To Click or Not to Click: The Thoughts I Have While Waiting for My Grades

Sweaty palms. Racing heartbeat. Do I click it? Just click it! No wait. Wait! Take a deep breath. It’s not the end of the world, worst-case scenario you feel depressed for a few days, or ruin your entire holiday, or cry alone in the bathroom for a few hours…or don’t graduate. Just do it! Ok here goes. *Click…

Now what happens? This is that cliché moment where the whole world stops and nothing else exists, nothing but the weary gaze between your red, sleep-deprived eyes and the computer screen. You will finally find out whether all the sleep, personal hygiene, fun, and sanity you sacrificed during the term were worth it. I really hope that I am not the only one whose mind has been plagued with these thoughts while I wait for my grades.

So, how many of these thoughts have you had while waiting to check your grades?

1. Simplifying the Situation 

Illustration by H. Brodie

“I mean, at the end of the day it’s just a letter. Haha, why am I freaking out so much over a simple letter? I refuse to allow myself to be victimized by a mere letter.”

2. Summoning the inner Houdini 

Illustration by H. Brodie

*Covers screen with hand and slowly reveals the grade, as if this will magically change fate. “Oh that looks like the left side of a B! Ohhhh Ohh! Abracadabra…. yup that’s a D.”

3. Putting the Past Behind You 

Illustration by H. Brodie

The deed is done, there nothing I can do about it. I can shake this off. I can forget about it. I wonder what outfit should I pick for my GPA’s funeral?

4. Delaying Gratification

I want to check really badly, but what’s the hurry? I’ll just wait a couple of days anyways.

5. The Grades that like to take their time 

Illustration by H. Brodie

Then again there are the times where you aren’t given the luxury to delay gratification because you mark seems to be pulling a classic “Where’s Waldo?”

6. Walking out of the class after finishing the exam 

“Deep down I know what grade I should be expecting. I know that the only studying I did was a 1-hour cram session at 3AM. However, I also know that I firmly believe in miracles.”

7. How do I tell the parents 

Illustration by H. Brodie

*formulates epic plan with siblings, “Okay, you start talking about this, and then do this and make sure to laugh a lot so that we create a very relaxed atmosphere, then I’ll casually mention it and hope they don’t hear me. Deal?”

8. Remaking your entire graduation plan 

Illustration by H. Brodie

“So the withdrawal deadline is Friday at midnight, so if I get less than a 50.001% I can withdraw from this class and retake it in Spring term (which I will obviously ace because I basically know everything) and use the A+ that I will get to resurrect my GPA. Phew!”

9. What did everyone else get? 

Illustration by H. Brodie

I mean everyone else failed too since the average was like pshhh…like….80 or something. So, I’m obviously not alone. And besides, all of my friends failed too. So there is nothing to worry about. It’s obviously the exam, not me.”

10. To ruin or not to ruin the holidays 

Illustration by H. Brodie

“I could save checking until after the holidays, but then I will be preoccupied and nervous for my entire break. What if the mark isn’t that bad? No, who am I kidding?”

11. Coming to terms 

Illustration by H. Brodie

Either way, this will end with a bottle of wine, so why bother freaking out? I’ll work in retail for the rest of my life if I really have to.

The Aftermath:

Now don’t get me wrong. At the end of the day, your life does not amount to one letter on a transcript. And to be honest, there are multiple occasions when I expected to get a horrible grade only to find out that I didn’t do as badly as I had thought I would! So study hard, stay focused, and hang in there! An A+ is waiting for you to achieve it. Or an A. Or maybe even  B… there is nothing wrong with a good old respectable B.

Niabi - YouAlberta Contributor

Niabi is a third year student just starting a BA in English with a Spanish Minor. She’s a relentless optimist, hazardously curious, and tends to laugh a lot (her friends would say that she has a juvenile sense of humour). When not spending money she doesn’t have on clothes, or jamming out to Reggaeton, you can find her in a movie theatre, reading a book that involves sword fighting and dragons. 

Study Jamz: A Guide to Study Music

Studying. Finals. Am I right or am I right?

It’s time to hole yourself up into whatever comfortable nook or cranny you have found in the library and put on your fancy Beats by Dre headphones. Crank out that first gen iPod touch that’s on its last leg and put on some…well what are you listening to? Everyone has their preferred study music and here I’ll be sharing some of my favourites.

