn’t always the easiest thing, but take stock of some of these tips to help you get or stay on track to fitness.
• Play a sport . One way to get yourself motivated to exercise is to make it a game by playing a sport. Join an intramural team or play recreational sports to get active and have fun at the same time.
• Head to the gym . RecWell facilities are included in your student fees so take advantage! Head to the gym when you get up or between classes to squeeze in a workout.
• Take advantage of fitness courses. RecWell also offers fitness classes that you can take. Get a workout that will help keep you in shape and motivate you.
• Take advantage of open spaces. UMD is an arboretum and has lots of nice outdoor areas. Take advantage of these spaces to take hikes, play frisbee, or just walk around. Make it more fun by bringing a friend!
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SLEEP
College students aren’t exactly known for their early to bed–early to rise attitudes, but getting sleep is part of staying healthy. Check out these tips to help you make sure you’re resting enough.
• Take a nap. If you have the time during the day, a short nap can do wonders for your energy levels. Just make sure not to nap too close to bedtime or for too long.
• Don’t work in bed . Working in bed can make getting to sleep harder. Keep your work space separate from your sleep space.
• Get a full night’s rest whenever possible. While the amount of sleep each person needs varies, most people need 7-9 hours to feel fully rested. While not always possible, try to sleep a full night whenever you get the chance.
• Stick to a schedule. With different classes and work hours each day, it can be hard to stick to a schedule, but keeping sleep times similar from day to day can greatly improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep.
• Understand that lack of sleep can have a big impact . Lack of sleep can make you cranky, and it can also reduce your ability to concentrate and to excel at class.
• Work out bedtimes with roommates. When sharing a room with someone it can be hard to go to bed when you need to and not get woken up when you don’t want to. Work with your roommates to make sure you each get the sleep you need.
• Avoid all nighters. While you may feel like you need to study all night to do well, you might be doing yourself a disservice. Not getting enough sleep can impair your ability to do well in your classes, regardless of how much you’ve studied, so make sure you get at least a little sleep before your big test.
• Create a bedtime routine. If you have trouble falling asleep at night, you can help yourself by creating a routine that will let your mind and body know that bedtime is approaching and that it should get into sleep mode. After a few weeks of practice this should help you fall asleep when you need to.
• Avoid caffeine, eating, and drinking right before bed . All of these activities can throw off your body’s internal clock, so try to limit meals, alcohol, and caffeine consumption to a few hours before bed.
• Keep your room dark and quiet . Try to keep your room as dark, quiet, and cool as possible. This will help trigger your body that it’s time for bed and help you stay asleep.
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ILLNESS
With communal living and thousands of other students sharing space, spreading colds and viruses is easy if you’re not careful. These tips can help keep you from getting sick.
• Wash your hands. Simple hand washing can help prevent a large number of illnesses. So wash your hands, especially any time you’ll be touching your nose, mouth, or eyes, or if you’ve been around others who are sick.
• Avoid sharing beverages . Germs are easily spread through the sharing of drinks, alcoholic or otherwise, so get your own and avoid sharing.
• Don’t go to class. If you’re sick, don’t force yourself to go to class. It will only make you feel worse and infect other students. Email your professors that you’re ill and stay home and rest.
• Get to the doctor. If you have symptoms that aren’t showing any signs of clearing up within a few days, you may need to take a trip to the University Health Center or your doctor.
• Drink lots of fluids . Colds and flu can wreak havoc on your body, often depriving it of much-needed fluids. Replenish these by drinking plenty of water or energy drinks when you’re ill.
• Get a flu shot . With so many germs around, sometimes getting a flu shot is the best thing you can do to avoid getting sick..
• Avoid ill friends. If your friend is sick, try to avoid spending too much time around them. While bringing soup or medications won’t hurt, interacting with ill friends and their stuff can increase your chances of getting sick yourself..
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth . If your hands aren’t totally clean, try to avoid touching these areas. The membranes in these areas make it easy for bacteria and viruses to enter your body.
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STRESS
Students can get run down with so much going on. These tips can help you beat the stress.
• Create a routine. Get in the habit of studying, working out, and sleeping at certain hours. It will be easier to fit in all the things you need to do in a day without feeling too stressed out.
• Put limits on work hours and give yourself a break . You can’t work all the time—fun and relaxation have to be part of your routine as well. Limit the times when you will work to give yourself time to sleep and rest up so you won’t get sick or stressed out.
