Entering the Brandeis libraries at this time of year, you’re more than likely to see the building overflowing with people in all directions. Surprised that everybody had the same idea as you, you might settle for the last seat available on a couch in front of Starbucks or somberly retire to your dorm room to study in solitude. Sure, the library is a hotspot for socializing and productivity alike, but why exactly is it that there always seems to be such a surplus of people within its confines at all hours of the day, whether it be morning or even up to its closing at 2 a.m.? 

As you may have guessed, the answer to this question is, unsurprisingly, finals season: a period of time where thousands of students, different in many respects, all suddenly become united in purpose and goals when late November rolls around. Though the same lively ambience and chatter can be heard throughout the library as at any other time of year, it’s clear that many have realized in this final stretch that it’s time to get their affairs in order and completely dedicate themselves to their academics from dawn to dusk. 

A few days ago, watching my friend continue to fervently study and labor over schoolwork even after we had been kicked out of the library for the night, I began to wonder if the immense academic pressure that cyclically burdens each and every student through November and December is really conducive to scholastic success — or necessary at all for that matter. Undoubtedly, this high-stress, goal-oriented environment elicited by finals can be detrimental to students' mental health. However, I’d still argue that it would be an oversimplification to call this organization of testing outright good or bad. 

Focusing on the cons, it’s difficult to overlook the individual costs and the mentally taxing impacts of such a seemingly high-tension time in the school year. In my experience, it can be difficult to maintain a social life, interests or extracurricular commitments when it feels like you’re doing a disservice to your future self by not spending every waking moment studying, doing homework or completing some group project; even when doing something you enjoy, it’s no less difficult to take your mind off of the debilitating feeling of anxiety that you should be using your time “more practically.” Additionally, the concept of final exams has been criticized for putting too much weight on cumulative knowledge, putting even greater pressure on students to perform well, as these tests can be worth as much as a quarter of a class’s grade. In that respect, perhaps it would be better if courses focused grades on smaller assessments dispersed over the course of the year to decrease the weight of final exams and give students a greater peace of mind. 

While the pros of said tests might be less obvious, these exams still hold value. For example, by concentrating all acquired knowledge into one test, students have the opportunity to prove their understanding of the course’s content once and for all, allowing for less studying in the long run and focusing it all into one narrow time frame. Whether or not that involves sleepless nights and existential dread, this period of stress is fairly short and offers sufficient preparation time regardless of its relatively brief duration.

In general, it's also important to recognize that exam scores do not mean everything — there will always be other opportunities to work towards bettering your grades and your academic performance in the future, and no person should equate their value as a person and a student to their grades or GPA. That is not to say that you shouldn’t strive to perform as well as you can, regardless of personal interest in a course’s contents; however, this dedication should not come at the expense of your wellbeing or life outside of school.

Perhaps there’s room for growth in how final exams are administered and for addressing the harm they can have on the student body’s mental health and quality of life. Meanwhile, keeping in mind that change towards course structuring and exams is not coming anytime soon, make sure to prioritize your personal well-being and don’t be afraid to reach out to any on-campus resources, friends or family as we navigate these academically arduous last few weeks of the semester.