2008 Woodie Awards
Letter: Comments on Reading Period and Finals
Issue date: 4/14/05 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Dear Editor:
Thinking about the upcoming finals that much of the student body has already begun stressing about, I wonder how Smith administration can expect us to study and adequately prepare for finals in one day? Reading period this semester is Saturday through Monday, but the weekend should not constitute a "study period" since many students have personal obligations on the weekend, such as religious practices. The academic week is Monday through Friday, not Saturday or Sunday, which are personal days. Last fall semester, we were expected to take our finals over the weekend, including on Sunday! More time to study for finals would reduce stress and increase preparation.
Another point that should be made in regard to the way that finals and reading period are set up is the lack of time to pack up our rooms. All students, with the exception of seniors and those working reunion, summer jobs at Smith, Five College classes, etc., must vacate their house by Saturday, May 7. This is the very next day after finals period. This means that we have to completely pack and clean our rooms at the same time that we are taking our finals that we did not have time to prepare for to begin with. I propose allowing students to stay beyond Saturday, if they so choose, without having to submit a written explanation as to why, or any other useless hassle. This would allow the students who chose this route to focus solely on exams during reading and finals period, and then pack afterwards.
But more of an issue than lack of time to pack is the lack of time to study. Most finals are cumulative, meaning that we must recall and remember the material that has been presented to us since January. This process, to be taken seriously, takes longer than one day. Reading period should be a minimum of three weekdays for students to read and review thoroughly for all of their classes. More time than is currently allotted is needed to collect our sanity, take a deep breath, and truly get ready for those all-important final exams.
Nina Horioka '07
Thinking about the upcoming finals that much of the student body has already begun stressing about, I wonder how Smith administration can expect us to study and adequately prepare for finals in one day? Reading period this semester is Saturday through Monday, but the weekend should not constitute a "study period" since many students have personal obligations on the weekend, such as religious practices. The academic week is Monday through Friday, not Saturday or Sunday, which are personal days. Last fall semester, we were expected to take our finals over the weekend, including on Sunday! More time to study for finals would reduce stress and increase preparation.
Another point that should be made in regard to the way that finals and reading period are set up is the lack of time to pack up our rooms. All students, with the exception of seniors and those working reunion, summer jobs at Smith, Five College classes, etc., must vacate their house by Saturday, May 7. This is the very next day after finals period. This means that we have to completely pack and clean our rooms at the same time that we are taking our finals that we did not have time to prepare for to begin with. I propose allowing students to stay beyond Saturday, if they so choose, without having to submit a written explanation as to why, or any other useless hassle. This would allow the students who chose this route to focus solely on exams during reading and finals period, and then pack afterwards.
But more of an issue than lack of time to pack is the lack of time to study. Most finals are cumulative, meaning that we must recall and remember the material that has been presented to us since January. This process, to be taken seriously, takes longer than one day. Reading period should be a minimum of three weekdays for students to read and review thoroughly for all of their classes. More time than is currently allotted is needed to collect our sanity, take a deep breath, and truly get ready for those all-important final exams.
Nina Horioka '07