• Be realistic . Sometimes there’s just no way you’re going to get everything done in one day. Be realistic about your goals and understand that you can only do so much.
• Understand you can’t do everything . While you might want to go to class, work, play a sport, and participate in clubs and social activities, the reality is that sooner or later you’re going to get run down by trying to do so much. Focus on doing the things you truly love and forget about the rest during finals..
• Cut back if needed and get help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, reach out and ask for help from professors and friends. They may be able to give you more time or help you to complete projects and study more effectively. If you’re feeling like you’ve got too much on your plate, cut back work hours, drop a class, or cut out some cocurricular activities to make your schedule more manageable.
• Take advantage of campus meditation and yoga programs. RecWell offers yoga classes throughout the week and the University Health Center offers meditation sessions that can help students get a release from their stresses.
• Relax with hobbies. Whether you like to paint or to destroy aliens with your friends in video games, make time for the things you love.
• Give yourself plenty of time. It’s easy to put off starting on a big project or studying for a test until the last minute. You’ll be much less stressed out, however, and will likely do better, if you give yourself more time to work on it.
• Spend time with friends. There are few things that can cheer you up like being around the people you like most. Eat dinner with friends, hang out and watch tv, or take a walk to get away from the stress of homework and finals prep.
• Don’t let yourself get run down . With so much to do, it’s easy to get run down. If you feel yourself getting stretched too thin, take a step back and evaluate everything you’ve got going on to determine what’s really important.
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MENTAL HEALTH
College can be a time filled with mental health challenges. Take a look at these tips to keep yourself happy and healthy. Mental health is an important part of navigating your academics successfully.
• Don’t let stress get the best of you . Stress can be a major factor in many students’ mood leading into final exams. If you’re feeling stressed out, make sure to take a break and set aside time to relax. If you need support dealing with your stress or mental health, seek out assistance from the Counseling Center.
• Realize you don’t have to please everyone. There is no way that you can make everyone happy all the time. Concentrate on making yourself happy first and you’ll cut out lots of stress and hassle from your life. What exam results will make you happy? Focus on those results and guard your mental well-being.
• Build on your confidence. If you know you’re good at certain things, build on the confidence you take from these activities rather than concentrating on your faults. Being confident plays a role in how you feel going to an exam. Engage in activities that build you up.
Content adapted from Rutgers University’s 101 Health and Wellness Tips for College Students.
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I DON’T FOCUS ON WHAT I’M UP AGAINST. I FOCUS ON MY GOALS AND I TRY TO IGNORE THE REST.”
-Venus Williams
IT ISN’T WHERE YOU CAME FROM, IT’S WHERE YOU’RE GOING THAT COUNTS.”
-Ella Fitzgerald
REFLECTION ACTIVITY
Feeling indecisive and unsure how to move forward? Feeling overwhelmed on tackling your assignments? Take a deep breath and work through the following questions (out load or in a journal).
Questions to Ask When You’re Stuck or Swamped
1. What is the quickest solution?
2. What is the easiest solution?
3. Who can I ask for help?
4. What progress can I make in one hour?
5. Do I already have enough information to decide?
6. Can I revise this to make it better?
7. Do I need a snack?
8. Will I be brave enough to press sen d/submit?
9. How can I wake up to this moment?
Reflection questions adapted from @karacut and mentioned in the UMD Center for Leadership & Organizational Change’s Food for Thought newsletter.
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TIPS FOR SUCCESS
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EXAM PREPARATION
Preparing for a final can be daunting whether it’s your first or your tenth. Finals prep is a process that takes time. Prepare for exams every day. Space out your studying and utilize different preparation techniques to achieve success. If you are unsure where to start, here are some questions to ask your professor (or may be found in your syllabus):
1. How many questions will be on the exam?
2. What types of questions will be on the exam?
3. What material will be covered?
4. How much will the exam count toward the final grade?
5. Will the questions come primarily from the notes or the text?
6. Will partial credit be awarded for some answers?
7. How much time will we have for the exam?
8. Will there be any extra credit?
9. What materials (books, notes, calculators, and so on) will we be able to use?
10. What outside material (handouts, readings, etc.) will be included on the exams?
Your class syllabus is also a great tool to help get you prepared for finals. The syllabus will outline the important themes and topics that were covered in class. Those themes and topics can become the skeleton of your study guide.
Content adapted from Hamline University’s Questions to Ask Before an Exam
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EDUCATION IS THE PASSPORT TO THE FUTURE, FOR TOMORROW BELONGS TO THOSE WHO PREPARE FOR IT TODAY.”
