Shuyi Jin

Week 6 and Midterms

It feels like I just wrote about my week 3, but in reality, it's been almost a month! Although I'm not at Dartmouth this term, the 10-week quarter still has moved fast. In the three weeks since I last wrote about my virtual 20S, I've taken four midterms, completed several problem sets, and recorded several more hours on Zoom. Since Dartmouth isn't on a semester system, we don't really have midterms during a specific period of time. Instead, we get the far more exciting academic schedule of having midterms pop up all the time, from as early as Week 3 to as late as Week 7. In fact, I have two more midterms next week! Therefore, I thought I'd share how I prepare for midterms and how I stay on top of things during the typical Dartmouth term.

1. Note-Taking and Revising  

My beautiful formula sheet for my probability class

In high school, I usually didn't take too many notes for my classes. However, with how quickly courses move at Dartmouth, I've found that good notes are a must when I'm studying for midterms. Professors are also very helpful with revising, as you can go to office hours if you're struggling with anything that was covered in class. The virtual setting of the term has also allowed me to revisit recorded lectures, so that there's less pressure on me to take great notes during class. Of course, recorded lectures are still sometimes available in previous terms, and if not, slideshows and lecture notes were usually provided, in addition to sample tests. Therefore, professors give me all the resources I need to succeed for midterms!

2. Studying in Groups

Something I've found extremely helpful is studying with other classmates. A great thing about Dartmouth is that everyone is very collaborative, which means that most people are open to working together to help each other succeed. So far, I've been amazed by how bright all my peers are. When I fail to understand topics with the help of my processors of the internet, I've found that my classmates can usually help. On the other hand, my classmates are very quick to pick up on topics they don't understand after I go through a quick explanation from my point of view. Studying together is not only a great way to prepare for exams, but also just usually a fun way to hang out. The Academic Clearinghouse at Dartmouth even sets up study groups that you can sign up for, which are led by study group leaders who have already taken the class! I went to one in the fall for my Econ 10 class, and it was great bouncing questions and ideas off of each other.

3. Taking Advantage of Different Study Spots

This last one doesn't necessarily apply to my current situation, but I've loved discovering study spots throughout the past terms. Whether you're looking to study with others or get a quiet space, Dartmouth has you covered. Some of my favorite spots include FFB (first floor Baker), an open space where you can chat and lounge around, Sanborn, which has a cool Harry Potter vibe, and Lower Level Berry, only because its literally a few steps away from my dorm room. It also features a famous mural piece by Orozco, which I hope to learn more about by taking a Mexican muralism class. I also love working in the stacks, the tower room, and some of the science buildings, which have beautiful scenic shots. Basically, there are too many great spots to name. 

While I can't wait to study at Baker with friends again, I'll have to settle for my room at home for now. Midterm season might sound like a scary time, but by taking advantages of resources, collaborating with classmates and taking advantage of all the beautiful study spots Dartmouth has to offer, you'll make out just fine.