Finals time is here

"Happiness and cheer"? I'm not so sure about that.

(Don't get the reference? Look here.)

I'm wondering what you wise tutors out there do with your tutees by way of helping them prepare for the wonder and excitement that is final exams. Some students, maybe even most of them, will continue to honor the age-old tradition of living in denial until roughly 12 hours before the exam begins and then cramming like they've never crammed before!  Others will take a more sensible approach, to be sure, but I think those others are probably in the minority. And it's hard to cast aspersions at them; after all, we've all been there. Many of you are there right now. Too much to do in too short a period of time, and many times our reaction is to head for the hills, at least for a little while.

When students sit down at your table overwhelmed by their impending final exams in subjects they are not particularly fond of, what do you tell them? What advice do you give? Is this a good time to bring up something new, like a new study strategy, or do you prefer the do-what-got-you-here approach?