As the fall semester comes to a close, and final exams approach, we’ve gathered some tips from ECS peer leaders on how they study for exams. Here’s what they had to say:
Hennecys Castro | Environmental Engineering | 2025
- One way I mitigate stress and study for exams is by creating a cheat sheet. It allows me to have all the content in one place and I split it into topics, formulas, and examples similar to a mind map
- I use the Cornell method where I have all the formulas and relationships, I need to solve a problem then I solve the problem. Then on the bottom, there is a summary section to see where I might’ve messed up or any extra notes
- I prefer not to study with friends for certain classes and then for other classes, I like to collaborate
- I like doing my work in Goldstein Student Center where there’s a food court so I can make sure I am eating and hydrated. If anyone feels like they blank out during exams I would suggest referring them to the Center of Disability Resources (CDR) for extra exam time
Aaron Shinn | Civil Engineering | 2025
- Note-taking in class can be a good form of studying with the right approach. When in lecture, be aware of what the professor says is most important to know, organize your notes in a way that works for you, and spend each day quickly reading over your notes to put what you wrote down to memory
- Make sure to do your homework on your own or collaboratively without copying others
- Putting an honest effort and asking questions is a form of practice for future exams. By retaining information from lecture and doing homework with an honest effort, you can save time with additional studying by focusing on the concepts that are more difficult to you
- Make sure to also prioritize getting enough sleep and taking breaks because overworking yourself will negatively affect your performance on exams
Aicha Gory | Computer Science | 2026
- For studying, I will make sure to start practicing two weeks before the exam with practice exams, homework and extra quizzes the teacher provides. If you don’t understand a concept, make sure to go to office hours or approach your Academic Excellence Workshop assistant
- For math, you can go to the Syracuse library and find some past exams. The format is similar. Make sure to do at least one or two
- Try approaching the teacher. Studying with your peers also helps since they might explain things easier than the teacher. And don’t wait till the last day to study!