Pump-up song

Good for: the start of studying

I usually kick-off studying by listening to a pump-up song. You know, like how athletes get pumped up in the locker room before a game. Except this game is studying. And I obviously want to win.

Image courtesy of thebiglead.com

Pick your favourite song. Or something that gets you excited and ready to take on the day. Currently I have two pump up songs:

“Do I Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys

“More Than a Feeling” – Boston

Music with lyrics
Good for: typing up notes, passively studying

On to music with lyrics, or “normal” music if you call it that. I put this on when I don’t need to focus 100% on what I’m doing, when I’m not doing readings or when I don’t need to memorize anything. When I’m typing up notes or passively reading over them is usually the best time for this type of music.

Sometimes I’ll listen to the radio. Usually a radio station will have a player you can open up on your laptop, or an app to listen to live while you study. It’s also a bonus if you’re trying to score tickets to a concert and need to phone in at a specific time. You should be able to access them through their websites. My go to is Sonic 102.9.

Forgot your iPod? Can’t listen to those guilty pleasures? Just pull up a playlist online. You can easily find them on YouTube and Songza. My favourite Songza playlist is the “Deep Funk Revival” playlist because I like to groove along while typing up notes. 

“Deep Funk Revival” 

Image courtesy of hfboards.hockeysfuture.com

Lyricless Music
Good for: reading, memorizing, concentrating

Lyricless music is the best study music. It’s great background noise when you really need to focus on your readings or when memorizing notes. Here are some of my favourites and some suggestions you should check out.

“Classical for Studying” 

Mozart makes babies smart. Or something like that. You can’t beat that classic…classical music.

These following two albums feature work by Ludovico Einaudi and Olafur Arnalds. Einaudi is my favourite artist on my study playlist. I absolutely love his work. Check out his album, “In a Time Lapse” for an idea of his music. He has quite a few albums that are definitely worth a listen. Arnalds is another artist I appreciate. His work, along with Einaudi’s are like “fresh” classical music.

“In a Time Lapse” – Ludovico Einaudi 

“Eulogy for Evolution” – Olafur Arnalds 

Next up on the lyricless list are two Japanese math rock bands, Toe and Rega. What is math rock? I have no idea. But it sounds great. They’ve got great beats and their work sounds like a giant jam session. Check out these two albums:

“Million” – Rega

“RGBDVD” – Toe 

I like to groove even when I’m trying to memorize a bunch of notes, so sometimes I put on some lyricless funk.

“Get down to the instrumental soul groove” – Songza Playlist

Some video games have absolutely beautiful soundtracks. And they sound even more amazing on the piano. Kingdom Hearts is but one video game franchise with great music.

“Kingdom Hearts Piano Collections” 

I don’t like using the word “epic”. But this last one has some pretty epic instrumental music in it. And it’s an hour long so you don’t have to worry about changing songs.

These are only a few suggestions for some great tunes to listen to while studying. Having a set playlist is great, but listening to the same study songs can get boring so it’s always nice to freshen up your playlists.

Keep calm and study on. 

Originally published on April 8, 2015

Edward - YouAlberta Contributor

When I’m not struggling with being un-photogenic, I can be found near the back row of class, not because I think I’m cool, but because I like to observe my surroundings from the best view possible. I’ll also be at a random table somewhere, with Tims in hand and a Metro in front of me, turned to the crossword/Sudoku page.

Things to do after your finals

It’s finally here! The end is in sight and you’re in the last 100 meters to the finish line! Give yourself some incentive for the final cramming hours of the semester and take a break to check out these awesome plans to make for after finals! 

Rest

Let’s be honest, you’re probably going to experience a little mental exhaustion after finals, which you should definitely take care of! If your preparing to start a new summer (or even post-school) job, are just starting your job search, or are planning some travel time, or even a trip to summer school, it is extremely important to do so after a little rest. Getting some rest will help to put you in a positive, healthy mindset which will allow you to get the most out of whatever is next. So, take the time to catch up on sleep and do your best to kick your newly found caffeine addiction. 

Find a great summer job! 

Find a great summer job! It’s not too late to get an awesome position for the summer break (just in case you’ve been too studying to apply for jobs). CAPS is always the best place to start (since it’s usually the first place where employers put their postings for university students). Jobkin.ca (which is hosted by the SU) is another campus job search site to check out. You might not have a job lined up right now, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t find one.

