We’ve all experienced a case of post-exam blues. You study for hours, days, or even weeks and feel confident that you know the material front and back. However, when you get your grade back, it is not at all what you expected. Post-exam blues tend to make you feel like you’re not enough. In reality, it’s something that happens to the best of us and should be used as a motivation to do better on the next one! As a business student, I have had several cases of the post-exam blues. On the bright side, I eventually used what I learned in order to help prepare me for my future tests, and apply those techniques in other classes. 

For example, finance is known to be a difficult subject at Mays Business School. I came into the class aware of that, so I studied so hard for my first quiz to brace myself. I got a 40. After trial and tribulation, my next quiz grades slowly increased from a C to an A. I even got an 88 on my first exam, and ended with an A in the class!

The moral of the story: if I had let that 40 convince me that there was no possible way I was going to pass the class, I simply wouldn’t have. Instead, I decided to utilize all the resources available to me.  Here are some of the tips and tricks I’ve learned the past few years to help cope with your post-exam blues, and do better next time if your study habits need a little sharpening.

1. There is no such thing as a dumb question.

Some people are afraid of asking the wrong question because of how “obvious” it may seem. But you would be surprised by how many people in class are wondering about the same thing. Professors are not there to make judgements about the questions you ask, they care about how you will apply the information at hand. 

2. Teachers’ Assistants can be your (next) greatest help.

After sitting in class day after day with no clue as to what is going on, teachers’ assistants should be your next resource.  TA’s are typically former students of the professor, or graduate students who are very well informed on the subject, and provide help for free. If your professor has a way of teaching that you do not quite understand, the TA may be able to explain it in a different way to where you can! Make an attempt to meet with them at least once before you decide that there’s no way you will ever get your head around the subject matter.

3. Plan ahead.

I cannot stress the importance of having a planner to visually see the time frame of what you have due and when. That way, you can organize your time and see how much time you have between homework, quizzes, and exams to start preparing for the next. One of the best things I decided to start doing was planning early on. At the beginning of every semester, I take every syllabus from each of my classes and fill my planner with the deadlines. With all of this immediately set up, I know way in advance how I’m going to manage my time and even give myself a break between due dates.

4. Study groups can either help you or hurt you. 

Something I’ve had to learn the hard way is that study groups can either help or really hurt you. Be thoughtful of who you choose to study with, because they can become more of a distraction than a help. If your best friend who is a completely different major than you wants to study at Starbucks, it might turn into more of a coffee date than studying. Study groups should serve as a way to learn from other people and actively contribute as well. Keep that in mind when deciding how much you really need to study for that exam next week. 

5. Take time for yourself.

By avoiding procrastination, you may not realize how much extra time you will have for yourself. Studying a little bit every day rather than the day before will allow you to go to the movies one night with friends, sleep a decent amount, or even pick up a hobby you’ve found yourself missing. This tip can also be useful during long study sessions! Take a coffee break, watch a YouTube video, or call your mom. Making time for yourself through great time management is probably the most important piece of advice because it will keep your mental health in check so you can be happy and healthy while getting that 4.0!

To sum it up, college should be the best years of our lives, but feeling overwhelmed all the time can make it feel the opposite. With the right study habits and positive attitude, you can overcome that feeling. Don’t let those post-exam blues bring you down when you have so many people and materials that can help get you on the right track. All you have to do is take advantage of them!