We will not sugarcoat this one. The period between when classes end and exams officially begin will be grueling. However, there are a number of ways to ensure that this time–often known as the “reading period”–is productive, healthy, and delivers the outputs you desire.
While we did not commit a tip in this post to ensuring you get what you need as it relates to food and rest, we cannot emphasize this enough. Listen to your body. Respond accordingly.
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Here’s to going first,
Danielle and David
1. Attend office hours and review sessions.
Throughout the semester, you might disregard your professor’s office hours, kicking the can down the road. This, we can assure you, will be a mistake.
For starters, many of your courses in your 1L year are foundational in the sense that each lecture builds on the other. You will not be able to determine if a contract exists if you do not know what constitutes consideration. After class, review your notes, and where gaps are present, work to fill them by connecting with your professor. Read the syllabus to understand your professor’s desired mode of interaction outside of class, and schedule the time on your calendar. At minimum, we both aim for two to three meetings with each professor every semester.
Beyond making sure you have a solid foundation upon which to build, it is important to attend office hours throughout the semester because as exam season approaches, an influx of can kickers will start scheduling time with your professor. This will inevitably make it more difficult to schedule time that works with your schedule. Go early and go often. In our experience, most professors love the chance to connect outside of class to further discuss course material.
If a review session is offered by your professor, attend! This is yet another opportunity for you to clarify any concepts you are having difficulty understanding (and professors sometimes offer a wink or a nod).
2. Form study groups.
The first day of classes is probably not the best time to ask the person sitting next to you if they want to be in your study group. Observe your classmates during the first couple weeks of the semester. We all have “off days,” but the one who is always late to class or consistently regurgitates a case’s holding directly from an online supplement may not be who you want in your proverbial boat. Acquaintances with diverse backgrounds and points of view often make great study partners as they offer unique perspectives and might unknowingly encourage accountability.
During our first semester, when we were merely acquaintances, we studied as a pair for a course. We both had working outlines and committed to sharing our finished products with each other. Prior to the exam period, we met to discuss the course’s major themes and to review class notes. Having made the not-so-smart decision to sit towards the back of the classroom, David found this time especially beneficial as Danielle was able to share a missed word or two from the professor’s lectures. While we’d love to propose a “magic number” of study group members, we know each person is different and group dynamics can be challenging. What is most important is that you communicate your needs honestly with members of the group.
Also know that somebody is going to have to take the lead. This may be uncomfortable. Step up, model humility, and before long you’ll have the kinks worked out and a plan in place to ensure that sessions are productive.
3. Outline in a way that works for you.
For some classes, David creates his outlines as the course progresses. For other courses, he waits until the break before he starts compiling his notes. On many occasions, Danielle falls victim to procrastination, so she usually begins meeting with peers after the first month of classes to hold herself accountable.
There are many outlines that will be floating in the ethos. There are resources you can buy online. This is no secret to professors. But, proceed with caution. "Last year, one professor told us about an exam where most students got the same question wrong. After getting his hands on an outline that was widely circulated, the professor understood why. Don’t fall victim. Trust your work and know that the process of creating an outline can be incredibly powerful.
4. Honor the clock.
Turning to exams, we cannot stress this point enough. Honor the clock. Know how much time you have for the exam and take practice exams strictly adhering to the time allotments.
Some professors will tell you how much time you should spend on each question. Others will not. This is probably a question worth raising if this information isn’t articulated in the syllabus.
We both survey our exams before we begin. Then, if appropriate, we outline our responses on the exam document itself (bullets work for David while Danielle opts for listing each issue). This ensures that we have a grasp of what we need to address during the allotted time. Further, in the event that we aren’t able to fully respond to a posed hypothetical, the professor knows we have at least a surface understanding of the concept. Some professors will even give you points for the outlined information!
5. Commit to post-exam rituals.
We have both taken different approaches to decompressing after exams. Do what you think might work for you. If it doesn’t work, switch it up.
David takes the afternoon off after each exam and usually indulges in a Big Mac. Danielle opts for a Netflix escape. We both avoid discussing exams with our colleagues to ensure that we do not violate school policy and to protect our peace of mind.
If you feel as if you’ve stumbled after an exam, do your very best to “keep it moving.” During his first semester, David’s best grades were in classes where he thought he flopped the exams. Conversely, he wishes he never told his mom he “aced” that one exam.
Bottom line: bring renewed energy and self confidence to each exam. You. Got. This.
That’s a wrap! We’ve shared “Our First Five” and we are so incredibly grateful that you’ve taken the time to engage with us through our various platforms. The FirstGen5 community will continue to grow as long as you desire more. We’re looking forward to amplifying the voices of first-gens through this platform and we are excited to bring you fresh offers and opportunities in the future. Reach out if you would like to get involved in a substantive way. Here's to going first!
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