-Malcolm X
FEAR, INHERENTLY, IS NOT MEANT TO LIMIT YOU. FEAR IS THE BRAIN’S WAY OF SAYING THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO OVERCOME.”
-Unknown
Dictionary of Exam Terms
There may be terms on your exam that might be new to you. Here is a list of common exam terms and what they mean.
Analyze Break the topic into its separate parts and write about (discuss, examine, or interpret) each one.
Criticize Evaluate the positive and negative effects of what is being discussed.
Define Provide the exact meaning of a word, concept, etc.
Describe Make the topic clear by giving the major details and supporting facts.
Discuss: Consider and debate or argue the pros and cons of an issue.
Enumerate/list Recall and specify items in the form of a list.
Evaluate Give your opinion about the value or worth of something; include supporting evidence.
Explain Make an idea clear; show how a concept is developed or give reason for an occurrence.
Illustrate Explain by giving concrete examples.
Interpret Clarify the meaning or paraphrase the information; comment upon, give examples, describe relationships, explain the meaning (describe & evaluate).
Justify Explain the purpose behind or reasons for a statement.
Outline Describe the main ideas or points.
Prove Use evidence and arguments to support assertion.
Relate Reveal connections between subjects or ideas, often by putting the subject into a larger context.
State Explain precisely.
Summarize Give a condensed account without unnecessary details.
Trace Show the development, history, order, or progress of a subject or event (often by showing cause and effect)
Content adapted from Hamline University’s Questions to Ask Before an Exam.
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WHAT DO I NEED TO CREATE AN EXAM PREPARATION PLAN?
Ask yourself these questions to create an exam preparation plan.
1. W hat type of final exam is it (e.g., multiple choice questions, short-answer, essay, true/false questions)?
2. What is the date of the exam?
3. How much time is needed to prepare for each final assignment?
• What classes or topics do you feel comfortable with?
• What classes or topics might you need to spend more time with?
These questions can help you determine how much time you should spend preparing for each subject.
4. What materials will you need to successfully pr epare for each final exam or assignment? This could be supplies like highlighters and flashcards, or materials that are directly class-related like handouts or study guides.
5. What commitments do you need to keep and what commitments can you let go during finals preparation time? Think through your priorities and what those look like. You may need to continue working during finals period, but maybe you skip a few club meetings.
• Set the expectation with family and friends that you will need to study hard and that you might not be able to come home on the weekends, chat on the phone for hours, or play host during a surprise visit.
Pro Tip: Schedule time in your exam preparation to socialize with friends and to practice self-care. Knowing that you will have a break will keep you motivated during periods of studying.
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6. What time of the day do you feel more productive? If you feel m ore productive in the morning, schedule the majority of your studying/finals preparation time during the morning.
7. What is your ideal study environment? Some characteristics to consider are noise level, amount of light, types of seating, amount of people, water fountains/fill station access, snacks nearby, etc. Think about what characteristics are important to you and use the Quiet Study Spaces Guide and the University Libraries’ Find A Space feature to find some study spaces on campus.
8. For what classes might you need additional support? For those classe s, create a study group. Use these groups to review content that you are not feeling confident about and also to cement your own learning by teaching content to others. Study groups should be made up of people in your class who are comfortable with the information presented and those who may struggle - not just people from your social circle. Visit go.umd.edu/caltoolkit for detailed information about how to form an effective study group.
9. Wh at is going to motivate you to study and prepare for finals exams? It may be helpful to set up personal accountability measures for yourself. Will you spend 90 minutes in the library each day? Will you complete non-final exam assignments by a certain date so you can get a jump-start on preparing for finals? Will you set up study dates with friends to ensure you get work done? Decide what will work best for you and make a commitment.
AM
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IF YOU PRIORITIZE YOURSELF, YOU ARE GOING TO SAVE YOURSELF.”
-Gabrielle Union, We’re Going to Need More Wine
I GOOD ENOUGH? YES, I AM.”
-Michelle Obama, Becoming
FROM A PEER:
For this Academic Success Guide, Emily Berman ‘25, shares an organization hack of creating tab groups in Google Chrome that has helped her. Emily shares:
Adding tabs to groups on Google has been an incredible tool that has made it so much easier for me to stay organized with classes, clubs, work, and more. Having so many tabs open is messy, confusing, and overwhelming and would often deter me from getting through my work. When I discovered how to add my tabs to groups, it allowed me to keep my computer organized and keep track of all of my assignments. I am able to have all of the materials I need to complete an assignment in one place that I can access when I am ready to work on that project without the distraction of too many open tabs.
