All-nighters, lost computer disks, failing grades and term papers are all part of the end-of-the-semester blues. Students and professors alike are ready for the semester to be over.

“Anyone who has procrastinated will be stressed and at this point the stress will skyrocket and become a major issue,” David Onestak, counseling center director, said. “Cramming is overrated and is a terrible strategy. It screws up everything in the body’s system. It is not an effective way to study.”

Onestak said most people do not work well under pressure. Research has shown that students who don’t cram do as well or better academically.

“When you pull an all-nighter, it is hard to think clearly during the exam the next day,” he said.

A few ways he suggests to cope with stress are only Band-Aids; major surgery for this problem would be keeping up with work throughout the semester. The problem arises when people put themselves in a crisis situation and then they are in a deep hole.

Onestak said the first thing students should do to prepare for finals is to work now.

“Some people think they should wait until Sunday night to start studying, but really by Sunday it is too late,” he said. “It is essential not to waste these next three days.”

The second thing he suggests is to eat well-balanced, nutritional meals.

“It is not the time to live on coffee and Twinkies,” he said, adding that it is also not the time for alcohol, nicotine and caffeine which all decrease academic performance.

The third piece of advice he gives is to get plenty of exercise.

“Going for a walk allows people to focus better,” Onestak said. “Sleep is also important and still making some time for leisure by studying for a couple of hours and then taking a break helps.”

The major study technique Onestak gives is studying for the classes you like the least first and the ones you like the best last.

“Some students pick classes they like more and spend too much time on those subjects they like; by studying for the subjects you don’t necessarily like, you get it out of the way,” he said.

David Radavich, English professor and director of the University Professionals of Illinois, Eastern’s teacher’s union, said there are three to four different things he does to help himself deal with stress.

“I go for a walk, particularly in a nice area or I meditate for mental relaxation,” he said. “I also take breaks, sometimes I go to Jitters and Bliss and take time out to get a coffee and read a crossword puzzle or the paper.

“During the semester, I try to pace the assignments so they do not cluster and I leave time between exams and the final paper,” Radavich said. “I also do not give assignments during the last week of class.

“The greatest stress for me is when students don’t go to class and do not turn papers in on time,” he said. “Students disappear and wonder later why their grade isn’t good and that is a stress on everybody.

“We’re all struggling and students do too; we have to find a way to cope with heavy workloads and it is important to brace yourself and take breaks and plan ahead.”

Dr. Ruth Chestnut, biological sciences instructor, said she tries to spread assignments out and put time-consuming grading earlier in the semester.

“The way I get everything done is by losing sleep,” Chestnut said. “My last test is on Thursday afternoon, and I have to turn in the grades by Friday.”

Chestnut said the biggest problem is people wanting to change their exam to a different day.

“I’d tell you what, if students could just learn the material because they wanted to, then we wouldn’t even have to have finals,” she said.

Dr. Annette Samuels, assistant journalism professor, said, “What I do, since I have a pretty sizable student body, is spread it out over a few days so I’m not overwhelmed, or else I would go crazy.”

“I really don’t believe in pushing things too far and try to schedule it so I am not overwhelmed,” Samuels said.

Onestak pointed out that the same procrastination problems plague students and professors.

“Some stuff applies to both professors and students. If faculty have not prepared, then they are going to have a greater experience with stress,” Onestak said.

Desiree Collado, a junior family consumer sciences major, said the hardest part is being ready to be done with the semester and forcing yourself to study even though you’re ready to go home.

“I start studying in advance so when it comes down to finals week I just have to review,” she said.

Other students take a different approach.

“I’m graduating, so I try to go to Marty’s as much as possible and sometimes I even bring my books,” said senior speech communications major Katie Cavaretta.

Amanda Martinez, a senior journalism major, said she gains more confidence going into the test after studying gradually.

“I start taking notes a few days before the test and study little by little,” she said.