Final exams. Nobody wants to take them and everybody loves to hate them. But Robert Pleasants, assistant director of the UNC Learning Center, is ready to assure any stressed out student that exams are better than they seem, and there are plenty of resources available to help guide even the most neurotic student to victory. Staff writer Lydia McInnes sat down with Pleasants to pick his brain.
The Daily Tar Heel: First question: What types or resources are offered at the Learning Center and how would they help a stressing student?
Robert Pleasants: The two biggest resources we offer are academic coaching and peer tutoring. Academic coaching is a one-on-one appointment designed to optimize your academic experience. Peer tutoring is 6-9pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for a range of courses. During finals we also have Boot Camps for students to study with peers and keep focused.
DTH: What are some good studying tips to help a student survive the exam period?
RB: Learn active studying techniques. Simply re-reading your notes isn’t the most active way to study. Consider new tools such as concept maps, timeline, or creating a quiz for yourself.
Take breaks. Walk away from your computer. Your mind needs the time to rest. Get up and take a walk or exercise. Don’t use the internet for your study breaks—it doesn’t give your mind time to marinate on the ideas you are studying.
Study in shorter bursts. Studying for too long means that you are likely hitting fatigue and not getting the most from your studies. It also makes it likely that you procrastinate more within that four-hour block you set aside instead of actually studying BioChem.
Start early. Ideally your studying for finals starts the first week of classes. If you keep up with your readings and homework and review periodically, you’ll find that studying for finals isn’t a huge burden because you know the material.
DTH: In your experience, what trips students up most about exams and why do you think students don’t utilize the resources available?
RB: One of the biggest factors is not starting early enough. Many students wait until the end of the semester to catch up on readings they’ve missed and cram their studying in a few days before the exam.
If you keep up with your readings and homework and review periodically, you’ll find that studying for finals isn’t a huge burden because you know the material.
As far as utilizing resources, I think a large number of students use our resources. I think some of the ones who don’t use them don’t realize how many of their peers are coming to see us.
DTH: Lastly, what would you say to someone who is afraid to go the learning center, or to a student who thinks they don’t need help?
RB: Elite athletes and CEOs all have coaches to help them harness their existing strengths and develop new ones. Similarly, students come to see us because they want to optimize their strengths and be their best academically.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Email the Learning Center at learning_center@unc.edu. And whatever you do, don’t panic.
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