Kaitlyn Richards ‘29
News Editor
As final exams at Holy Cross quickly approach, students across campus are preparing for the most stressful point in their academic semester. The weeks leading up to exams are filled with long study sessions, and group reviews, as students will consolidate months of coursework into one assessment. Academic advisors and campus resources emphasize that preparation, effective study strategies, and attention to personal wellness can help students manage the stress that comes with the important exams.
More than three thousand undergraduate students are preparing to complete their course work before they depart for winter break, and the Office of the Registrar has released the official exam timetable. This year, the study period begins on Saturday December 6, giving students a couple days to dedicate to studying rather than their courses. Exam dates are divided by the day in which students are taken in class on Wednesday, December 10. Exams will continue for the rest of the week with students’ final day taking place on Monday, December 15. Students and faculty can access the entire schedule by visiting the Registrar’s site on Ignite.
Some courses do not require students to complete the traditional exam format. Depending on the course and the department, professors may assign students final projects, presentations, or research papers to demonstrate students’ knowledge rather than exams. For example, many of the first year Montserrat courses complete presentations or papers assessing the students’ takeaways from the semester. The variations align with the college’s commitment to diverse learning approaches, and allow students to balance a combination of final exams and assignments.
A freshman student of the Class of 2029 shared “I am nervous for the final exam season as it is my first of many at Holy Cross. I am glad that my professors have taken time to prepare their students for their exam and are hoping for all students to succeed. I believe the final exams are a great way to demonstrate mastery to the professors but as always, they serve as a stressor for all students as many of my finals are twenty percent of my yearly average”.
Students are encouraged by faculty to utilize the resources provided to them on campus. If students are feeling nervous for their exams, they have the opportunity to utilize the resources of the Academic Service Learning Resources (ASLR), which offers tutoring in a wide variety of subjects to expand student success. Students are able to schedule appointments for tutoring directly through their website.
In addition to tutoring, Dinad Library and other student spaces accommodate late night studying. Group study rooms are in high demand, and students are making use of these spaces for quiet review. The library staff has also compiled multiple research guides to help students navigate research papers, or presentations during the exam periods. The spaces will fill quickly during exam season, therefore students must manage their time efficiently in order to ensure optimal hours of review.
Following exams, professors will have multiple days to finalize students’ grades. Final grades are scheduled to be posted by noon on Friday, December 19, giving students clarity about their academic standings before winter break commences.
Final exams mark the cumulation of the fall semester at Holy Cross, bringing together weeks of courseworks, projects, and papers. While students find the season to be stressful, the college aims at supporting students in balancing their academic requirements and maintaining well-being for following semesters. Students will return to campus following a restful break on January, 20, 2026 for an exciting fresh start as the spring semester begins.
Featured image courtesy of College of the Holy Cross
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