With finals on the horizon, student stress levels at USC are at a peak — many Trojans feel overwhelmed and burned out.
“Burnout” affects about 80% of college students, with 40% of them being overwhelmed to the point that it is difficult to function. As is the case at many high-ranking universities, students at USC feel pressure to maintain top grades. In fact, in 2010, USC was ranked the 18th most stressful college in the country by the Daily Beast. It’s safe to say that as the school’s acceptance rate has since gone down, the stress rate may well have gone up.
“I feel like every semester I’ve experienced burnout,” Reshma Ramesh, a senior studying public relations and finance, said. “Usually, it’s long nights in the library not sleeping a lot. And then sleeping for an entire day to make up for the lost sleep.”
Many students feel like USC’s finals are significantly more intense than the exams they take throughout the rest of the year.
“I feel like midterms aren’t really midterms,” said Samantha Salamoff, a junior majoring in theater. “They’re kind of just spread out, but I feel finals just make it a lot worse.”
She said that time management becomes a lot more difficult toward the end of the semester when many students are left with “all these projects that are piling up at the same time.”
Taylor Grant, a student majoring in music industry, agrees. She added that the uncertainty of post-graduate plans can add to the stress level this time of year.
Physical activity, meditation and getting enough sleep are some of the ways students manage stress and prevent burnout. While USC offers campus support resources, such as Trojans Care for Trojans (TC4T), students have also found their own outlets to manage their stress as finals approach.
“I like to, honestly, go to the beach,” said Nora Alzahid, a graduate student studying public diplomacy. “The sound of the water and then just the sand is a good way to think about things. That helps a lot.”
Nora is not the only student who finds herself drawn to the outdoors when she’s stressed. Salamoff also describes taking breaks between her classes to sit down and enjoy nature. “There’s so many trees here and many places to sit,” she said.
Other students, like Grant, rely on “brain breaks” to limit stress levels during finals season.
“Maintaining a balance within your life in general and keeping it at a homeostasis level is probably the most beneficial thing,” she said. “So that you [can] reach your full potential.”
Students are also finding other ways to cope with stress.
An employee at the 901, a popular bar for students on Figueroa Street, confirmed over the phone that there has been an increase in the number of students who have been drinking there “over the last week.”.
If you know anyone who is struggling with burnout or stress, Trojans Care for Trojans allows students, faculty, and staff to submit anonymous forms so action can be taken to support students. USC Student Health also offers 24/7 mental health care for students.