Finals Study Breaks both On and Off Campus

Despite the stress with studying for finals kicking in during this time of year, both Fordham and the city itself have been so consistent in offering great ways to take some breaks during this intense time of studying. At Fordham, we have a couple of days after our designated last day of class, which was on December 10th, that are called reading days. Basically on reading days, we spend as much time preparing and studying for the coming of finals and although I spent a majority of my time studying for finals, which was incredibly long and stressful, I still had a great weekend to look forward to in the city and on campus! On Friday, I managed to score some tickets to a taping of Live with Kelly and Michael and went with a couple of my good friends. Although we went primarily to see Idina Menzel, who was promoting her Christmas album on the show, we were surprised when they let us stay for a second show that was being pre-taped for the holidays with Nick Jonas and Sting! We even got some rehearsal footage of Sting’s performance before the actual taping, and I had some serious goosebumps from when he sang a song from his newest Broadway show “The Last Ship.” It also didn’t hurt that Idina Menzel gave us a little wave when we cheered for her during a commercial break. :) 

Some pics I took of Kelly and Michael interviewing Idina Menzel and Nick Jonas as well as a pic of Idina Menzel getting touched up before singing a song off of her new Holiday Wishes album. We had pretty great seats!

I also found it so interesting to see the behind the scenes action that goes on during these live tapings. Seeing Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan go around the studio and interact with the audience during commercial breaks was something I never realized they could do. They were incredibly gracious, took some pics with fans, and were so funny and down to earth with their interactions with us. 

Kelly Ripa at a commercial break. She was equally as charismatic off camera as she was on!

It wasn’t too much fun waiting in the cold, but with good company and a fun experience at a TV show taping, it was definitely all worth it in the end.

With two of my good friends who are also huge Idina Menzel fans. Waiting in the cold was so much better with good company!

Sunday was the beautiful celebration of Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, and I had the honor of being able to participate in two choirs at the 11:00am and 7:00pm masses. Seeing the church filled that day made mass seem so special, everything from the way the candles were set up in the church to seeing everyone light their candles in a solemn procession was so breath-taking and made me appreciate just how despite this stressful time, we can all join together to celebrate the coming of Christmas. After mass, we celebrated the lighting of the Christmas tree, which made me so ready for Christmas to come around. It’s the little things that Fordham does to bring a community together and to lift each other’s spirits up during a stressful time in every college student’s life that make me so grateful to go here. I wish everyone else the best of luck on their finals, a Merry Christmas and safe travels back home as well!

Fordham doing Christmas right. Picture is the University Church and the Christmas tree that was lit during Gaudete Sunday.

Weekend Update

Nicole Chiuchiolo

Finals week can be stressful, and sometimes you just need to get away from all the studying and do something fun. This weekend, I had the opportunity to do something both fun and productive! A few of my friends and I visited the Hayden Planetarium in New York City as an extra credit assignment for our astronomy class. It was an amazing experience, all of the exhibits were completely relevant to what we learned in class. The best part is that we were back to campus in time for dinner… and more studying. A visit to the planetarium was exactly what we needed to recharge!

My friend and me on our way into the awesome exhibit

Marisa Diaz

My weekend was filled with studying for finals, which start today. However, as a break from studying for finals, my roommates and I did Secret Santa to celebrate the holidays!

My roommates and me relaxing before finals

Nicole Cruz

On Sunday, I went to Madison Square Garden to watch the Men's basketball team take on St. John's. It was so much fun getting to see the Rams play at such a famous venue. We even got to see a few New York Knick players warming up after the game!

The Rams warming up before the game

Conquering Midterms-the Fordham Way

Amidst the fun times that college brings comes the stress around the middle of the semester known as midterm exams. Although the stress can sometimes seem unbearable to most students, Fordham's academic departments offer resources that have given me relief during this hectic time of year. With Fordham already being a medium-sized school, it is not difficult to seek help from your professors personally in preparation for midterms, but I have also discovered many of the other ways Fordham has come first in preparing and assisting its students for exams. From various practical study locations on campus to specific programs that each academic department has to offer, Fordham always has something to offer to a student who is desiring to succeed in their academics.

As an Engineering Physics major, I oftentimes find myself struggling to balance the workload from my liberal arts core classes on top of my major science courses. Luckily, many of the departments located on campus provide peer tutoring and group study sessions--unconventional ways of studying for tough exams. For example, the Physics department offers a “Physics Club room” in which students and professors gather in one place to assist others in tests, homework, or whatever it is they need help on. I find this to be a comfortable place to study, if going one-on-one with your professors becomes a bit intimidating. Plus, it is a great environment to collaborate with your peers in studying for exams that you might have together. Other departments like the Mathematics and Chemistry departments offer similar tutoring style rooms open for peer tutoring in preparation for exams. Sometimes, being able to talk about your exams with your peers in this situation already helps in relieving the stress that midterms bring, so I am definitely grateful for discovering that part of Fordham and highly encourage others to take advantage of it as well!

The Physics "Club Room" in Freeman Hall where students can study together and receive tutoring.

Another helpful tool that many Fordham students use, especially around the impounding swarm of midterm papers, is the English department’s writing center. For a paper to get better, it sometimes requires another pair of eyes to look over, and the writing center allows students to bring in papers ranging from Theology to English Composition and lets another graduate student take a look at some problem areas in the paper and to spend one-on-one time discussing the areas where a paper can get stronger. It is also really easy to sign up for an appointment online, and you can even request tutors that you felt really helped you in the revision process if they did!

