Alyssa Anastasi, class of 2025, offers some tips for staying on track during midterm season.

The first, and most important, is to stay organized. It is important to know exactly what assignments are coming up and when they are due. At the beginning of every semester, I like to take all of my syllabi and create a table of all of my assignments and their due dates. This allows me to have a clear overview of exactly what I need to do each week, and sets me up to be organized for the rest of the semester. My favorite tools to stay organized are Google Calendar and Notion!

Secondly, break down your assignments. Sometimes looking at an assignment can feel overwhelming because it feels like a lot to get done in not a lot of time. It can be helpful to break down the assignment into smaller tasks to have a full understanding of what needs to be done. Once you do this, you can set a day for you to complete the task, so you are able to complete the assignment over time rather than all in one sitting.

If you find yourself confused on a specific problem, or even so confused you don’t even know where to start, it can be helpful to go to office hours. Office hours give you the opportunity to ask questions and work on assignments with support from the professor and/or course staff. In order to make your office hours visit a productive experience, make sure to attempt the problems beforehand and come with specific questions. In addition to getting help, office hours allow you to get to know your professors, which can be difficult in large classes.

As the semester progresses, it can be difficult to maintain motivation to work on all of your assignments. I would recommend changing your study space. So, instead of studying at the desk in your room, try going to a library on campus, a cafe nearby, or even sitting outside! It can be helpful to surround yourself with people who are also studying, limit the distractions that you might have in your room, or just get a change of scenery. My personal favorite study spots are the Main Library, the Communications Library, and the 2nd floor of Grainger!

Lastly, try not to procrastinate! Everyone is busy, and it can be easy to push assignments that are less urgent to a later date. However, this can result in a lot of stressful all-nighters. The first tip to beating procrastination is to look at the assignment as soon as possible. So, the day that the assignment is released, just take a look at what the expectations are to get an idea of what is ahead of you. Then, by using your assignment schedule and breakdown, you can distribute the work evenly over a period of time, rather than one day. This will allow you to take the time you need for the assignment, and get help from the professor if needed!

Michael Escobedo, senior in Statistics, shares tips and resources for preparing for midterms.

With as many exciting opportunities to get heavily involved on campus as possible, it is essential that students do not forget about their studies. Whether this is your first year or you’re sorting out post-graduation plans, having a consistent workflow will bolster your academic success and make life on campus more fun and a lot easier. I’ve achieved academic success with a few study tips and academic resources that I will share with you today.

Review consistently

First, as someone who is very studious, I recommend constructing a system where you consistently review material for your classes throughout the semester. Any effective study schedule will allow you ample time to comprehend your material enough to prepare you for exams and projects. Personally, I take note of when each of my midterms, finals, and other major assignments are due, and plan at least a week of time for me to review any concepts that I feel stuck on. For instance, if I had a class that covered three chapters of material, I would dedicate one day to each chapter to write review questions and at least two days for a comprehensive review of all my content. From there, because statistics is very computationally-based, I would practice problems as much as possible.

Find your study space(s)

Next, it is important to have a study space that allows you to engage with your material as effectively and efficiently as possible. I recommend the Grainger Library and the Undergraduate Library, as both allow you to study peacefully or openly cooperate with others if that is more preferable. As mentioned before, statistics is quite computational, and as someone who is a big fan of whiteboards, I particularly like doing practice problems on a whiteboard with my friends in the study room of my apartment building. It allows me to have fun with the material, as I get to teach my friends what I’ve learned, while actively reinforcing concepts that are crucial to understand as a future statistician.

Get academic support

Now, for academic resources, I will always recommend going to office hours first. As someone who is a former course assistant, office hours are designed not to only help with homework, but to help students further engage in the material and explore their interest within the concepts that they are learning. Not to mention, I have had wonderful experiences with getting help from professors and their teaching assistants, as faculty is highly collaborative and quite welcoming. From here, there are many other resources that are available to promote academic success such as: Statistics Advising, the Mathematics & Statistics Student Support Center, and the Statistics Tutoring Database.

With all that said, it is crucial that you find a system that works for you. For me, I have sought a workflow that allows me to utilize spaced repetition for reviewing material, to access my professors and peers for help with understanding challenging concepts, and to find a fun way for me to engage with my studies. I challenge you to find a system that will allow you to effectively engage with your own material in an exciting and collaborative manner, as you strive to be the best version of yourself this academic year.

By Jessica Abraham

Starting off anything new can be extremely challenging. Whether it’s the basics like learning how to add numbers or mastering the art of tying our shoes, we’ve all begun in unfamiliar territory and gradually found our footing. When I first arrived at this University, I was filled with hesitation and uncertainty about the future because it was something new. But now, as someone who has successfully navigated through her freshman year and is well into her third year, I can look back and see areas where I could’ve approached things differently, both mentally and physically. So below, I just have a short list of pieces of advice I would give to a first year student.

First and foremost, I would say that time management is key to getting through college. I firmly believe that there’s always a way to balance what you love to do with what you must do. One way that I keep my time management in check is by using Google Calendar. It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I discovered Google Calendar, and it truly was a game changer. The color-coding system for my RSOs, classes, hangouts, and more makes each day purposeful and efficient. Anyway, that was just a mini spiel on why Google Calendar is amazing. The point is that planning ahead – be it a week or even just a few days – can dramatically reduce stress. I really wish I learned this my freshman year because I truly think it would have lessened my stress load by just a little bit.

Secondly, I would say that you should definitely get more involved in RSO’s here. I know, I know – this advice seems to be on repeat for every freshman, but it genuinely holds value. As a freshman at quad day, it can be extremely daunting to see the five million stalls spread across the quad. However, remember you don’t need to join all of them. Joining even one can be transformative to your college journey.

Next, I would like to say it’s completely understandable if you’re still unsure of what you want to do in the future. Remember, as a freshman, you are still young and just beginning your journey. At this stage, it’s natural to not have all the answers regarding your preferences and passions. So even if you had to apply to the University of Illinois for a specific major, college offers a vast landscape of opportunities for everyone. It’s a time to delve into subjects and experiences you might not have encountered in high school. Therefore, rather than viewing uncertainty as an adversary, consider it an invitation to growth and exploration.

I would also say to keep an open mind when it comes to forming close friendships. The pressure to find your perfect friend can lead you to overlook some really good people. Life can sometimes be a true rollercoaster and you never know when the most meaningful connections can form.

Finally, I would like to emphasize the importance of not comparing yourself with your peers. The University of Illinois is home to many individuals with diverse backgrounds, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and start measuring your progress with others. Such comparisons, however, are often counterproductive and only undermine your own confidence. So, forget about comparing yourself to others and always strive to be the best version of yourself. When you reflect on your college journey after four years, I promise that you’ll see the remarkable growth you’ve achieved.

Overall, I truly hope that you were able to take something out of this and I wish you all the very best for your years ahead!