Go Outside

After spending months in the air conditioned libraries it’s finally time to head outside where you can enjoy the great weather and – say it isn’t so – SUNSHINE. Play outdoor sports, exercise in the park, just read a book while lounging in the sun (or lounge in the shade if you have a pesky habit of burning…).Warmer temperatures don’t last long, so make the most of the nice weather. 

Get fit for a good cause! 

If you have a health goal that you’re trying to achieve and need a little extra motivation then running a marathon might be just what you need to do. Plus, running a marathon usually means that you get to help out local YEG causes. Click here for a list of the runs set for Edmonton this year. 

Take a short trip with some close friends. 

Take a short trip with some close friends. The weather is really warming up and there are plenty of great day trip locations close to Edmonton.  Jasper and Banff are obvious favorites to visit, but the lesser known Pembina is only an hour away and makes for a great day trip with friends once the summer heat settles in. 

Join the crowd.

Edmonton has festivals all throughout the summer. Some are big, others are small, and regardless of their size, they cover so many different activities, that you should find at least one that appeal to your interests. These local festivals are also great because the costs associated with them are way less than some of the bigger ones held far away.

Try something new. 

Join a new sports team with friends, find a new hobby or finally read that book you’ve been meaning to- take time to explore new things and make some great memories.

Go camping. 

There’s nothing like getting back into nature to re-center your stressed out mind.  If all your notes happen to end up in the bonfire then so be it, just make sure you won’t need them for the next year. 

Binge watch. 

Just think, you can’t procrastinate in the new semester if you’ve watched everything that there is to watch on Netflix! Procrastinate now for productivity later. It’s a genius plan. 

Slide

Check out slide the city, or go slip n’ sliding in your own backyard! You’re never too old to hurl yourself down a wet piece of plastic at high velocities. It’s the simple things in life. You can check out their website here.

----About the Author

Paige

Hi, I’m Paige! I’m a fourth year student aspiring to become a Conference Interpreter after completing a bachelor of arts in French, Spanish and Japanese. I have a passion for everything cultural and am a total linguistic nerd. 
Away from my favorite study spot on campus, you can find me training with the Rowing Team or taking naps wherever possible. I love getting involved on campus and meeting new people so I’m always attending events happening around the University. 

I hope to share stories that highlight student life at the U of A; showcasing the bright and creative minds we have here at the U. I also hope to provide you with helpful tips to improve the time that you spend here on campus.

10 Signs Finals Are Almost Upon Us

This is it, we're getting ready to head into the final week of classes. And a quick look around campus will prove that finals are almost here. So, here are 10 ways you can tell that the end of term is on its way:

1. People you’ve never seen before show up to class.

2. Tim Horton’s/Starbucks/Second Cup/anywhere-you get-your-caffeine-fix line-ups are suddenly SO long that you’re sure you aged 10 years while waiting for your double-double.

3. You have bursts of motivation where you manage to convince yourself that the only way you’ll ever finish your paper is by sitting in a cubicle. You're determined not to leave until you’ve finished…

… only to realize that, after three hours and only two sentences, this wasn’t a good idea.

4. You realize you and your friends might not be as alike as you thought.

You:

Them:

5. Conversations with your parents start to go like this:

Them: “We haven’t seen you in WEEKS, honey!”


You (rather than explain ALL that you have to do):

6. Tents start popping up in all the libraries on campus… and no one asks any questions. #desperatetimes 

7. There’s that one class you’ve just given up on…

What you think the professor is saying:

What the professor’s actually saying:

(Okay, maybe not. But your professor is there to help you, so ask for help if you need it and while you still can!)

You:

8. You realize that your notes are not as helpful as you thought, with missing pages, half-finished sentences and confusing abbreviations you don’t even remember making. 

9. Your eClass forum/email is suddenly flooded with frantic requests from students, all in the same position as you, and you’re just like:

10. Somewhere along the line, you get overwhelmed just THINKING about all that you have to do, and the apathy slowly starts to creep in… until you hear yourself saying:

But then you realize that you’re AWESOME and your exams are no match for you! So you buckle down…

So, how does this story end? In a good way I hope, with us traipsing happily into the sunset with our stellar grades and most importantly, FREEDOM, in tow. Even though the next three weeks might look like this:

We can all do it! #rootingforUAlberta

Aala - YouAlberta Contributor

Hi! My name is Aala, and I’m in my final year of the Neuroscience program [insert other random but completely boring things about me that make your eyes glaze over]. Now, onto the real important stuff: any doctors out there reading this? I’ve got a serious case of wanderlust-itis, and I was wondering if there were any immediate cures? Because it’s got me on Pinterest, pinning images of places I’ll likely only visit in my dreams, when I should be paying close attention as my physiology professor goes over the role of CCK in the digestive system FOR THE THIRD TIME. Sigh. At any point during the day, you most definitely can find me in the lineup for Tim Horton’s (ANY Tim Horton’s really, I’ve got quite a radar for it) getting my daily Iced Capp fix.

