How to Prepare for Finals

BY: MADISON INGRAM

EDITOR IN CHIEF

As of right now you are probably stressed, regretting watching that movie when you know you should have been studying, overwhelmed, and most likely in panic mode. If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, congratulations, you have made it to finals week. As a veteran to this infamously dreaded week, I am here to provide study tips to get you through the miscellaneous tests that you may encounter.

The Out Of Class Final Essay

This is something you MUST prepare for early! If you’re reading this and don’t have a thesis prepared… it’s too late. Prepare a thesis and an outline of what you want to talk about before you sit down to write the paper. If you sit down and just try to think of things to include you will run into writer’s block, I know from experience, trust me. Also, if you prepare early for the paper you have the opportunity to ask your professor for advice or help to ensure you are on the best route to getting a good grade. Lastly, break your work up over a few days writing only a few pages a night, and the night before its due, make revisions. Reading your essay aloud allows you to find grammatical errors or any sentences that may not make sense, this is an extremely useful way to edit your paper!

The In Class Final Essay

Ah, hand cramps. If you don’t have carpal tunnel before this final, you may very well acquire it after. Often, professors will either directly give you the prompt ahead of time, or they give you a general idea of what they will be asking. Two words; early preparation. Use this information to your advantage! Just like an out of class essay, write a thesis and outline, research the things you specifically want to talk about. You have enough time out of class to think and prepare for this essay, that there should be no reason to feel unprepared.

The Multiple Choice Final

These tests are either your best friend or enemy. I mean, theoretically if you guess on a question you have a 25% chance of getting the answer correct… but that means there is still a 75% chance that you will get the question wrong. I have found that the best way to prepare for a multiple choice test is to go back and study old quizzes or tests. There is a good chance some of the same questions or very similar questions will appear on your final. Quizlet is also a very helpful tool, especially for notes and definitions. There are games that you can play on Quizlet to test your knowledge, as well as the always useful flashcards.

The biggest and most important tip I have for finals is preparing early. Late nights cramming in the library for a class that you have been taking over the last sixteen weeks is only a slightly effective method. Rest is crucial before a big exam and while studying. IF you feel a little sleepy, take a 15 minute nap and come back to studying. Physical and mental health is important, take care of yourself! Good luck with finals, may the odds be ever in your favor.

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ASSISTANT EDITOR

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CARTOONIST

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PHOTO COURTESY USA TODAY.

BY APRIL SITA
STAFF WRITER

Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh being nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court has been one of the most recent controversial topics in politics. As soon as President Donald Trump announced his nomination of Judge Kavanaugh, a woman, Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford, came forward with allegations that Judge Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her years ago at a party they both attended. This weekend, the Senate Judiciary Committee released a report of the investigation stating there was no evidence proving that Judge Kavanaugh is guilty of any sexual assault charges.

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To the Girl Considering Dropping Her Sorority,

PHOTO BY BRENDEN PURSELL.

BY THERASIA BRAUTIGAM
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

To the Girl Considering Dropping Her Sorority,

I’ve been there, too. Just last fall I was torn between continuing my membership in my sorority or permanently ending it. After months of deliberating and worrying about making the right choice, I finally decided to drop my sorority, which has been one of the best decisions I’ve made during my college career. Quitting Greek life isn’t something that’s often discussed, so I want to tell you my story of how I got to this point, and hopefully you won’t have to make the same choice I did.

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5 Tips for Westminster Freshmen

The Burney Sisters performed during Westminster’s Hancock Symposium, one of many activities freshmen could attend on campus. PHOTO BY THERASIA BRAUTIGAM.

BY SYDNEY ATTEBERY & LAUREN WILLIAMS
GUEST CONTRIBUTORS

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To the Faculty and Staff Leaving Westminster College:

Thank you for letting us get to know you during your time here at Westminster. I am sure you have already heard this, but you will be missed. It is never easy to fill your shoes. Thank you for being patient and kind when we needed help either in class or in life. You have made a positive impact on this campus and its students.

