Final reviews for this semester are right around the corner. Are you a first-year undergraduate student embarking on your first presentation as an architecture student? Or are you a seasoned graduate student balancing school work, internships, and everything else in between? Regardless of where you are in your academic journey, don't let the stressors of finals overtake you.

Explore these seven Archinect Tips articles to help you find clarity and confidence as you prepare.

Facing a Jury and Presenting Your Work

You know your project better than anyone else, but is speaking in public holding you back from feeling confident in your project? Are you worried if your pinned-up work or model is missing something? Whether you're stressed about presenting your work, having a cohesive project to present, or facing a design jury, Archinect has you covered.

Archinect's tips for students preparing for thesis reviews and studio critiques

"What comes to mind when thinking about studio crits, guest juries, thesis reviews, and final presentations? For some, it's a blend of adrenaline, panic, fatigue, and perhaps a hint of excitement. Of course, everyone prepares differently and has their own 'method to their madness,' but it's important to realize that crafting a strong presentation is a mental and physical balancing act." Read more here.

The Architecture Student’s Presentation Roadmap

"If you’re an architecture student, then you’ve probably had to endure the daunting arena that is the critique, or the pin-up, or the review. Whatever it’s called for you, one thing is for sure: the quality of your presentations in school significantly impact how your work is received. Most students spend hours on their projects but then sell them short by not communicating them well to others. There’s nothing more frustrating than knowing you have a great project and not being prepared enough to help a professor or juror see that as well. Having a roadmap to guide you can provide just what you need to enter a presentation confident and ready for action." Read more here.

Archinect's Guide to Presentations, Part I: The Visuals

"A good presentation knows its audience. Does your presentation need to be ultra-technical, or can you afford the odd bit of humor? A good rule of thumb is to judge by technical propensity, or how much granularity your audience wants to see." Read more here.

Archinect's Guide to Presentations, Part II: The Lecture

"Just like planning out the look of your presentation, taking your time and planning ahead will take you a long way when putting together your script. Practicing again and again will give the polish you need to seal the deal. Take a few friends out for coffee and talk them through it. Refine your thoughts in the shower. Present again in front of the mirror, looking at yourself in the eye. The more you run through it, the surer you’ll feel about it." Read more here.

How to Face a Jury in Architecture School

"Effective communication is one factor of life as an architecture student, but another one is in how we face up to a jury of people ready to critique our work. It is something sure to cause most new students to melt in anxiety. The moments leading up to a review can be filled with uncertainty and worry. Standing in front of a group of people and presenting something we’ve created can be daunting, and we brood over the stamp of approval we yearn for. Our primary preoccupation tends to be a fear of looking bad, of not appearing smart, capable, and competent enough. And the need to be seen in this favorable light is what often encourages the uneasiness that swells within us. To fight this, we must modify our view of the jury and the part they have to play in our development." Read more here.

The Ins and Outs of Architecture Studio

The Architecture Student’s Guide to Studio

"Throughout your years in architecture school, one thing is always true — everything revolves around studio. It’s your living quarters for five years, where you’ll succeed and fail with a small group of comrades crazy enough to choose a career path in architecture. Studio is a kind of ecosystem we learn to obsess over. Every other class kind of becomes an afterthought. Your time in school is dominated by this phenomenon, and it comes with many cultural and social nuances, things that have been passed down year after year. In this article, we’ll look at some aspects that you, as an architecture student, experience every day, whether you’re aware of it or not. We’ll also explore some of the bizarre characteristics of studio culture and how it influences your time as a student." Read more here.

Balancing Studio With Other Classes

"In architecture school, everything takes second place to studio. It’s an unwritten rule: You do whatever it takes to have a great studio project, and if your other classes fall by the wayside, then so be it. Is this a well-placed tendency? Perhaps it depends on what we believe architecture school is here for: to make us great designers, or maybe to accurately prepare us to be a professional. In any case, should studio reign over our other studies? Is our propensity to prioritize it over everything else warranted? Or is there a bigger picture to understand?" Read more here.

Take Time To Reflect on the Fall Term

Back in September, Archinect crafted a list of things to keep in mind to help you start the school term on the right foot. Many of the tips mentioned in our 'Back-to-School' feature can be applied to help you make it through the end of the term.

As you prepare to close out the year, keep these quick tips in mind...

• Tip #5: Sleep and rest are very important.
• Tip #8: Listen to your body, and take care of it.
• Tip #9: Architecture studio is a place to experiment, fail, practice, play, and question.
• Tip #10: Remember to enjoy yourself.

Good luck with finals!

Have helpful advice and tips for students? Comment below.