Preparing for Finals: Your Grades, Your Goals and Your Next Moves

Every fall around this time, things start to feel real for first-year students. Midterms are behind you, assignments are piling up, and suddenly your academic standing isn’t theoretical anymore—it’s right in front of you.

Whether you came in with AP or dual-enrollment credits or you started fresh, your college GPA started at zero. You might not have had a detailed set of goals for your first semester, but you probably had a sense of whether you’d thrive. And now? You’re either feeling good about where you stand… or you’re wishing things looked different.

You can be a good student AND enjoy college. Being on the Dean's List and enjoying college can work. You make it work by being intentional. Making a plan and not leaving success up to chance. And now—with finals coming up—here's how you can be intentional.

Time to Build Your Final Exam Game Plan

The semester’s end isn’t the time to “see what happens.” It’s the time to organize, strategize, and make every study session count. While different classes require different approaches (world history ≠ calculus), the overall strategy is the same.

Here’s how to finish strong:

1. Confirm the date and time of every final. Seriously.

It sounds basic, but missing a final because you had the wrong time or misunderstood the format is more common than you think.

Whether the exam is online with a deadline or in person at 8 a.m., triple-check the details. You want to show up exactly where you need to be, exactly when you need to be there.

2. Find out exactly what’s on the exam.

You need to know whether your final is cumulative (everything from Week 1 to now), or focused on the material since the last exam. This one thing can completely change your study plan. Ask your instructor, check the syllabus, or look at your course shell. Do not assume.

3. Create a study guide or project outline.

Even if your instructor gives you one, build your own too. This helps you actually learn the material, not just stare at it.

Start with:

• Key topics

• Important concepts

• Formulas, dates, people, vocabulary

• Example problems

• Possible questions your instructor might ask

  
  

Think of it as creating the map you’ll use to navigate the next couple of weeks. Click here to get the study guide templates I created for you.

A Quick Reality Check (With Love)

If you haven’t been going to class consistently or keeping up with assignments, preparing for finals may feel tougher—and that’s normal. Success in college builds on consistent habits. But here’s the good part:

If you commit to doing everything you can between now and your finals, you can make progress. You might not be able to change the whole semester, but you can absolutely influence how it ends.

Your next step is simple: get organized, get clear, and start preparing with intention.

Your future GPA will thank you.

This is evergreen content (with new study guide templates) that was originally published in 2021.

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If you’re ready to shift your mindset, strengthen your habits, and thrive in college, we can help you get there. Schedule your discovery call today.