As we prepare for the end of the semester and finals week, we thought, what better way to wind down than to share a few tips on preparation, studying and remaining stress-free. While I found an abundance of lists, suggestions and infographics, I decided to pick and choose at my leisure those I believed had substance and value.

This is just the beginning so be sure to check back and see what other tips we provide and feel free to share your own.

1. Shed some commitments. You’ll find you have a lot easier time studying if you make extra time for it. Put off any unnecessary social obligations or family commitments. Even a few strategically placed extra hours can make the difference between doing just OK on finals and doing a really great job.

2. Figure out what’s covered. One of the most important things you need to be clear about is what materials are going to be tested on the final. Are readings and discussion sections included, or is the final going to focus almost exclusively on material from the lectures? Is the final going to concentrate on materials since the midterm or is it going to be a comprehensive or cumulative final? Knowing the extent—and the limits—of the exam will make it much easier to organize and structure your studying.

3. Be sure to develop your answers fully. Many students don’t realize that, on essay exams, part of what’s being graded is how well you develop and explain your answer, not just how correct it is. Consider explaining your points in more detail so that someone unfamiliar with the answer would know, just from what you say, what the answer is.

4. Pace yourself. Two or three hours is a long time. Think of the final exam as a work session, divided into a number of sub-sessions. Take a few-minute break between each question or part. Approach each question separately from the rest.

5. Study with a group only if it makes sense. Many students believe (mistakenly) that a study group always affords an advantage: more brain power plus peer pressure to crack the books. This works well when your study buddies are at least as smart as you. Exam time isn’t charity time.

Here are a few additional links to help you find what tips and suggestions may suit you.

5 Tips and Tricks to Make Your Finals Week a Success

Surviving Finals Week: 7 No Fail Tips

5 not-so-obvious tips for finals week

And there you have it! A pretty well rounded list as well as a few additional tips courtesy of links to help you combat those sleepless nights, panic stricken thoughts and the culmination of a long semester. We wish you all the best!

Check back for additional posts and Happy Studying

Fisher v. University Texas at Austin has many minority groups in arms; dividing college campuses and re-sparking the flame of whether or not race should be taken into account during the admissions process. Abigail Fisher, a 22-year-old white woman who was rejected from University of Texas at Austin in 2008, has filed suit against the school, arguing its consideration of race doesn’t meet standards previously set by the high court.

Precedence was set in 2003 with the Grutter v. Bollinger case which allowed universities to consider “race” as a holistic view, but here are five things to know about affirmative action:

1. Why it was started: The earliest implementation of affirmative action policies, before Kennedy coined the phrase, began under President Franklin Roosevelt in the second World War. He banned discrimination in the government and those involved in “war-related” work.

2. Why it is controversial:  Quotas. The idea of a limited number of admissions or jobs for members of underrepresented groups and any type of preferential treatment runs counter to how we view our American dream, critics argue.

That idea became central in the Massachusetts Senate race between Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren. Warren was accused of using her Native American ancestry for jobs but has denied doing so.

3. How it’s changed:While affirmative action is usually spoken of in general terms, there is no singular policy or implementation of the ways in which affirmative action take shape in government organizations, colleges and corporations varies.

Court cases continue to refine interpretations of how race is used at the university level. Some schools have experimented with a variety of ways of non-race-based models, like the Top 10 model that the University of Texas employs, to ensure the racial diversity of students.

4. How society feels about it: In a 2009 Pew poll, the majority of Americans supported affirmative action but strongly disagreed about minority preference. And while most African Americans (58%) and Hispanics (53%) agreed that minorities should get preferential treatment, only 22% of whites agreed.

5. Where it exists: Though quotas have been outlawed in the United States, the European Union has had a recent push to punish companies whose boards aren’t composed of at least 40% women. And India, Brazil and Malaysia, among other countries, have laws and policies that address affirmative action in schools and throughout society.

Students currently in college, diversity initiatives directors and activists passionate about underrepresented populations need to pay attention to this case in the Supreme Court circuit. A diverse student body on every college campus is a indispensable experience and contributes to the training of future leaders, consumers and those same individuals arguing for and against this very case.

by Tonya Bauer

Election 2012- it is an event that I will remember for the rest of my life. It was the first time I voted in a presidential election and it was the first time I got to report on one; two things I’d say impact each other.