I Failed a Midterm... So What?

Okay, so maybe the title of this post is a little misleading, mainly because it makes it seem like I’m entirely too nonchalant when it comes to the topic of midterms, when I’m not. But after four years of university, where I’ve had my fair share of time mismanagement, poorly-planned all-nighters, XL coffees and countless printer mishaps, I’d like to think that I’ve mastered the whole ‘look at the bigger picture’ perspective on life.  And I can tell you, that outlook will come in handy if you receive a mark on an exam that is less than stellar. 

How was I finally able to adopt this mentality, you ask? Well, I can tell you it didn’t happen overnight; it was, and still is, a long process that began when I first became a bright-eyed (read: eager and annoying) first year student. You know, before that fourth-year apathy set in… which I can’t promise won’t seep into this particular post. Anyway, after years of learning from mistakes, here are some things I’ve realized definitely help when it comes to softening the blow of that horrible mark.

1. Wait until you actually get your exam grade back. 

Many of us have had this experience : you think you’ve failed an exam (O Chem, anyone?), only to realize that you didn’t do so bad after all. That’s right, you actually got a decent mark and  you’re pretty much  on cloud nine for the rest of the day/month/year. So, wait until you get your actual mark back before you start jumping to conclusions. You might be pleasantly surprised (I’m rooting for you, buddy!).

2. Distance yourself from it for a bit… until you can think clearly. 

That’s right. Close that eClass tab immediately. Delete the 16 drafts you’ve made of the same frantic email to your professor, from “WHAT MARK DO I NEED TO GET ON THE FINAL TO PASS THIS CLASS?!?!” to “YOUR CLASS IS RUINING MY LIFE.” Those emails aren’t helping much; they’re only calling your sanity into question. But in all seriousness, there’s a reason professors and TAs usually ask that you refrain from emailing or setting up appointments immediately after receiving marks for exams. Once you’ve had a chance to compose yourself and to calm down a little, that’s when you should visit your prof or TA to have them go over the exam with you. It gives you time to look the exam over with fresh eyes, and see exactly what you did wrong, and why… which leads us to the next point. 

3. Ask yourself why. 

Take some time to figure out why you did so poorly. Was it because you just didn’t study? Spent more time in the Tim Horton’s line than you did in class? Or maybe, is it because you just don’t get the material? Whatever the reason may be, figuring out why you did poorly on an exam is crucial, because it sheds light on what you should do next…

NOTE: If you believe that your grade is an unfair one (i.e. you think that you deserved a higher mark), then consider contacting the Student Ombudservice to learn about the steps that you can take to appeal your grade. 

4. Plan a course of action. 

If you did poorly because you didn’t study enough (or, didn’t have time to study at all for whatever reason), you can more than likely bounce back from this unfortunate setback. You may not get that A+, but it is definitely possible to get a great mark, even after bombing a midterm, given that most classes have several components that make up your overall mark; so chances are, you can compensate for a poor mark in one section with an excellent mark in another. But, that all depends on you and your work ethic. Are you willing to put in the time and effort to do well on your next assessment? Are you willing to adjust your study habits? Are you willing to give up those ‘group study sessions’ (which, if we’re really being honest here, is just two hours of showing each other the funniest YouTube videos you found that week… oh wait, you don’t do that too? Awkward…)?

If you’re just not getting the material, and you’ve decided to stick with the class and persevere (and I fully support this! #underdogsftw), it’s time to buckle down and be proactive. You’re going to need some help, and it’s a-okay to admit that (yes, even if you used to get 90s in highschool without cracking a textbook open…). Find out what resources are available to you, and USE THEM; please make sure that the resources you choose to use are helpful and suitable for you! (i.e. Maybe you’ve noticed that reading the entire textbook from cover to cover just doesn’t seem to work for you. Maybe, you’re better off understanding the material by watching YouTube tutorials- there are GREAT channels out there for specific topics covered in university-level classes- and doing practice problem sets. Try to figure out which method enables you to retain as much relevant material as possible). 

