Student Blog: The Final Countdown - Finals Week At UConn

At last, the week every student dreads—or is excited for, depending on who you ask—has finally passed at my school: finals week. This week holds a lot of bittersweet emotions for me, especially at the end of my first year. On one hand, I’m excited for summer break, which is an opportunity to be temporarily done with school. On the other hand, I’m going to miss my college friends and the memories we’ve made. I will not, however, miss taking finals. On that note, here is what a typical finals week is like at my school.

At UConn, classes end the Friday prior to finals week. That gives us the whole weekend to utilize as “reading days,” or in other words, days dedicated solely to studying. I tried my best to study as much as possible, but the weekend proves to be a difficult time for my productivity. I found myself studying the most the following Monday since my first exam wasn’t until Tuesday morning. Some exams are at 8:00 in the morning, but there are some later in the day as well. Last semester, I had an exam at 6:00 in the evening, which proved to be difficult. All I could think about for the day was the exam, which made it hard to focus on studying. 

Most people find themselves studying in the library, so it gets especially busy during finals week. If you go early, you usually can find a good spot. There are also other places to study on campus that are less populated, such as the Wilbur Cross building, that still provide a quiet place to focus. Personally, I love the Wilbur Cross building. The reading room (pictured above) is absolutely gorgeous and the fact that it’s a silent space makes it a lot easier to get tasks done. 

The university provides ways to reduce stress during the week, which is very helpful. There is a lot of support from four-legged friends. The Friday before finals, the recreation center hosts “doga,” or dog yoga. The facility dogs, Tildy and Carson, accompany other facility dogs in a yoga session to help students relax. I’ve done it before and I loved it. In addition, there are other therapy dogs of all different breeds that come to the library to allow students to relax and take a break. Tildy and Carson make another appearance by providing their own study break in the library too. They provide snacks and refreshments as well as playtime, which is very therapeutic. 

Overall, finals week is stressful, but it’s manageable when you utilize your resources. With the help of friends, both human and animal, it’s possible to succeed. The best advice I can give is to manage your time effectively while also making sure to take care of yourself. As long as you study and give yourself time to unwind, you’ll be ready to ace your exams. To anyone still taking finals, best of luck! You’ve got what it takes to do well.