I vote every opportunity I get- primaries, county judges, Congress races- because generations before me did not always have that chance. I vote for the African Americans who were beaten, I vote for the women who broke free of the housewife mold, I vote for all the individuals who stood up for their rights, even when no one else did.

I come from white privilege, and I am aware of that. My ancestors, the males anyways, have always been able to vote in this country. But African Americans, women, and other minority groups have not- and even though I may not identify with all these groups, they still suffered and fought for their right to vote, they demonstrated how important the right to vote was, and I don’t want to waste that.

Reporting on the election I’ve heard the stories of people’s first trip to the polls, their ancestors suffrage, or their passion for the democratic process. Seeing their enthusiasm and their excitement about voting makes me not want to waste the opportunity.

Voting is my way to get my voice heard. It is my way to impact society- big and small. That is why I voted in Election 2012 and cannot wait to do it again next year.

by Elaina Powless

My name is Elaina Powless, and I am a sophomore Advertising major in the Newhouse School of Public Communication, at Syracuse University. I chose to come to Syracuse  because it is home to a very good program for Native American students.

Nancy Cantor has done great work as chancellor regarding encouraging minority groups to come to Syracuse University, by providing a very welcoming atmosphere and pushing programs that support affirmative action in higher education. Her efforts have paid off, and according to Syracuse University’s Fact Page, minority students’ account for 24.4 percent of the total student population.

Although there are minorities in Syracuse University, I personally feel that there is less representation in Newhouse. I believe this is because the actual communications industry itself does not seem like a plausible career path to minority students. There are not many main role models for young minorities to aspire to be.

As time goes on, the industry climate will change and diversity in Newhouse will not be an issue. Businesses have a strong demand for fresh points of view, and this move will integrate different people into the workplace.  I look forward to the day where everyone is represented fairly in the media and there will be a variety of voices in communications.

by Shanice Bland

I grew up in an extremely diverse town, coming from the suburbs of New Jersey. So, when I came to Syracuse I was surprised to see that it wasn’t as diverse as I expecting it to be. In fact, I found myself around more caucasian students, than any one other specific race. I would love to see more diversity especially in Newhouse because dealing with social media, it is important to have multiple races, views, and backgrounds so that there are different perspectives disseminated. It would be boring if every one had the same opinion and same beliefs and this would do nothing to expand diversity and intelligence.

by Luisa Ardila

As a first generation immigrant I am very conscious of the effects of diversity in a community. Diversity fosters dynamic dialogue, which is the foundation for democracy. At Newhouse I’ve been mindful of the ways in which awareness of diversity affect our work as media creators. That is why I am proud to be one of the leaders of a student organization that tries to promote that diversity.

CitrusTV has the only Spanish news show in Central New York and I’m lucky to be Executive Producer for our weekly newscasts. With my Co-EP, we realized that our operation was being limited by perception. People thought our staff was made up of only fluent Spanish speakers and that intimidated potential volunteers.

We then made it a point to diversify our staff to include students from all walks of life and all levels of Spanish proficiency. All we did was communicate more openly with potential students, showing them that our diversity made us stronger. The Noticias team went from being a group of 10 passionate volunteers to a wholesome team of 40+ students, all in less than one semester. I believe this has helped us be more conscious of producing content for a diverse audience and has advanced our ultimate goals for Noticias.

I hope that Noticias will continue to be an outstanding organization at Syracuse University, which leads the dialogue of diversity in the media. As the Hispanic minority expands in this country, I hope that Noticias will serve as an example of how universities can embrace that community and make a conscious effort to educate the public. With projects like Noticias, we can educate the public about the Hispanic minority. We also integrate Spanish speakers into the current event dialogue in this country.

Isn’t that what makes democracy great?

by Taylyn Washington-Harmon

To introduce myself, my name is Taylyn Washington-Harmon. I’m a freshman Magazine major and a proud Newhouse Ambassador. I’m originally from Chicago, IL and I’m happy to make Syracuse my new home.

For my first blog post, I wanted to talk about my experience with diversity within Newhouse. The amount of diversity in Newhouse is absolutely perfect and kept me interested in the school and Syracuse University as well. The diverse environment that Newhouse offers makes me feel truly comfortable and open. I enjoy meeting people of all different backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and cultures and hearing their viewpoints whether it’s in the classroom or in everyday conversation.

I particularly enjoy diversity as a theme within the Newhouse curriculum. The diversity requirement for class choices is extremely beneficial to all students and reinforces the points I made above, but applying them to my academic studies, and for this, I am extremely thankful.