We hope your next endeavor is exciting, fun, and treats you well. Please keep in touch with the students who are lucky enough to call you a friend. Just as you get to see us grow over our years here, we want to see your growth and future as well.

Best of luck,

Sydney Sexton, Member of Blue Jay Nation

Top Five Places to Study in a Hammock on Campus

BY COOPER SMITH
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

With finals approaching, it is hard to find a balance between studying and finding time to decompress. Some students use Reeves Library as a place to get work done or to study, while others choose the private spaces at their dorms, apartments, or townhouses. This list provides students with ideas about how to get outside, away from closed corridors, and study in mother nature.

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Comfort vs. Confidence: Does Your Outfit Affect Your Grade?

For many students, classroom attire and testing attire are two separate things. Here (left to right), Tabitha Tiefenthaler, Paige Townsend and Kaely Fitterling write a listicle together in class. PHOTO BY MAUREEN TUTHILL

BY JOCELYNN KELLER 
STAFF WRITER

Whether or not we would like to admit it, finals week is quickly approaching for students. For some, this will be the eighth semester of finals, but for others it may only be the second. As we all begin the dreaded process of studying for finals, one thing that may slip the mind is what outfit to wear.

Mason Evers, ’19, had not heard of the “dress well, test well” concept and is causal with his outfit.

One beautiful afternoon, I set out to take pictures of students showing off an outfit that they would wear to take a final or important test. I wanted to investigate the claim that dressing well made students test better, also known as the “dress well, test well” concept. I asked many students, however most of them were not wearing an outfit that they deemed test appropriate. Many sent me pictures later that evening of their typical testing outfit.

Freshman Jace Christopher opted for a more casual look. PHOTO BY JOCELYNN KELLER

The first person to allow me to take a picture was sophomore Mason Evers, who had not heard of the idea of “dress well to test well.” His outfit was casual, but met the need of comfort for a student who has been awake long hours studying. Another student with similar preferences to Evers was freshman Jace Christopher.

They both wore a hat, t-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes. After being asked why he chose the look he did, Christopher stated, “Why should I waste time looking nice for a final? My job is to perform well on the test. Worrying about what to wear will take away precious time I could be using to study.”

Junior Megan Edgar is ready for finals in a big t-shirt and shorts. PHOTO BY JORDAN ESRY

These two men were not the only ones to decide on the comfy look. Junior Megan Edgar did as well. Picking a t-shirt and Nike shorts, Edgar claimed she was ready for a final. Senior Kelli Albrecht also opted for a casual look, but with a twist. She wore a hat, fraternity shirt, and Birkenstocks for comfort, but added jeans to take her look up a notch.

Kelli Albrecht ,’17, chose a comfortable outfit to perform best on tests. PHOTO BY ALEX BAUER

“I would be wearing a hat because I probably would not have had time to shower the night before,” Albrecht explained. “Glasses because my eyes would be tired from looking at my laptop screen and staying up late, and could not handle contacts. Fraternity shirt because they are comfortable. Jeans to make my outfit look like I put a little thought and consideration into it. And last, Birks for comfort and style.”

Carson Pope, ’18, opts to “dress well” for his finals. PHOTO BY JOCELYNN KELLER

Some students showcased dressier outfits. Juniors Carson Pope and Sydney Franklin had to either change into an outfit that they would wear to test in, or find a picture of themselves in a more suitable option. Pope wore dress pants with a long sleeve button up and a nice belt and shoes.

Junior Sydney Franklin likes to dress up for finals to offset the test vibe. PHOTO BY MASON EVERS

Franklin changed into a dress with sandals and carried a large purse. “Getting dressed up is fun and tests aren’t, so I do it to offset the bad vibes a little,” Franklin said. “But dressing up gives me a little more confidence going into a test, too.”

It was made clear that not all of the students at Westminster had the same opinion on what to wear during finals weeks. While some of these outfits may align with the “dress well” portion of the philosophy, the “testing well” is up to the student to decide.