Don’t forget that your prof/TA are great resources too! As you go through the information covered in lectures, mark the areas that you don’t quite understand or are having trouble with, and set up an appointment with your professor and TA. Going with specific questions in mind saves a lot more time, for both you and your professor/TA, than going in and saying, “Tell me everything there is to know about [insert really broad and complex topic].” 

Image courtesy of forums.station.sony.com

Professors and TAs will likely be more than willing to help you, as long as you put in the effort. If you feel like you might need more one-on-one help, finding a tutor might be a good idea (or, maybe even someone you know who has taken the course and can give you pointers about how to study for it). InfoLink can probably help you both of those (sort of) – the Tutor Registry should connect you with tutors who have been trained to help you AND who’ve received at least a B in the course before. The Exam Registry can also be a handy tool for learning what kind of questions you should be planning for ahead of an exam (which makes for great study material).

Another option: 

Sign up for review sessions/help sessions offered by groups like the  Math and Applied Science Centre (MASC), the Centre for Writers (C4W), and the Student Success Centre. Student Support and Disability Services (SSDS) is another great place to check-in with since they can help identify learning disabilities that might be impacting your exam skills. (i.e. they can help identify if a student needs a special environment to write an exam in and can also help determine if a student needs any special supports to improve their learning environment.)

Something that works for me: 

Making a concept map for any broad or large topics covered in lecture that I’m having trouble with. Like I’ve mentioned before, I have to be able to see the ‘bigger picture’ before I can even begin to grasp the details, and concept maps help me do this. It may seem like a pain, but knowing how each topic (and subtopics) relate to the take-home message a professor is most likely trying to get across helps *me* a lot during exams (especially in long-answer questions, as profs tend to ask questions that require you to relate multiple concepts). Not only that, but if you blank during an exam, you’ll at least be able to attempt the questions, since you know all of the big concepts!  

If you feel like you’re trying your best, and you’re still not getting the material, don’t become disheartened. So many students have come across classes that have given them a hard time, so you’re definitely not alone!

5. Sometimes, the best course of action is withdrawal. 

In my honest opinion, a W on your transcript is a thousand times better (and easier to explain) than an F, not to mention that a W doesn’t affect your GPA or academic standing. Sometimes, getting out while you’re ahead is the best thing to do. Again, this requires you to be honest with yourself: can you do better on the final exam (or, any of the remaining assessments), and will this be enough to get the mark that you need? Maybe, you’re taking a full course-load along with many other extra-curricular commitments, and the material covered in that one class just isn’t making sense at all! It’s totally okay to admit you’re in over your head, as long as you do that while you still have the chance…. Deadline to withdraw is April 1st! Before withdrawing though, try to see your academic advisor. They’ll be able to help talk you through your situation and will help you determine if the W is really your best option this time around. Also, you might want to consider the financial repercussions before you withdraw.


NOTE: If you aren’t sure who or where your academic advisor is, check with InfoLink. They’ll point you to the right person.

6. PROCRASTINATION IS YOUR WORST ENEMY. 

This one’s self-explanatory. If you have any hopes of doing well in the class, you can’t leave anything to chance from this point forward. Cancel that subscription to Netflix if you have to!

Finally, I ask the most important question: what’s one exam in the grand scheme of things anyway? Don’t fear failure, guys and girls! Use it to your advantage:

Image courtesy of wifflegif.com

And with that, I wish you all good luck on your finals! May your prof’s practice exams ACTUALLY mirror the real thing… 

Aala - YouAlberta Blogger

Aala is in her final year of the Neuroscience program [insert other random but completely boring things about her that make your eyes glaze over]. Now, onto the real important stuff: any doctors out there reading this? She's got a serious case of wanderlust-itis, and was wondering if there were any immediate cures? Because it’s got her on Pinterest, pinning images of places she’ll likely only visit in her dreams, when she should be paying close attention as her physiology professor goes over the role of CCK in the digestive system. FOR THE THIRD TIME. Sigh. At any point during the day, you can most definitely find her in the lineup for Tim Horton’s (ANY Tim Horton’s really, she's got quite a radar for it) getting her daily Iced Capp fix.