{"id":70627,"date":"2026-04-24T14:03:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T18:03:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?p=70627"},"modified":"2026-04-24T14:03:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T18:03:35","slug":"alumni-study-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/alumni-study-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Study Smart and Study Hard, But Don\u2019t Neglect Self-Care\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your alma mater asked you for exam-prep advice for current students\u2014and from health tips to gentle wisecracks, you delivered<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Cornellians<\/em> staff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you remember studying for finals? (Of course you do; how could you forget?) With the end of the academic year and the beginning of summer break tantalizingly close, current students are hitting the books to prepare for their spring semester exams.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Happily, Big Red alumni are\u2014as always\u2014a source of wisdom and inspiration for their younger counterparts on the Hill.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

At the end of the fall semester, the University put out a call on Facebook for advice on test prep.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(\u201cI still have nightmares that I am going to an exam and never went to class,\u201d Daniel Meyer \u201987 commiserated in a comment on the post, \u201cand I am 60.\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We at <\/em>Cornellians have been hoarding the alumni tips to share ahead of spring finals\u2014and here\u2019s a sampling, accompanied by images of studying and test-taking over the generations.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"A<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

(Comments have been edited and condensed.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can never know everything; being well-rested for your exam will do you more good than cramming for an extra hour or two. Also: you can write a 10-page paper in one night\u2014but you shouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Kirsten Suhr \u201998<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

If you learn anything at Cornell, it\u2019s that asking for help is a sign of wisdom and strength.<\/p>\nDiane LaScala Bordonaro \u201985<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor engineers: your time is better spent cranking practice problems than understanding the underlying science. Both correct answers and understanding will come with cranking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Asheen Phansey \u201902<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"People<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOutside the exam room door, you won\u2019t remember a thing. But once you sit down and read the first question, you\u2019ll be in your groove.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Jennifer Grosner-Mentzer \u201996<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven if you can\u2019t wait outside in the snow on Stewart Ave. anymore, Hot Truck pizza subs are still available at Shortstop Deli downtown, and are still a great study break.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Mark Anbinder \u201989<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMake use of TA office hours, join a study group, take breaks, remember to sleep and eat, and pray.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Tolu Ariyo \u201912<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cConsider exams as a learning experience. If you do well, you can celebrate; if you find deficiencies, you can take that as motivation to improve your efforts. Enjoy the ride, since it will be over quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Gerald Rehkugler \u201957, MS \u201958<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKeep a high-altitude perspective while you descend into topics and technical details. You\u2019ll land the exam safely, with a calm mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Tana Green \u201999, BArch \u201901<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cGet sleep. OD on all things Collegetown Bagels. Do as many air squats and push-ups as you can to get the blood flowing to your brain, for mental clarity and alertness. Call your mom and tell her you love her. Don\u2019t forget: you took your swim test so you won\u2019t drown in water; metaphorically, you won\u2019t drown in your studies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Isaac Losh, MPS \u201911<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"an<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGive yourself a break when you need one. The results of whatever exam you\u2019re studying for will not determine your future success in life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Becky Sluiter Mauldin \u201995<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Sit next to the smart kid.<\/p>\nBill Howard \u201974<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome tests are learning experiences in their own right. I remember taking my sophomore dynamics test and learning about turbine cars at the Indianapolis 500.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Stephen Kessinger \u201977<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Students
Alex Bayer \/ Cornell University<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBreak down the review sessions into bite-size chunks. Plan your preparation. Deep breaths, good sleep, great food, and get outside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Emily Getty \u201908, MPS \u201915<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake a chance: skip some subjects and hope for the best: you will never get an A+ if you study all subjects equally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Benoit Gateau-Cumin, MPS \u201975<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you need to do last-minute cramming, getting up super early will result in better retention than staying up super late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Burton Miller, DVM \u201981<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cSet all your alarms. You don\u2019t want to be running from North Campus to Barton when you\u2019re supposed to be taking the exam\u2014so I\u2019ve heard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Ron Eagleroad \u201993<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dozens<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you have a doubt and go back, change your answer. Your brain has figured out something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Deborah Wright Smith \u201985<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Dress in layers! The temperature range across old and new buildings is crazy.<\/p>\nValerie LaMastro \u201903<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStudy smart and study hard, but don\u2019t neglect self-care. Oh, and five or six pints at the Chanticleer can\u2019t hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Thomas Edward Se\u00e1n Feeney \u201999<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Students<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t learn everything in one night. Keep up with the work. Make your own study guide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Rebecca Foster-Faith \u201996<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cNothing\u2014no future job, promotion, or grad school\u2014is worth your health. Take care of yourself first, and the rest follows much easier. Make time to get outside and manage a little movement every day. Check in with your friends and family. Hydrate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Pat Erickson \u201992, DVM \u201997<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you did the work, you\u2019ve got this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Ann O’Neill \u201977<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf there\u2019s any free-form writing on your exams, think about what was important to your professor as evidenced by their lectures, and write about that. Add in what you know from the course material, but speculate and theorize\u2014make it interesting for your TAs to read. TAs and professors want to know that they taught you essential facts, but more important is knowing that they inspired you to think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Elisabeth Swink Lee \u201997<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Jason Koski \/ Cornell University<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGive it your best effort\u2014not for the sake of the grade, but for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Dean Fogarasi \u201909<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

None of my employers ever asked what my grade on a final exam was.<\/p>\nMike Parris \u201903, BA \u201904<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReview work repeatedly such that it becomes second nature. Practice problems are very important. They can come from previous years\u2019 exams, study groups, and office hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Melissa Hayes, DVM \u201904<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGo for a walk to clear your head.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Jeff Parnapy \u201992, MAT \u201997<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a professor advised us: \u2018Don\u2019t just study until you can understand the material in front of you. Study until you can explain it without<\/em> it in front of you.\u2019 Studying stops when you wake up the morning of the exam; you need time to let the material percolate. And make sure you know where and when the exam is. I almost missed one entirely, but a classmate saved me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Jeffrey Deutsch \u201990<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Students<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t pull an all-nighter. Sleep is vital to brain function. So is taking a \u2018brain break\u2019: get up, stretch, take a little walk, eat something healthy. Did I mention sleep? Get sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Nicole Wagner \u201994<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Don\u2019t get drunk the night before finals.<\/p>\nAmy Lynn Rosen \u201984<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPrepare for an exam that\u2019s harder than the one you\u2019re likely to take.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Jesse Fowler, MPS \u201923<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dogs<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour brain needs nutrition. Eating for 15\u201320 minutes won\u2019t take much away from study time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Guste Urbonaite \u201915<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to be fine. It\u2019s OK if you don\u2019t get a 100, like you used to in high school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Alexia Ter Hark Emerson \u201998<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Students
Jason Koski \/ Cornell University<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReread all those notes you took from the lectures and readings. Meet with your study group to divide up the semester\u2019s work, to prepare outlines to study from. Go to sleep early the night before. I once sat for three finals in one day\u2014imagine that?\u2014and I survived. You will, too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Carole Kenyon \u201959<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cWork hard and play hard. Remember, there\u2019s no better feeling than walking out of your last final exam at Cornell!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Robert Shlien \u201974, BA \u201975<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

(Top: Photo by Sreang Hok \/ Cornell University. All other images courtesy of Rare and Manuscript Collections or by Cornell University photographers, unless otherwise indicated<\/em>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Published April 24, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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