Surviving Finals Week

Finals week is the last week of a semester, and although the end is so incredibly close you can taste it finals week is by far the most stressful week of the year. With tests and projects in nearly every class, finals week is conquered only by preparing in advance, maintaining your organization, and by drinking a lot of caffeine.

Finals week pushes students to their breaking points by testing their ability to plan accordingly. With all the obligations that take place during finals week it is an impossible feat to be successful by walking into finals week without any prior preparation. Finals week is not to be take lightly, as this week alone has the ability to either make or break an individuals overall course grade. Planning ahead and knowing your obligations prior to finals week beginning is not only a good idea, but to many is a necessity. Being prepared for finals before the week is underway will relieve a large amount of stress and make the week progress as smoothly as possible.

Maintaining organization in regards to your schedule, assignments, and obligations is incredibly important when it comes to finals week. With so much going on it is incredibly easy to miss assignments and deadlines that can ultimately cost you valuable course percentage points. Having a quality organizational plan in place will keep your stress levels down and allow you enough time to accomplish all course assignments with time to spare.

Coffee will become your saving grace during finals week. Late nights and early mornings are common
place during finals week, therefore to keep you going caffeine is almost as necessary as eating or sleeping. This is the last week to pull out all the stops, your grade depends on it. During finals week there never seems to be enough hours in the day, so to make those hours productive coffee will keep you up and alert to accomplish all your work.

Although finals week is the most stressful week of the semester, the thought of break is what pushes students to perform at their highest ability. Break is a motivator, and the opportunity to relax at home or on a beach somewhere warm makes this hell week worthwhile.

Once break fully commences the time for relaxation is officially acceptable. Check out this link for a great way to unwind and enjoy some well deserving free time.

Sophomore's Now Exempt to Live off Campus

As a newly established aspect of Illinois State University, sophomore students are now being exempted to live in off-campus housing. Prior to this change taking effect, all freshman and sophomore students were required to live in university-run housing. Whether that meant staying in the dorms, at cardinal courts, or at a university sponsored apartment, sophomores are now free to explore housing options beyond those provided by ISU. No longer will sophomores be required to have a meal plan, check in to the dorms after 12pm, or be stuck living with that random roommate that never cleans up their side of the room. The freedom of having your own apartment/house with friends is one of my favorite experiences I have been fortunate enough to have during my time spent here at ISU. You are not able to be even more dependent from rules and restrictions on your life. Already being away from your parents, I viewed my time spent living in the dorms as having a parent at college with you. A resident assistant was assigned to each floor in the dorms, and meant to ensure safety and compliance of each tenant on their assigned floor. I was unfortunately assigned to a floor freshman year with an RA that spent more time monitoring our floors daily processes than needed. Therefore my time spent in the dorms was even less enjoyable than it already would have been.

I was craving additional freedom come the end of my freshman year, and would have dreaded remaining the dorms for another year. This sophomore exemption, in my opinion, is only fitting as at that point in a college students life I believe they need to be given more freedom to better transition them from life at home to life on their own.

You're not ready to live on your own until you have a quality TV to unwind from a day of school!

Final Exams

Final Examinations in addition to mid-term exams constitute the two most stressful weeks in a college student's life. Many restless, caffeine induced nights full of preparation for the tests to come. After an exhausting semester of what seemed as endless assignments, Finals week is the last big push before a long awaited summer/Christmas break. With students astronomical stress levels at this time in the semester, it is time to control your week, or let your week control you. Here are some tips to remain sharp and motivated during your finals week activities.

Get Plenty of Rest

Finals week if loaded with tests and obligations so it is incredibly vital to get as much sleep as possible. Proper rest will allow for better focus on your obligations and will make your week much more bearable. While sleep may be a rarity during this week, naps will emerged as the god sent few hours a day that will keep you going through this marathon of a week. Nap as often as your schedule allows and your body, mind, and grades will reflect this decision.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare


As the semester has surely taught you, the ability to manage your time is essential in order to be successful in your collegiate aspirations. Finals week is the most stressful week of the year, with tests in nearly every class, therefore you must prepare prior to finals week in order to be successful. The week before finals week is widely referred to as prep-week, simply put this week is meant to be spent readying you
for the finals week ahead. Use your time wisely during prep-week, as the week before finals tends to be a week with little to no obligations so use this ample amount of time for your benefit.

What to do the Day of Final Exams

The week is finally upon you. While exams may be spread out on numerous days of finals week it is vital to start the week off on the right foot. Get in a routine of sleeping often, eating well and often, and working out to relieve any stress that you may be feeling. Wake up with plenty of time before your exam. Odds are that you will already be running on little sleep so oversleeping finals is a nightmare you do not want to experience. Get up early if possible, eat a quality breakfast and even study more prior to your first test to jump start your mind. Caffeine will keep you going through your day, thus coffee will become your best friend this week, however do not forget to drink plenty of water to remain hydrated as well.

College is a marathon, however finals week is the one occasion where you must sprint to the finish. The end is near, with a break following that will allow for ample time to relax and unwind after what surely was a stressful semester. One incredible tip I could give to anyone about to take finals is to keep in mind that in less than a week you will be home, relaxing, without a worry in the world. Each test you take is one step closer to the end of the semester, so keep motivated and on point and the week will fly by.

Coffee is a staple among college students during finals week. Stock up with some quality coffee by following this link.

