Study Tips from ECS Peer Leaders - ECS

Photo of Syracuse University Campus in the Fall. The photo is from a rooftop or from the ground showing campus building and grounds in peak Central New York fall colors. this is a photo from the roof of Crouse Hinds Hall looking south east towards Crouse College Maxwell Hall and Hall of Languages at dusk.

As the end of the spring semester 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:

Isabella Perkins | Chemical Engineering | 2025

Create your own study guides for classes: making the study guide is a form of studying in itself.
Make sure you’re going to the professor’s office hours to clear up any questions you had on any past coursework.
Try to work through practice questions or rework homework questions without referencing your notes.
Take frequent breaks when studying for long periods of time and make sure you’re eating and drinking enough.
Switch between subjects every once and a while when studying to prevent burnout.

Michael Wehrle | Mechanical Engineering | 2025

As a senior, I’ve gained a lot of experience in tackling challenging coursework. During my freshman year, I primarily studied alone in my room and managed to achieve decent grades. However, in my sophomore year, I began to bond with other mechanical and aerospace engineering students, and we formed a small study group.
Collaborating with classmates made a significant difference; we would post problems on whiteboards and work through them together. Discussing concepts and explaining problems to one another enhanced our understanding and benefited the entire group.
From my experience at Syracuse, I’ve found that bringing a pack of Expo markers to a study room or classroom is one of the most effective ways to prepare for tough exams.
I will always be grateful for stepping out of my comfort zone to study with other students. We’re all in the same boat, tackling challenging classes, and having support makes a world of difference compared to struggling alone. I’m really glad I reached out and built friendships; we still stay close and not only study together but also enjoy time together socially.

Kana Wong | Civil Engineering | 2025

I study by retaking notes, putting together a good cheat sheet, and redoing homework problems or practice exams.
To combat stress, I try to get things done early when I know that exams are coming up.
I find time to do work around my clubs and social life because I’ve found that without those scheduled breaks, studying becomes much harder and less productive.