Finals week is around the corner and the stress of tests can be overwhelming.

To help reduce that stress, students can take advantage of several campus resources to prepare for taking tests.

Coaching for Academic Success

The Counseling and Student Development Center offers the Coaching for Academic Success program. This program offers assistance with general study skills in a variety of subject areas that students need to be academically successful, said Barbara Fouts, assistant director of the CSDC.

“During the consultation and follow-up appointments, a trained staff member will help each student with textbook reading, time management, test preparation and note-taking, as needed,” Fouts said.

Coaching for Academic Success is open to all NIU students for no fee. To schedule an appointment, call 753-1206 or visit the Counseling and Student Development Center in the Campus Life Building, Room 200, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.niu.edu/csdc/studyskills.htm.

ACCESS

Another resource is ACCESS — Access to Courses and Careers through Educational Support Services.

According to its Web site, ACCESS is a tutoring service available to all undergraduate students for no fee. The services available at ACCESS include walk-in tutoring, one-on-one tutoring, study groups and additional instruction to supplement specific courses. Additional support is offered through services for students who require academic assistance to be successful in their chosen courses and majors.

“ACCESS is an academic support unit,” said Shevawn Eaton, director of ACCESS.

The mission of ACCESS, according to its Web site, is “to provide opportunities for students to build academic skills and promote academic adjustment, thereby improving academic success, retention and graduation rates through academic support services.”

ACCESS will have special hours for tutoring during finals week that will soon be posted on its Web site. For more information, visit its office in Williston Hall, Room 100, call them at 753-1141, or visit http://www.tutoring.niu.edu.

University Writing Center

The University Writing Center can be a helpful resource for students in need of help with writing.

According to its Web site, the University Writing Center is open to undergraduates, graduates, staff and faculty for no fee. Trained consultants are available to work one-on-one with. Consultants offer students help in a wide variety of areas, including generating writing ideas, developing strategies in planning and organizing drafts, identifying better ways to use language and integrating critical thinking into written work. The Writing Center also helps students prepare resumes and applications for internships, jobs and scholarships.

This is not a walk-in service. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 753-6636, or in person at Stevenson Towers South, Tower B, lower level. Its hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information, visit http://uwc.niu.edu.

Other Ideas

Another Web site to visit for study help is www.how-to-study.com. This Web site, not affiliated with NIU, offers help for taking notes, reading for comprehension, developing listening skills, coping with test anxiety, managing time, writing papers and avoiding procrastination, as well as for many other problems that can plague college students.

Some NIU students have their own studying tactics for finals week.

“To study for finals,” said Amy Freedlund, senior journalism major, “I go over notes, make review sheets and re-read material. The more I go over the material, the more likely I am to remember it.”

Katie Kirst, another senior journalism major, applies almost the same plan of attack.

“I usually go through notes and make note cards. I also go through my textbooks and make study guides. After that, I just study until I can’t remember everything,” said Kirst.