Ali Luciani, arts & living editor, and Ava Mumaw, assist. arts & living editor

As midterm season is approaching, students are preparing for exams, papers and presentations while also engaging in extracurricular activities and their social lives. Student employees at the Academic Success Center (ASC) and Writing Center shared their advice on effective study habits, common mistakes to avoid and campus resources available to help students succeed.

The ASC provides students with academic support through peer tutoring, study assistance and resources designed to improve academic performance. Senior Madie Whitehead, who has worked at the ASC since the spring semester of her freshman year, said the center helps students better understand course material and prepare for exams.

“The ASC is essentially just a place where students can come and be assisted by peer tutors who have taken the courses that they’re in and who have done well in those courses,” Whitehead said.

According to Whitehead, tutors are recommended by professors or peers based on their academic performance and understanding of course material. Students can receive assistance reviewing previous tests, going over class notes and working through difficult concepts.

Whitehead said students often struggle with knowing when to begin studying, how to structure their study sessions and which methods will help them retain information. She said these challenges are especially common in first and second year students.

“I think another [challenge] is quite literally just figuring out which study method works best for them,” Whitehead said. “Whether it’s flashcards or writing things down on a dry erase board or just going through whatever study guide the teacher has provided for them,”

Along with starting early, Whitehead recommends students identify study locations and environments that allow them to concentrate and remain consistent throughout the semester.

“Figure out as early in the semester as you can identify what study locations or environments have worked best for you,” Whitehead said. “Try to stay consistent with that.”

Whitehead also emphasized the importance of using study techniques that involve repeatedly reviewing and recalling information, particularly for students who struggle with retaining course material.

“I think for me, I would say any sort of study method that is going to allow them to get a lot of repetitions with that information,” Whitehead said.

She suggested using flashcards, completing study guides and writing information on whiteboards to become more familiar with course concepts.

“I think the more times that you look at information, the more likely you are to remember it,” Whitehead said.

Sometimes students are asked to write an essay for their midterm grade rather than take an exam. Since these assignments can be overwhelming, senior Gabriel L’Heureux, logistics and scheduling coordinator at Berry’s Writing Center, recommends students visit the Writing Center for any help they may need. There is no minimum or maximum for how much writing a student needs to have completed on an assignment before visiting the Writing Center.

L’Heureux said waiting until the last minute can create additional challenges, particularly if students discover that an assignment requires more time or preparation than they anticipated.

“The Writing Center helps with all the stages of the writing process,” L’Heureux said. “You can come in with literally nothing. Just show us the guidelines and we’ll at least get you started.”

L’Heureux emphasized the importance of preparing ahead of time rather than waiting until deadlines approach.

“My advice is once you get the guidelines in the prompt start at least looking into what you might want to do as soon as possible,” L’Heureux said. “If you wait until like the last minute to even look at the guidelines, you’re probably not doing yourself any favors.”

Whitehead said the center is in the Library Commons and is open Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. She recommends checking the master schedule before visiting because tutors for specific courses may not be available during every hour the center is open. Students can find the tutoring schedule and information about scheduling consultations through berry.edu/asc.

While the ASC is walk-ins only, L’Heureux suggests students make an appointment ahead of time for the Writing Center to guarantee that they can get help when they need it. Students can schedule an appointment with the Writing Center by making an account on berry.mywconline.com then scheduling a time to meet with a student consultant.

Meredith Chu, a junior who works as a consultant at the Writing Center, recognizes that a common misconception students have about the Writing Center is that it is only for people who struggle with writing.

“It can be really useful to have a different set of eyes on your paper. There are things that we can see because of our training that maybe a student couldn’t,” Chu said. “You can get a variety of different perspectives from different consultants, and it could be really useful.”

Mentors at the ASC or Writing Center may be unable to answer some class-specific questions. If this happens, L’Heureux says students should reach out to their professors for more specific information.

“You should email your professor; they’re the expert on [the class],” L’Heureux said. “That can be intimidating for students, but a lot of professors are waiting for you to talk to them.”

Chu says one thing she wishes she did sooner as a freshman during her first midterm season was reaching out to her professors.

“When I was a freshman, I was really intimidated by my professors,” Chu said. “But going to office hours could be really helpful, especially if something about the midterm is unclear or if you have questions about the study guide, etcetera.”

One final piece of advice Chu has for students for the midterm season is that while this time can seem incredibly overwhelming for students, things will get better with perseverance and determination.

“There is a light at at the end of the tunnel,” Chu said. “[Midterm season] won’t always feel like this, especially if it’s your first one. The experience makes you stronger and it gives you a lot of skills to build on for for the rest of your college career.”