Goal

Create a realistic plan for preparing for midterms and finals, including study strategies, support systems, and time management.

Mentoring skills used (from Peer Mentoring Framework)

Self-awareness, emotional intelligence; people skills (active listening, authenticity and vulnerability, trust-building, inclusion, communication), building supportive relationships (encouragement and empowerment, peer coaching, role modeling); navigating campus resources (advocacy, campus engagement, campus resource knowledge)

Suggestions

  • Share your own experiences navigating midterms and finals at Elon University.
  • Offer to review study plans, help them think through priorities, or be an accountability partner.
  • Connect them to campus resources (Learning Assistance, Writing Center, Teaching Assistants, Supplemental Instruction).

Discussion questions

Let your mentee know you’ll be focusing on academic goals and preparation for upcoming exams.

Academic & personal goals

  • What do you hope to accomplish academically this semester?
  • What goals do you have for midterms and finals (grades, performance, or effort)?
  • What personal goals are you working toward alongside your academics?

Study strategies & habits

  • What goals do you have for each of your classes?
  • Do you use different study strategies for different types of assignments (exams, essays, projects)?
  • Do you know what your midterms will look like? If not, how could you find out?
  • Where and how do you study best (location, time of day, alone or with others)?
  • What tends to distract you, and how can you manage those distractions?

Motivation

  • Why is doing well in school important to you?
  • Are you more motivated by avoiding stress or achieving success?
  • Do you feel more driven by internal goals (growth, pride) or external ones (grades, expectations)?
  • If things go well this term, how might that impact your future motivation?
  • If things don’t go as planned, what will help you stay motivated?

Time management

  • What tools or strategies are you currently using (planner, calendar, to-do lists, reminders)?
  • What’s working well for you? What isn’t?
  • Are there strategies from high school you could adapt to your current schedule?

Action steps

  • Identify 2–3 specific academic goals for the next few weeks.
  • Create a simple plan for preparing for midterms (study schedule, resources, accountability).
  • Choose at least one campus resource or strategy to try before your next meeting.