Be your own best coach: Midterm reflections for the road ahead

Students study in one of the Student Success Center rooms.

Oct. 6, 2027

— Owen Guthrie, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management

Are you through with your midterms? Or are they still barreling down on you like a train down a tunnel?

If they are behind you, congratulations! I hope you have a little time to relax and catch your breath! How did everything go? Were you able to celebrate your triumphs? Did you get to enjoy the rewards of all your hard work? Did you feel as prepared as you hoped to be? Or maybe the results left you feeling like you could have done better?

If you still have some exams or papers (we call them ‘assessments’) ahead of you, it is not too late to make sure you express the understanding you have gained as well as possible.

Midterms can definitely be a wild ride, but they also give us a great chance to reflect on our study habits – our learning habits – and make some changes for the road ahead. Whether you nailed your exams or sort of limped through, it’s super helpful to think about how you prepared.

Here are a few questions to get you started:

What study methods work best for you? Did you enjoy studying solo, or was group study more your style? Have you tried both?
Did you manage your time well leading up to the tests, or did procrastination sneak up on you?
Were there distractions that popped up? Did essential reading on TikTok suddenly arise? Or did Netflix just keep feeding you that next episode? Perhaps it was essential family time or the dreaded reality of work?
Did you make sure to get enough sleep and take care of yourself during the hectic exam season?
Are there any changes you’d like to make to your study routine for next time?

Remember, this is all about figuring out what works best for you, and your midterm experiences can really guide you toward more effective strategies in the future. Be honest with yourself and say what needs to be said. Be your own professional coach. What advice would you, or should you, give yourself for next time?

If you’re looking to chat about your midterms or want some tips on studying, there are plenty of resources out there to support you. Reach out to your faculty or advisor for advice. You can also ask a roommate or friend for their go-to study strategies; sharing tips can make a big difference! The internet (and AI) are your friends here, too. There are tons of videos and resources out there. Just like fixing your car or training for a race, there are some good suggestions out there online.

Did you know that we have dedicated Academic Coaches in the Student Success Center ready to assist you?

This is the race you are in. Do your best. Think about how you could do better next time, and make preparations.

Keep up the fantastic work and stay positive! If you did great – that’s amazing! And if there’s room for improvement, that's okay too. You are learning. Recognizing where you can do better and taking steps to improve is what it’s all about. You've got this!

Things to do:

It’s Pop-Con Time! The call for workshops and vendors is online here. If you want to host a workshop, tournament, game or demonstration, sell stuff, and most importantly, find other people who enjoy the same things you do – Pop-Con is your place.

Get active with the Nanook Rec:

RockTober: All month long in October, the indoor climbing wall is featuring RockTober events and climbing opportunities for all skill levels.
Intramural registrations for season 2 are now open, and games start Oct. 19. Broomball, anyone?
New to ice skating? Every Friday at 9:15 a.m., join a free learn-to-skate program just for students at the Patty Ice rink. No need to register; show up and lace up. Skate rentals available.

Got Financial Aid? Need more!? It's not too early to consider financial aid for next academic year; the 2027–2028 FAFSA is now open! Complete your application early to be considered for the best financial aid opportunities.

Curious about scholarships? UAF has launched AWARDED, a new scholarship platform that makes it easier to search for and match with scholarships. This is a student-centered approach to scholarship management. Instead of a traditional application, students will submit an optional profile that connects them to relevant opportunities based on merit, financial need, field of study, life circumstances and achievements.

Planning on graduating this fall? The deadline to apply for fall 2026 graduation is Oct. 15.

In a time crunch and have a quick advising question? Express Advising is available every weekday from 2-4 p.m., in person or by phone. Whether it’s a fast question or something that just can’t wait, we’ve got you covered.

Have a great seventh week!

As ever, if there is something we’re doing well or something we can do better, please share! You can find me at obguthrie@alaska.edu.