November for many college students ushers in a break-neck pace that leads to the end of the academic fall semester and final exams.
Juggling class registration, planning for holiday travel, participating in student organizations and preparing for finals can be stressful.
The most important thing students can do during this time of year is step back, look at the big picture and seek help, if needed, from the GW’s network of support, according to George Washington University Student Success Officer Tracy Arwari.
“Students still have a solid six weeks to make different choices if things aren’t going as well academically as they would like,” Dr. Arwari said. “I tell them to go to professors with midterm exams in hand and ask questions, but also take breaks when they need them and use the resources that are here on campus.”
Make academics a priority
GW senior Katie Takeuchi, a resident advisor in Munson Hall, said that during her first few years at GW, the time from fall midterms to the end of the semester seemed to “creep up” and test her time-management skills.
“When I look back on my freshman year, I wasted so much time but felt more overwhelmed because I wasn’t using my time properly,” Ms. Takeuchi said. “I tell people it doesn’t get better because it gets easier, it gets better because you get better at managing it all.”
Ms. Takeuchi’s go-to strategies are preparing a written list of priorities and checking in regularly with her academic advisor in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
She encourages students struggling academically to make an appointment through the GW Tutoring Initiative. The program offers 10 peer-to-peer tutoring sessions free for students and access to a web–based tutor if peer appointments are unavailable. Students also can participate in unlimited group study or make an appointment for individual sessions. Sessions are hosted at the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library.
“Students still have a solid six weeks to make different choices if things aren’t going as well academically as they would like."
- Tracy Arwari, GW Student Success Office
Students who live on the Mount Vernon Campus have easy access to Eckles Library’s drop-in tutoring, which typically focuses on freshman and sophomore courses. The library also offers group study at the Foreign Language Café and one-on-one appointments at the Writing Center.
Information about additional tutoring services is available online.
CCAS Academic Advisor Jessica Porras said that managing post-midterm stress early could make a difference in whether a student is successful in a course.
“As advisors, we sit down with students and really help them figure what is still in their control,” Ms. Porras said. “We are able to help students strategize their class registration and plan a study schedule that works for them.”
CCAS uses the “Place of Discovery” (POD) advising model, which requires students to identify a reason for making an appointment with an advisor before they come in. The process helps advisors strategically prepare for appointments and better serve students, according to Ms. Porras.
Ms. Porras said that this time of year is an opportunity for students to take stock of how their study habits, activities and self-care routine are working.
“A time management activity that we assign to students has them write down how they spend every hour for a week,” Ms. Porras said. “And you see this light bulb go off when a student realizes ‘I’m spending 12 hours a day watching Netflix.’”
“They start to see that the key is to not wait. It’s important to plan ahead.”
Get physical
On Monday, 12 George Washington University students gathered in a darkened room for a twice-weekly yoga class with Erin Maguire, B.A. ’05, assistant director of fitness and wellness at the Lerner Health and Wellness Center.
According to Ms. Maguire, many of the students are taking the one-credit Lifestyle Sports and Physical Activities course to de-stress.
“I tell my students, if you are stressing about that paper that you have to write, just inhale to acknowledge the thought, exhale to let it go and let the rest of this 50 minute class be about you,” Ms. Maguire said. “The quality of the time they spend working is increased if they take just 50 minutes to re-center.”
To aid students in prioritizing physical health, the Lerner Health and Wellness Center offers a 50 percent discount on group fitness passes for all classes, including yoga and cycling. The annual promotion is available midway through the semester.
"You see this light bulb go off when a student realizes ‘I’m spending 12 hours a day watching Netflix.’"
- Jessica Porras, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Academic Advisor
Students also can visit the Health and Wellness Center for personal training sessions or take advantage of the professional massage therapist on staff. A one-hour Swedish massage cost $78 for students. Members of the GW community are able to benefit from a promotion that offers a second session for 50 percent off when they buy a one-hour massage at regular price.
“Not many people know we offer massages, but we had a parent stop by the other day and say she was buying her daughter four massages as a gift,” Ms. Maguire said. “It really is the ultimate gift for students who need a chance to recharge.”
Ms. Maguire said that certified personal trainers help students develop residence hall-ready routines that require no equipment and the registered dietitian shares healthy recipes and tips with students who may only have access to a microwave or limited kitchen space.
“I’ve personally found that no good comes from racing from one thing to the next,” Ms. Maguire said. “Sadly, for many students, a fitness routine is the first thing to go, but when you take the time to breathe, stay active and de-stress, then your mind operates better when you sit down to write a 15-page paper.
Manage mental health
Interim Director of Mental Health Services Gillian Berry said that her goal is to help students learn that managing mental health and wellness is a normal part of the college process like going to the library or meeting friends for coffee.
“We want students to recognize that managing stress is a part of developing positive habits,” Dr. Berry said. “The next step is simply identifying strategies that help you de-stress—for me it’s sitting by water quietly and breathing.”
She recommended that students “use the word no” if they feel overwhelmed by social activities. MHS offers workshops on happiness and preventing procrastination in addition to regular counseling services. Full lists of services and web resources are available online.
“We understand that it is difficult to see all of your energy and hard work come down to what is written on a piece of paper,” Dr. Berry said. “Mental Health Services and the Colonial Health Center is a year-round resource so that when the time comes you are prepared to cope.”
Dr. Arwari added that students should use their academic and other struggles as an opportunity to learn more about themselves and take steps to grow.
“GW students are wonderfully talented and engaged and asking for support can sometimes feel like the hardest thing to do,” Dr. Arwari said. “I try to stress that they should not feel guilty about taking a break because it’s important to keep things in balance.”
“College is your opportunity to challenge yourself and define success on your own terms,” she said.
For a list of university-wide student resources visit “Finding Support at GW” online.