Study for finals … check?
Studying for finals is definitely not easy work, but UTRGV has resources available for Vaqueros to start preparing for the final weeks of the Spring 2026 semester.
Ready for finals?
Every semester Vaqueros encounter the challenge of getting ready for finals. According to Natalia Sandoval, a UTRGV manufacturing and industrial engineering sophomore, “It gets harder and harder every year…”
Savina Manor, a UTRGV biology freshman, said she feels “just about ready” for finals as well as Sandoval, however, not feeling ready to approach finals season is also a common feeling between students.
Roy Garcia, a UTRGV Economics Sophomore said he does not feel ready “but I’m gonna do it anyways.”
Prepare yourself
When preparing for finals, every Vaquero has their own unique way of studying for finals.
To focus, Sandoval shared she decides to delete all her social media when preparing for finals. She said social media is a “big distraction” and she also likes to study at coffee shops with friends.
On the contrary, Manor prefers to isolate herself to focus.
“I do love to talk to people so if there’s something I really need to focus on I like to just isolate myself in my room and just listen to music and study,” Manor said.
Manor added she also goes over her notes, reaches out to her professors, studies in her free time and compares notes with classmates.
The Learning Center
At UTRGV, studying is not a task Vaqueros need to go through alone. The Learning Center (TLC) is there to help students during finals season.
“ [The Learning Center] offers tutoring … through zoom, in person and even group tutoring,” explained Gina Castillo, graduate program assistant for the Academic Coaching program at The Learning Center.
Castillo added TLC also offers the Supplemental Instruction (SI) program which uses peer-led collaborative study sessions and academic coaching. The program helps students find resources on campus.
“We also offer tools and strategies for [students] to be able to become independent learners,” the program assistant said.
Vaqueros can take advantage of any service TLC has to offer by creating an appointment through the TLC website. Students can also log in into their UTRGV account and schedule an appointment through EAB Navigate.
Castillo shared how when she was a student she spent 20 years feeling lost because she wasn’t aware of the services that were available to her.
“After working [at The Learning Center] and learning about all of the different programs, it’s like, … all I needed was that little push,” she said.
As many Vaqueros do, Castillo also had her own way of studying. She mentioned management and organization was the “big thing to look at” when creating a plan to study.
Workshop Session with TLC
If you still feel lost when preparing for finals, Castillo shared TLC will have a workshop to help Vaqueros get ready to overcome finals.
“We’ll teach [students] the time management skills to create a plan to be able to space out their studying time … so that it’s not like they’re sitting there studying for hours,” she explained.
The first session will happen Wednesday from 3 to 4 p.m. via zoom. The second session will be from 5 to 6 p.m. The department will host another workshop from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday and the final session will be from 2 to 3 p.m. For more information, contact: learningcenter@utrgv.edu
Don’t give up
Finals season can be hard to overcome but not impossible.
“Even though it may be a little dragging toward the end and we just want to end it, it will be all worth it just to push yourself and it will be all worth it once it’s summer,” Manor said.
Castillo also advised students not to be afraid to ask for help, to reach out to professors and make sure to have somebody in class to talk to.
“This is what [The Learning Center is] here for.,” Castillo said. “So the biggest thing would be not being afraid to ask for help and finding a support system.”
