Final Academic Semester: 6 Ultimate Tips to Succeed

Final Academic Semester: 6 Ultimate Tips to Succeed

The final academic semester in the university has been claimed by many to be that period when there is a lack of motivation to complete the program and it is for this reason, we are going to learn 6 ultimate tips to succeed in your final semester in the university.

What causes the lack of motivation and fear in the final semester at the university?

Many students have gotten used to their routine academic calendar. The regular school routine is to attend lectures and seminars, give presentations, write term papers or exams. The process is clear, many have organized their everyday life and leisure time around it. However, when your final semester in the university begins, a lot of things start running through your mind. Until then, many do not give any thought to their own future. It is an established fact that change leads to fear for many people, as it means being out of the comfort zone, into the unknown – that always carries the risk of failure. Questions such as what if I fail the exams? Or what if I can’t find a job? Start popping up in the mind.

The final semester in the university means that you leave the group of students and can no longer immerse yourself in the crowd. Now you must prove yourself and show what you have learned. It is no longer a question of partial access to performance as in exams, but of all-encompassing probation in everyday life, which sounds threatening to some, coupled with the obligations in their studies. There are also those who receive money from their parents, who are often confronted with the new reality of not being supported by their parents anymore.

Changes are part of human life, and each phase comes to an end at some point. Even students whose discipline requires a longer period must face the reality at some point. And it basically means, take responsibility for your own life. Grow up, do something, standing still is death.

6 tips for your final semester in the university

Many students tend to delay making life decisions with the activities of the university so to speak because they postpone the decision to choose a career. In doing so, however, they are only postponing the actual decision on how to proceed professionally after graduation. They use the ostrich tactic; If I just don’t look, the problem doesn’t exist. To run away from the fear of the future, existence and loss is pointless. They will catch up with you sooner or later, hence, the only option is to face them. Below are 6 tips to help you succeed.

1. Reflect on your situation

Nobody can live your life or know what you want. You need to be clear about what you want. Deal with your strengths and weaknesses, but also interests and inclinations, and list them. What do you achieve easily, what do you enjoy, what are you good at? Grades can already provide clues. However, you should not only look at purely technical matters but also consider your soft skills. Are you open to new ideas; do you find new people easily? Let friends, fellow students, and family help you with the assessment, and ask how they see you.

2. Make a to-do list

The final semester is about more than just examinations and presentations. Some do an exam colloquium, attend conferences and other network events. So that you don’t get tangled up with important appointments, you should enter everything that is pending, along with the date, in a calendar. To do this, work with different colours, depending on the urgency. When considering these to-dos, also think of non-university authorities, offices, and agencies:

After your final examination, you will lose your student status, which means, those who live in the dormitory will have to look for other accommodation in the foreseeable future, as these rooms are mostly reserved for students.

3. Look back

The sheer mountain of things that lie ahead of you and need to be done can sometimes be overwhelming. Then the fears flare up again and that, as is well known, paralyzes. There is a simple but effective trick to counter this, look back at what you have accomplished so far. Many people tend to disregard this – and above all to underestimate it.

Make a note of your successes, for example, graduated from high school, applied to your favourite university, and immediately given a place to study, good grades, great friends, moved away from home for the first time, managed your own household, passed basic studies/bachelor’s/intermediate exams… The “mountain” behind you is much bigger than what lies in front of you. There are only a few steps left.

4. List your engagements in school

You must list your activities for a résumé at the latest. Those who do the final semester will soon be writing applications. Make a list on your personal list of everything you did while studying, jobs during the semester break (where & which?), internships, work in the student council, university radio, volunteer work – simply everything. These jobs and occupations also provide information about what suits you and what is less.

5. Motivate yourself

With graduation staring you in the eyes, you can feel uncomfortable even with clear job ideas, the examination phase also means a time of renunciation, of exertion. There are three tips below to help you get through this phase:

• Create a learning plan: This helps you to keep track of upcoming exams, topics, and dates. Start doing this as early as possible and plan a generous time buffer. Even unexpected incidents (colds, stress with friends, noisy surroundings) cannot harm you or set you back in time so easily.
• Make up for it: The examination phase and the time of preparation do not mean that from now on you are not allowed to do anything and must renounce everything that is fun. On the contrary! Plan for breaks and free time. Of course, leisure activities have to be cut back for a certain period of time, but your motivation will go to zero if you don’t allow yourself anymore – just cut back for a certain time.
• Schedule the reward afterward: If you know that the dry spell will only exist for a certain time, you can motivate yourself more easily. Do something nice for yourself. If your financial situation allows, go on vacation afterward. Before and immediately after your studies is exactly the point in time when you are most likely to be able to go on longer trips and are largely free of obligations.

6. Find support

Many universities are aware of the difficulties students must struggle with in the final semester. It is not a shame to seek help – it is rather unwise not to take advantage of the numerous offers of help. University-internal contact points such as the student affairs directorate offer qualified staff (social pedagogues, psychologists) help with writing inhibitions, examination anxiety and general study organization.