Follow the steps on the next page to learn how to create tab groups in Chrome.
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STEP 1
- Double click/right click on one of the tabs that you want to group
- Select “Add Tab to New Group”
STEP 2
- Choose a name of the tabs that you want to group
STEP 3
- To add more tabs to your group, drag them into the area until the tab is outlined in the color of your group
STEP 4
- Click on the name of the group to expand or minimize that group’s tabs
EXTRA
You can drag groups out of the window to open a new window with that group
One tab must be open at all times (if that tab is in a group, the entire group will expand (see “Major Information” tab in step 4)
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Did You Know?
1. Some of the library’s most popular workshops are now available as self-paced short courses in Open Learning? Check out what workshops are available by visiting https:// umd-ul.catalog.instructure.com/.
2. The Counseling Center offers a range of wellness workshops on 16 topics. Wellness workshops are held Monday through Thursday from 4pm to 5pm. To check out the workshop schedule or to get more information, visit https://www.counseling.umd.edu/ workshops/. You can also view recordings of past workshops by going to https://www. youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSFfxGKGMgzQIBsb5Hs0N-17Db96R5_FZ .
3. You can add your assignments in ELMS-Canvas to your google calendar to help keep track of your assignment? You can learn more about adding your calendar from ELMS-Canvas by checking out this guide.
4. The Writing Center offers three different kinds of appointments: Face-To-Face, Live Online tutoring, and 24-Hour Feedback? Visit go.umd.edu/writingcenter to learn more.
5. Academic Success and Tutorial Services (ASTS) program provides free peer tutoring to all students for over twenty 100- and 200-level general education courses. Additionally, tutoring is offered for historically difficult courses. To request tutoring or to learn more visit: umdtutoring.mywconline.com .
6. You can do a degree audit to see your academic progress toward your degree? You can learn more about a degree audit by visiting uachieve.umd.edu/.
7. Health Promotion & Wellness Services provides personal time management sessions? Time management sessions provide education and scheduling assistance to help you monitor progress and reach your goals. Sessions are 50 minutes. Call 301-314-8184 to schedule an appointment.
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8. There is a to-do feature in the ELMS-CANVAS app that includes upcoming assignments, discussions, and other class tasks? You can learn more about the to-do feature on the app by learning more about the android app or the iOS app.
9. You could download free versions of the Adobe Creative Cloud (photoshop, Illustrator, etc), Office 365, antivirus software? Checkout terpware.umd.edu to see other software you can download.
10. You can reserve study spaces in the libraries in advance. Check out https://www.lib.umd. edu/visit/space to see what spaces you can reserve and other study spaces available.
11. There are apps that limit your access to various social media and other websites to help you stay on task. Some apps you could use are Forest, Moment, Flipd, SelfControl, and Cold Turkey.
12. You can check out frisbees, footballs, hula hoops, yoga mats, resistance bands, and exercise ball chairs from the Terrapin Learning Commons (in McKeldin Library). Visit https://www.lib.umd.edu/tlc/other-equipment to learn more.
13. You can improve your focus by turning chapter headings into questions. Your focus improves because you are reading to answer the question.
14. Research shows that our brains can efficiently memorize 4 pieces of information at a time. Chunking is the act of grouping information in order to learn more efficiently. Take 2 minutes and watch this video about chunking to learn more.
15. Notetaking is an important skill to master, but there are multiple ways to take notes. Check out: How to Take Useful Notes to find a notetaking method that works best for your learning style.
16. Do you procrastinate? Challenge yourself to do one small thing at a time. Start by putting your book on the desk, then challenge yourself to compile your notes. It might be overwhelming to think about your task as a whole, but break up your work into smaller sections and make little goals for yourself so you will always be moving forward.
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HELPFUL CAMPUS RESOURCES
ACADEMIC SUCCESS & TUTORIAL SERVICES
This program provides free peer tutoring to all UM students for over twenty 100- and 200-level general education courses. Additionally, tutoring is offered for historically difficult courses in areas such as biology, business, chemistry, computer science, economics, mathematics/statistics, and physics.
