Pulling 1/2 All-Nighters?

Question

Like staying up half the night, I'm studying for finals and I need to get through two subjects (math and science) in three hours. My biology final is tomorrow and my math final in Monday.

I still have plenty of material to cover .... are all-nighters unhealthy? Should I even bother trying to do them?

I work two jobs, so I have little time to study ........

Answer 1

I've always heard/read that all-nighters [or half-nighters] were not only unhealthy, but the lack of REM sleep prevents your brain from processing [and thus remembering/recalling] what you studied.
HOWEVER, I was "almost famous" for my all-nighters and I did fine in H.S. and college.
In grad school, I had a classmate who would nap right before the test with his textbook for a pillow. He, too, maintained 3.0+ grades.
Good Luck on your exams. If you've kept up with your assignments and attended even 1/2 of your classes, you'll do fine. Just don't forget to bring your common sense into the exam room with you.

Answer 2

All-nighters are common for college students. I wouldn't worry about doing that a couple of times a semester -- it isn't going to kill you. The problem is that you will be sleepy on the day of your exams and might not do well because you're tired. If you don't have much study time, it seems to me that a little coffee and some quiet time in the middle of the night might be what pulls you through, however. Without studying, you probably won't do well. Taking good notes during class is your best bet...that and getting the reading done! I almost always found that rereading my notes several times immediately before the exams helped -- there was almost always something on the test that I had 'forgotten' but remembered again as soon as I read my notes!
Good luck...you'll get through it!