Finals Season Survival Guide: Advice From Students Who’ve Been There

By: Jenthe van Kastel

As finals week approaches, students across campus begin getting ready for late-night study sessions, project deadlines, and the pressure to finish the semester strong. To capture what truly works, we spoke with two students, senior David Hopfer, and student Olivia Fioravanti, who each shared their personal strategies, habits, and golden tips for navigating finals with confidence.

David Hopfer: Projects, Planning, and a Good Cup of Coffee

As a senior, David has had his fair share of finals seasons. When asked for his go-to strategy, he immediately mentioned a timeless academic essential: coffee.

But more importantly, his approach depends on the structure of his business courses. With many classes focusing on projects and papers instead of standard exams, David spends finals season ensuring every assignment is completed and polished before review. His preparation is less about memorizing content and more about managing deadlines and staying organized.

When offering advice to freshmen, David didn’t hesitate:

“Scheduling. Write everything down.”

He stresses the importance of mapping out classes, practices, and commitments. By identifying free time at the start of finals week, students can avoid overwhelm and better organize their study time when finals arrive.

Dr. Steve Glazer teaching students. Photo courtesy of Graceland Marketing.

Olivia Fioravanti: Two Hours a Day and No Last-Minute Stress

Olivia takes a different, but equally effective, approach to preparing for finals. Since exams are still two weeks away, she’s already in preparation mode  studying two hours each day.

This slow and steady routine helps her spread out her workload. “In this way, I don’t have everything together,” she explained, noting that pacing prevents burnout and keeps stress low.

Her one golden piece of advice for newcomers?

“Don’t leave everything to the last minute.”

She warns that assignments or chapters may seem easy at first, but when they all build up at once, the stress can become overwhelming. Her solution is simple but powerful: make a schedule and stick to it. Preparing early not only improves performance but also protects mental well-being.

Shared Wisdom: Start Early, Stay Organized

Though David and Olivia have different majors, routines, and study habits, their core message is the same:

Plan ahead, pace yourself, and avoid last-minute chaos.

Whether it’s daily study sessions, early-semester scheduling, or keeping an eye on project deadlines, both students highlight the importance of using time intentionally. Finals don’t have to be a frantic rush  with the right habits, they can be manageable.