THE COUNSELING CENTER
The Counseling Center is the primary campus provider of free and confidential therapy to help UMD students manage personal, social, and academic challenges. The Counseling Center also offers wellness workshops and a variety of resources to help students with common student concerns
GUIDED STUDY SESSIONS
FREE, regularly scheduled group review sessions for students in traditionally difficult courses. GSS Leaders have previously taken your course and earned an A, so they know what it takes to stay on track in lectures and prepare for exams. Go once, a few times, or attend every session—it’s never too late to start attending GSS. For the Spring 2023 semester, some Guided Study Sessions will be conducted in-person and others will be conducted virtually through Zoom. To access a specific virtual session, please contact your GSS Leader or email gss@umd. edu from a University email address. Visit the GSS Schedule to view the available sessions.
KEYSTONE CENTER
Located in the J. M. Patterson, the Keystone Center is where you can go to work on homework or group projects, use the computer labs, or study for exams. It is staffed with upper-level undergraduate and graduate students who can provide you with assistance in answering questions in fundamental engineering and STEM courses: CHEM135, MATH140, MATH141, MATH241, and MATH246.
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HELPFUL CAMPUS RESOURCES
LIBRARIES
The University Libraries offer plenty of resources including those for getting started on research as well as places to study. There are six libraries on campus and all have different hours .
STEM LEARNING ASSISTANT
The STEM Learning Assistant provides academic counseling to UMD students taking all levels of STEM courses.To schedule a time to meet, send an email from your UMD email account to learn@umd.edu or schedule an appointment here .
MATH SUCCESS PROGRAM
The Math Success Program offers free, drop-in math coaching and tutoring services for all UMD undergraduate students. The program is open Sunday - Thursday from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Sundays are virtual, and Mondays through Thursdays are held in ESJ 1224. Visit the Math Success Program website to get more information and access the program.
MATH TEST BANK
Google Drive of past exams from the Math Department for tons of classes. Great practice material for studying for final exams.
QUIET STUDY SPACES
These spaces offer some great opportunities to safely explore campus and find new places to get your work done. Please visit the Quiet Study Spaces list to view the spaces that are available, as well as the guidelines around using the spaces.
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HELPFUL CAMPUS RESOURCES
OFFICE OF MULTI-ETHNIC STUDENT EDUCATION (OMSE)
OMSE offers free tutorial programs that cover most key courses in Writing, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Economics, among other courses. Individual and small group tutoring consisting of 2-4 students per group is available each semester in most undergraduate courses. Check out the OMSE tutoring site to learn more. You can also check out these short videos created by OMSE tutors on some traditionally difficult concepts.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS CENTER (OCC)
The OCC can provide: peer consulting for presentations, speeches, and other modes of oral communication; Speech planning and practice assistance; Interactive workshops on a variety of relevant communication skills; Special events and workshop series. You can schedule an appointment here
Bonus Tip: Keep track of academic deadlines and other important academic opportunities on campus by downloading the Department of Resident Life’s Academic Success Calendar.
SPS TUTORING SERVICES
The Society of Physics Students (SPS) offers free online and in-person tutoring for anyone taking an introductory physics course at UMD. Tutoring is available on a drop-in basis through Zoom from 4-6pm, Monday through Thursday. It is also available in John S. Toll Physics Building 1303 at the same time. In order to request the Zoom information, students must fill out the following brief form: https://forms.gle/M8FnJrEDgTkwSiUR8 .
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HELPFUL CAMPUS RESOURCES
OFFICE OF STUDENT CONDUCT (OSC)
The Office of Student Conduct serves the UMD community by investigating referrals, enforcing the Codes, and committing to a fair, honest, and transparent conduct process. OSC handles issues of academic integrity. If you are unsure of rules about academic integrity, the Office of Student Conduct has resources to assist you.
TUTORING & ACADEMIC SUCCESS RESOURCES
The University provides a variety of tutoring and other academic resources to support student success — available on campus, from our peer institutions, and other non-university websites. To learn more about the available resources, visit tutoring.umd.edu . Also checkout these helpful resources to tackle some common academic concerns.
THE WRITING CENTER
The Writing Center provides opportunities for undergraduate students to improve their writing, research, and critical thinking skills in preparation for successful academic, professional, and civic lives. In a supportive atmosphere, trained consultants from a variety of backgrounds and majors assist writers in-person and online throughout the writing process. Visit the Writing Center’s website to schedule an appointment.
Good luck on finals, Terps!
Study hard, go to class, get enough sleep and ask for help when needed.
You’ve got this!
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