Hi everyone! During the week before finals at Amherst, we have a few days of classes and a few days to prepare for exams. These few days to study are called Reading Period, and they are so so helpful in managing several assignments and tests that occur/are due during finals week. In this blog, I’m going to talk about my end-of-semester experience as a French and bio double major. Please email me at sgoldsmith24@amherst.edu with any questions!
Finals Schedule
I took four classes this semester: Molecular Genetics, Organic Chemistry, Literary Masks of the Late French Middle Ages (essentially medieval French poetry), and Middle Eastern History: 500-1700. Two of my classes finished all major assignments/exams before Thanksgiving break, and two of them have assignments due next week. I think this is somewhat common; not all classes default to making the biggest assignments or tests of the semester due during finals week. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving break were very difficult for me, but because half of my classes finished before finals week, I am not super stressed going into this dreaded week.
All I have next week is an Organic Chemistry final on Monday afternoon, and a French paper due at the end of the week.
What Finals Look Like for my Classes
In my experience, STEM classes typically have final exams instead of papers; I have an Organic Chemistry sit-down exam during finals week, and had my final MolGen exam during a two hour block the Thursday before Thanksgiving break. Separately, my humanities classes have final papers; I had a research paper for my history class due the week before Thanksgiving, and I have a French final paper due at the end of finals week.
Reading Period
Reading period is a lifesaver. The classes in which I have something due during finals week have extended office hours, and I’ve been going to chemistry office hours every day to drill practice problems. My French professor made himself available to schedule office hours with him whenever during reading period, and I’ve met with him to discuss my paper. The library and the science center have extended hours during reading period and finals week – both buildings are open until 2 am every night, and offer free coffee and tea.
Whatever your midterm or finals season looks like, good luck!! You are almost done!