Dear Professor,

Now that in-person classes have been cancelled and the semester is almost over, I am thinking of heading to my hometown to study for and take exams. I am nervous about making a change and am worried that it will throw me off. Do you have any thoughts on whether this is a good idea?

Sincerely,

Student

Dear Student,

I, personally, always liked to try new places to study because it helped to prevent burnout. However, I think there are a number of questions you need to answer before you decide on the best location to prepare for and take exams. More specifically, evaluate your answers to these questions:         

• Will you have access to all of the technology you need (printers, screens, etc.)?

• Will going to your hometown disrupt your workout or sleep routines?

• Are there any additional stressors (e.g., strained relationships or any family/friends who won’t respect boundaries for study time)?

• Will access to food/meals be more or less convenient?

• Will you have all of the resources you will need (e.g., books, outlines, other course materials, highlighters, tabs)?

• Will the environment be more or less interrupted or distracting?

I hope answering these questions helps to guide your decision. Finally, know there isn’t one *right* answer. The right answer is the answer that works best for you.

Wishing you all the best!