A Week in the Life of an ISU Student

As a current Senior at Illinois State University I have had a myriad of opportunities to experience life as an ISU student. Through my 3+ years spent as a full-time student, they typical week of class is somewhat redundant, and thus relatable to all students from Freshman to Seniors. Each week provides unique challenges, yet follows a general form week in and week out. Although my experiences do not speak true to the entire student body, my observations to this point in my college career have led me to believe in this particular way. Tentatively, my past three years of college can be viewed as follows:

Monday: Classes begin for the week, thus the world of a college student officially returns to equilibrium after an eventful, fun weekend. Mondays set the tone for the entire week, and forces students to prepare themselves, and set a plan for the week they currently find themselves in. Mondays are, as many students say, the least favorable day of the week.

Tuesday: After Monday, Tuesday typically is a much more productive and relaxed day of the week. You have you weekly plan in place, and are simply going through the motions. There is nothing special about Tuesdays, except for the fact that you are one day closer to the weekend.

Wednesday: HUMP DAY! You are now officially half way through the week and are now thinking ahead to the weekend. You see the end, you're so close, but yet, so far from the weekend being here. You are excited for the days to come, however need to perform academically at your best as most tests and projects are typically assigned for Wednesday's, Thursday's, and Friday's. You must be at your best, and have had Monday and Tuesday to prepare yourself for these three days.

Thursday: ONE MORE DAY. Thursday has officially arrived, and while you still must perform strong academically, you have now begun the planning process for the weekend. This excitement for no class and the ability to socialize pushes you to complete your academic obligations to enable you to relax this upcoming weekend.

Friday: Needless to say, Friday is the day all students look forward to all week. Walking out of that final class, the weekend is officially underway. The world is your oyster, your friends are all as excited as you to take on the weekend and all the festivities that are about to unfold. Your classes are done, and now you can pat yourself on the back for the hard work you did this past week and celebrate.

Saturday: You're tired from the night before. You stayed up celebrating longer than you thought, and had the time of your life. You wake up feeling under the weather and coast through the day with no worries or classes. Depending on the time of year, you may have College Football on, which for guys is a treat in itself. Saturdays come and go quicker than anyone may appreciate, however you have one more night of festivities to attend to.

Sunday: You're more tired than you were Saturday morning. You stayed up even later than Friday night celebrating your past hard work and now are faced with the inevitable feeling every Sunday brings, the need to begin preparing and planning for your next week of classes. Sunday's are without a doubt the busiest day at the ISU Library, as all other students are in the same position as yourself. Sunday is a recovery day, a planning day, and slowly eases students back into the ritualistic week ahead.

The weekends make the classes during the week bearable. The social aspect of college on the weekend keeps us sane and motivated during the week, and pushes us to accomplish our obligations each and every week to celebrate again the next weekend.

For those late night study sessions, coffee will become your best friend. Love CollegeChat? Then you'll love our new coffee mug! Get yours today, just follow the link below.
http://www.cafepress.com/mf/101362495/collegechat_mugs?productId=1656988714
Need a laptop to get you through your busy week of classes?

Milner Library

Milner Library is located on the northern point of the quad and is a six-story building with a myriad of books, study areas, and computers all available to each and every student and faculty member. This university run building is used heavily around the clock by students, especially on select days and nights, and is the most common location to find students during midterms and finals. Club Milner, as the library is often referred to, provides students services including: book rentals, database search capabilities, computers, printing at at slight cost, and a safe, happy environment to study and prepare for class. Einstein bros. has an express coffee shop located in Milner, which provides coffee, and baked goods to students looking for a quick bite to eat or caffeine buzz to keep their minds sharp. Milner library has been my location of choice for late night study sessions my past 3 years spent here at ISU, and has been an incredible asset.

Milner has four floors full of tables and cubicles that are devoted to students, and are typically full to capacity during the weeks of midterms and finals. The fourth floor is the designated "quite" floor, which was established for students doing individual work that enjoy the peace and quite. All other floors, especially the third, fifth, and sixth are terrific for group projects, working on assignments with friends, etc. Each floor has a printing station, allowing students working on that particular floor to print off their work without having to move elsewhere.

Milner Library is the premier destination among students, as it is centrally located and provides all the amenities necessary to accomplish ones coursework efficiently. There is nothing flashy about Milner, however everything a student needs to be successful is readily accessible.

Need some noise-canceling headphones to keep you focused on your work? Check out this link to make this issue a thing of the past.

Halloween at ISU

As the iconic Illinois State University quad changes from its once lush, green glow to a rustic radiance, students begin buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming Halloween festivities. Halloween is the only holiday where dressing up however you see fit is acceptable, and is long awaited for by students. What was once a holiday filled with trick-or-treating, candy and cute costumes approved by ones parents has taken on a new vision. A vision full of sexuality, vulgarity, and long nights spent partying. Halloween is a special kind of holiday, and one which is always celebrated during the school year, which is why it has such an incredibly strong following. Halloween has been adopted as a social holiday, spent with friends, as opposed to familial ties found in holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. For many, Halloween is a chance to dress up as your favorite character or icon, parade yourself around campus, and is a night full of creativity that allows for freedom of outward expression. Halloween has no biases, everyone is free to be whoever or whatever their heart desires.

Here at ISU, Halloween is a holiday of two phases. For those who are not of legal drinking age, house and apartment parties are the nights plan. Costume parties can be found every which way, as the streets become crowded with every costume imaginable, the night is full of wonder. Those of legal drinking age will typically find their plans centered around attending bars located in downtown Bloomington. As bars prepare for the hustle and bustle which will inevitably transpire, students prepare their costumes, for the long, social night ahead.

Dont get caught in the cold this holiday season, check out our new CollegeChat long-sleeve!

http://www.cafepress.com/mf/101362495/collegechat_long-sleeve-tshirt?productId=1656988769

Throwing a costume party this Halloween? Don't let the people down by playing music off your phone. Check out this link and get some speakers that will bring your party up a level.