As the academic year comes to an end, it is almost time to switch your focus from classes and learning to exam preparation and summer planning. By being prepared for the summer and the upcoming semester, you can focus your energy on studying for the upcoming finals without getting distracted by the unfinished business that is your future plans. Whether you are chipping away at a large final project or have a whirlwind of exams on their way, here are five things to consider while preparing for the end of the semester, the summer break, and the upcoming academic year.
- Ensure You Have Summer Housing
According to the U.S. News report of Fall 2023, approximately 30% of Fairmont State University students live in on-campus or university-owned housing. While those who live at home already have their housing determined, others should be absolutely sure what their plans are before finals week is over. Not all university-affiliated housing options are available over the summer, so if you are not sure where you are going next, check what the rules are for your current dorm or apartment. Residence Halls allow students to stay for a given number of days as long as they fill out the proper paperwork, so keep an eye out for the email from Fairmont State Housing. If you live off campus and want to go home, make sure you are following the stipulations of your lease since you will almost certainly be paying rent for the months you are not there. For the many students who will go home for the summer, leave your campus living quarters in the best condition you can. You do not want to leave anything behind if you are moving out. Also, if you are only leaving for the summer, you do not want to come back to any rotting food or bugs. Take the time to clean up; your future self will thank you!
2. Meet with Your Advisor for Scheduling
The Fall 2025 semester is only four months away, so anyone who plans to take classes next year needs to register this April. Priority scheduling opens on April 3rd and classes will start to fill up quickly – make sure you are ready to register once your slot opens. Before your registration date, go to your myFairmontState.edu and use the scheduling link to set up a plan. Using your DegreeWorks and model schedules (as provided by the university on their website), pick the classes you want to take next semester and add them to your plan. This plan will let you see who your professors will be, the time and the place of the class, and if there are any pre-requisites or co-requisites. Once you have a plan or two made, schedule a meeting with your advisor to discuss your proposed credit load and receive your PIN number. Once you have the 6-digit PIN number from your advisor, you can use the scheduling link to register for the Fall 2025 classes. Your advisor or advisors are going to get a lot of requests for scheduling meetings, so be sure to secure your meeting time. Classes fill up fast so do not put off registration until the last minute! If you are interested in more information regarding scheduling, check out this article: https://columnsfairmontstate.com/4355/student-life/freshman-101-the-ins-and-outs-of-scheduling/
3. Working verses Not Working
As an adult in college, you know that life is not cheap. There are bills to pay, groceries to buy, and of course, a tuition bill to cover. Summer break is an ideal time to build up your savings account, especially if you do not or cannot work during the semester. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 90% of undergraduate students work at least a part time job while enrolled in college. If you do not have a job lined up for the summer months and you are not taking the summer off, it is not too late to start applying. Use sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, or even Facebook to see if you can find a job posting in the area you will be staying in this summer. If you need the time to decompress from a stressful semester and can afford to do so, that is perfectly okay as well – mental health is just as important as physical health, and you will want to be at your best at the start of the next semester.
4. Study for Your Finals
One of the most important and time-consuming tasks of April is finals. Studying for the exams, working on the projects, and preparing to prove you have learned something over the last few months can make or break your grade. Set aside time, even if it is just a little bit every day, to study for finals or make progress on one of your projects. Break down the large assignment into smaller tasks that you can tackle one at a time and pace yourself, you do not want to burn out too quickly. If you need help or are struggling, reach out to your classmates, professors, or the LEAD center in the library to get back on track. Leave enough room in your schedule to devote meaningful time and effort into your finals work but remember to block out some time for yourself as well. Review in a way that works best for you and take things one step at a time. If you are interested in additional exam tips and tricks, check out this article: https://columnsfairmontstate.com/4510/advice/five-tips-to-ace-your-midterms/
5. Take Time to Recover
The main reason for the summer break is just that – to take a break. Spend at least a few days of your summer relaxing and unwinding from a stressful semester before jumping right back in come the autumn months. Hang out with some friends, spend time with loved ones, play that video game you could not make time for when you had class – this time is for you. The days between the semesters are the perfect time to earn money, study ahead, take additional classes, or apply for scholarships, but since you have all summer to do these, do not feel bad for taking time for just you. Do whatever it is that you need to do to make sure you are in the best position you can be before the start of the Fall 2025 semester!
May is approaching quickly, so make sure to use your time wisely to prepare for both your upcoming finals and your summer plans. By preparing for your summer plans and scheduling out your remaining time in the Spring 2025 semester, you can jump right into finals work without having to worry about what comes next. Breathe in, breathe out; you have got this. Best of luck with your finals and have a wonderful rest of your semester!
