It’s that dreaded time of the semester again. As classes draw to a close and many of us book our tickets home for Thanksgiving, there’s one thing in the back of everyone’s minds — finals. During this period, it’s natural to feel stressed, overwhelmed, and agonized by the amount of work professors expect us to do in such a short amount of time. Hearing the same four study tips certainly doesn’t help.

By: Ela Rybak ‘25

With finals around the corner, studying is at the forefront of most people’s minds. However,  you may feel stuck in a rut with study techniques that no longer feel beneficial. There are a variety of study methods, and the most effective method will depend on your learning style and preferences. Here are some general tips and strategies that may be helpful as you prepare for these major cumulative exams.

By: Ani Antonyan ‘24

The colder, shorter days exacerbate seasonal sadness, [but] while it might seem unavoidable as you feel the darkness of campus close in around you , there are ways to help yourself. If you’re feeling extra tired, unmotivated, and sad as the winter progresses, you’re not alone—here are some tips on how we can combat seasonal depression.

By: Lauren Liang ‘23

It’s that time of the semester again (or is it always that time of the semester?): exam season is upon us. While it might be tempting to just wing it, you can better prepare yourself with these studying tips.

By: Kelsey Cheng ‘25

We’ve all been there––rereading your textbook for the third time at 1 AM, hoping that the test won’t be that hard. Like many students, I studied by highlighting notes and rewatching zoom lectures. While this may work for some, there are other ways to absorb learning material. In honor of midterms week, I tried out a new method of studying called active recall that’s supposed to increase memory retention and decrease hours spent at Leavey.

By: Hannah Skinner ‘23

The end of the semester is upon us, and so are finals. It can be a tough few weeks, but there are ways to lessen the stress and take better care of ourselves too. Here are my wellness and study tips to help you succeed during testing season!

By: Dara Udobong ‘23

Media depictions of college tell us that we’ll be having sleepovers every other day, party-hopping on Thursday nights, and having the best time of our twenties surrounded by our new built-in best friends. For some of you, this might already be your life. For others, none of this might feel familiar at all. If this is you, you’re not alone: a lot of USC students have shared their stories (of their successes and failures) at making meaningful friendships during this very peculiar semester. Unfortunately, its easy to lose sight of the fact that college is a whole new experience of self-discovery and exploration in a new city, state, or even country. Even if you’re an LA native, the college experience isn’t quite like any challenge you’ve ever faced before. It has its high highs, low lows, and one heck of a journey in between. We’re all just trying to give it our best shot, and you know what? It gets easier with time. But don’t take it from me, here’s some advice from a USC professor who’s been there, done that, and has a degree to show for it:

By: Celine Vazquez ‘24

This semester has been far from easy, and pushing through finals season has seriously taken a toll on all of our mental health. After finals are finished, it’s important for us to take a step back and take care of our minds! Here are just a few ways you can mentally recharge after finals, so you can be ready to have a wonderful, relaxing break. Let’s get started, Trojans!

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

Finals are over! Great — but maybe you feel little less than ecstatic about how you did in certain classes. If that’s the case and you could use some advice on how to lift your spirits a bit, look no further.

By: Samantha Romero ‘16

Late night studying for finals and stress can take a toll on your immune system, so here’s a simple post-finals recovery guide to get you ready for summer.

By: Samantha Romero ‘16

When it’s that time of the year again and it’s crunch time for finals…

By: Felicia Zhu ‘17

It’s that time of the year: Finals Season. Sitting down to study for hours at a time is exhausting, and makes your muscles tense up. When it’s time to cram and there’s no time to exercise, why not combining the two? Studying while exercising.