A flyer for the Writing Center showing its accessible hours and creative ways to get students to seek help!

These are just some of the resources that I have utilized during stressful times like midterms and finals. The most fulfilling aspect lies in the fact that no matter what your major may be, Fordham will always have a place that will cater to your academic needs. Best of luck to everyone taking their midterms!

Weekend Update

Hello everyone! Happy Monday. This is a busy time at Fordham. This past Thursday would have been our last day of classes, but we had so many snow days this past winter that we added a make-up schedule to the end of the semester. So students are balancing attending their last few courses as well as starting to study for finals, not to mention just doing all of those last things you want to do before leaving for the summer! Check out what some of our students did below.

Deirdre Hynes

Even though most of my weekend was spent studying for finals, my friends & I were able to make the best of it by studying & writing our papers outside Keating on Edward's Parade, where we could enjoy the sunshine and nice weather while still being productive. Plus, it was easy to play a quick game of frisbee when we needed a break! 

Laura Bellows

My friends and I took the D train (a 10-minute walk up Fordham Road from the Rose Hill campus) to Yankee Stadium for a night game. We didn't have to worry about getting out of the game late because Fordham's Ram Van was outside the D train to drive us back down Fordham Road to campus. This off-campus shuttle service is available to all students seven days a week from 10pm-5am and the Ram Van doesn't leave the stop to bring students back to campus until another Ram Van has arrived. It's free too!

Jillian Diehl

On Saturday night, I took advantage of some of the free entertainment you can find on many weekends here on campus. I have friends in both Fordham Experimental Theatre's Improv and Sketch Comedy clubs, so I attended their last show together for the year, which I loved. It was one of their best yet! Then a folk band called the Keating Steps, started by a talented group of friends at Fordham, performed on their designated spot...You guessed it! The steps of Keating Hall, our grandest and most picturesque building on campus. They played a few of their original songs as well as covering a few old favorites, and a good time was had by all. As the rain fell, I felt truly grateful to be surrounded by my awesome friends, with great music, in my favorite place.

8 Simple Rules for Surviving Midterms

It's that time of year that appears to sneak up on everyone faster than a fall breeze. I'm talking about midterms. It's the midway point in the semester that never feels so midway but requires days of studying none the less. For some of you, this can feel extremely overwhelming and you may not know where to begin on those three tests and two papers you have. As a junior, I have been through four semesters worth of midterms and have comprised an easy-to-follow and stress-free way to keep your mind and body focused during this dreaded time.

Rule 1: Make a List 
Often times, the mere thought of everything you have to do is enough to make you want to curl up in bed and close your eyes until it's all over. This is also a surefire way to forget something. So, instead of relying on your crowded noggin to remember everything, start by visually laying out everything you have and want to accomplish. Doing this will help you organize your thoughts and ensure that no topic goes unreviewed. 

Rule 2: Space It out
The inclination is to study everything you've learned all semester at once and hope it all stays in your brain for the test. In reality, the best way to learn and remember material is to study little bits of something over a period of time. Switch it up a bit!  Plan on reviewing a chapter or two of a topic one day and then move on to something else. The topics will go a lot faster this way and it will also help you avoid getting bored of one topic and accidentally taking a siesta in the middle of Walsh Library.

Rule 3: Stay Motivated
Although it seems like a long process, remember that your goals are 100% achievable. Remind yourself what your working towards whether it's mastering that confusing equation or getting a good grade. In the end, you are the only one who can get yourself there so don't be afraid to give yourself that motivating boost to get yourself there. YOU CAN DO IT!

Rule 4: Nourishment 
Don't forget to nourish your mind and body with healthy options to help keep yourself thinking clearly! There are numerous places on campus that offer a variety of delicious food options. With all the new additions to the menu on campus, such as Cosi and Jamba Juice, it'll be easy to find yourself chowing down while you tackle that paper. 

Rule 5: Take Breaks
This may seem like an odd request, but ensuring that you take plenty of breaks while studying will keep you from burning out too quickly. Allowing yourself to watch an episode of your favorite show or hang out with your friends every now and then can keep your brain more focused than you think. In a sense, studying can be fun! 

Rule 6: Get Moving
Sitting and studying for long periods of time can quickly take a toll on your body. To keep stress and tension from building up, remember to move around frequently. With two work out facilities and plenty of field space, it should be easy to blow off some steam with a pick-up game of soccer or a light jog. 

Rule 7: Keep Calm and Carry on
Relax. Take a deep breath. If it is your first time taking a college test or your 100th, remember to keep calm. You've worked hard and know the material. No amount of worrying is going to help you in any way. Remember to remain confident and keep your mind clear. 

Rule 8: GO TO SLEEP!!
The most important preparation you can do for yourself is getting plenty of sleep. It may seem like a good idea to stay up for days and cram every power point slide into your brain before the big day. This, however, is not a good idea. Just like your body needs rest after an injury, so does your brain after learning so many new things. You will retain more of the information you studied after a good night's sleep. Waking up after an hour of sleep before a test is also not going to be very beneficial. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day...because they had to sleep at some point!