Tips for Studying for College Finals

When the semester starts to wind down, and the beer supply starts to dry up, it's finals time again.
Finals are the most annoying part of college life, and can be really tough to get through, especially if you didn't prepare during the rest of the semester. Here are some tips for making the most of study time and passing every final you've got.

Break Out the Flashcards

Most finals are all about memorization, and flash cards are a time tested way to memorize stuff that you intend to forget within a month or so. Spend the time to make some flash cards out with each term, historical figure, or whatever you're learning, then go through the cards about three or four times. Once you're through them a few times, you'll start to notice that your studying is beginning to kick some ass. Don't let up; these are finals, they're not supposed to be easy. It'll take some work.

Associate What You're Learning With Something You're Good At

Like airplanes? Hate the chemistry you have to learn? Relate it to airplanes, somehow. Like drinking (you're in college; that was a rhetorical question)? Assign beer brands to famous composers. If you tie something you already have no problem remembering to something you need to learn, you'll have no problem picking up the facts. Make sure you stick with one theme.

Use Mnemonic Devices

Here's how I remember how to spell Mnemonic: Mary never eats Mother's only nicotine injected cat.

Okay, not really.

Still, mnemonic devices work; anyway you can make something your studying less conventional, you'll have a much better chance of remembering it. The odder, the better. If you can recall information automatically by using mnemonics, you'll fly through your finals without any problems.

Get Rest

You're not going to be able to concentrate if you don't get the amount of sleep you need. How much is that? Well, it's from 4-7 hours; different for each person. Make sure you know your number and make an effort to stick to it; you're not getting a passing grade on your final if you fall asleep on it.