finals

This semester, professors have to adjust how they administer examinations, given that they can no longer supervise students on location. Some decided to assign timed take-home exams, while others requested that students download proctoring software to mirror typical in-person exam conditions. No matter what you will be facing this finals season, as always, Spectrum has some tips to get you through it.

Even though midterm season has just finished, finals are right around the corner. If the upcoming exam season feels overwhelming, here’s Spectrum’s guide to separating yourself from finals and taking them one step at a time.

With lectures being virtual this semester, finals likely feel much more stressful. Whether you’re studying for your economics or biology exam, reading over your notes and rewatching lectures might feel repetitive and unhelpful. In addition to your usual studying, check out these YouTube channels and study sites for a fresh perspective on whatever topic you’re struggling with.

December is here, meaning that it’s time for holiday songs to replace your usual work playlist. With the thousands of songs available, there’s one for every emotion. Here’s a list of what to listen to to get you in each mood.

Your first semester at Columbia is almost at an end. One last obstacle to face before winter break: finals. If you’re stressed out about how you’ll be able to come out of it all unscathed, Spectrum is here to answer your questions and clarify what’s really in store for you over the next two weeks.

Though Butler and Milstein may be some of the most familiar of Columbia and Barnard’s libraries and study spots, they also tend to be among the most packed during finals season. Instead of going through the familiar struggle of trying to find a seat, get off the beaten path by trying out these hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems, courtesy of Spectrum.

The semester ends in less than a month. My favorite spot on the fourth floor of Butler grows more crowded by the day. The line in Starbucks lengthens by a few people each morning. Office hours and tutoring slots fill up so quickly that they have become a rare commodity.

With finals quickly approaching, most of us are already stressing about the amount of studying and exams we have coming up. However, as human beings, we’re bound to need a break during finals season, even if just for an hour or two each day. To help you think of some easy, fun, and relaxing things to do to get away from the stressful atmosphere that is ever-present on campus during finals seasons, here are eight study break ideas.

As final exams and paper due dates draw nearer, and consequently, as the hours in Butler and trips to Blue Java pile up, mental health and self-care are ever more important. Though we at Spectrum acknowledge that it’s especially difficult to take some time for yourself at an institution with an infamous stress culture, see if you can forgo the 11th hour of studying this finals season to instead try some of our self-care suggestions.

We hate to break it to you, but we officially have less than ten class days left, which of course means that summer is just around the corner (yay!) but also that finals are fast approaching (boo!). We can totally understand if you’re feeling stressed and a little paralyzed just thinking about the workload. But if your study plan is to binge-watch Netflix and then pull a few consecutive all nighters in Butler, we’ll be blunt: That’s a guaranteed recipe for disaster. Instead, consider spacing things out a little this round by creating a study schedule. While we can’t guarantee success, we can promise you that with a study schedule, you’ll (hopefully) maintain better mental health during this trying season because you can at least rest assured that you’ve tried your best.