As SUNY Oswego nears the middle of the semester, it is time for students to start preparing for midterm exams.

Though not all classes hold midterms, many students will be faced with the need to study for an exam or work on a project, which can be daunting.

“Most professors provide a study guide, so that’s the place to start,” Associate professor of music history and literature at SUNY Oswego, Juliet Forshaw, said. Study guides can provide students with a list of topics to narrow down the potential exam questions.

Forshaw also recommended focusing on content that has been talked about in class, since “professors generally emphasize what’s important.” She added that using notes taken in class is often more beneficial than simply rereading the textbook, provided that students’ notes are thorough.

For students who may be struggling further, SUNY Oswego’s campus provides plenty of resources to assist with exam preparation.

The Office of Learning Services (OLS) is one of the first places to begin, located in 112 Penfield Library. OLS offers tutoring services, which are both drop-in and by appointment. 

If students are given essays as assignments, OLS also has a writing center which allows students to bring papers they may need assistance on.

If the stress of school becomes too much for students, the campus also offers counseling services. The Counseling Services Center  “provides free and confidential mental health assistance for registered students at SUNY Oswego,” according to their website.

Students can make an appointment for counseling by calling (315) 312-4416. The website also says that if students are not ready to make an appointment, but still need help, they can stop by Let’s Talk. Let’s Talk hours can be found at https://www.oswego.edu/counseling-services/lets-talk and take place in either Penfield Library or at Lakeside.

For content-specific help, students can also visit their professor’s office hours or meet with the class’s teaching assistant, if it has one.

Midterm grades will be released on Oct. 14.

Photo via Abigail Connolly