So you tanked a midterm. Maybe it was a test that you studied hard for but surprisingly didn’t do well on, or maybe it was a presentation that you had little preparation for and crammed last minute. Either way, when the grades get posted, your self-confidence is down, anger may bubble inside of you and you may even give up on yourself.
But giving up is not the only option available to students. Different departments on campus offer free resources that students can use to manage their stress. From therapeutic and academic counseling to Wellness Center events, University of Oregon students have many options other than tutoring or long-term therapy.
Eric Garcia, a senior staff therapist at the UO Counseling Center, said that negative reactions to poor grades aren’t doing students any favors.
“Students experience a range of stressors both within their roles as students and their own personal challenges and responsibilities,” Garcia said. “These stressors can lead to harmful habits over time and eventually affect both the professional and personal lives of students.”
Unsure of where to start? Try the Counseling Center. Aside from therapy and additional resources, it also provides books for introspection, including “Coping with the Unexpected,” which reminds students to keep things in perspective, develop a game plan and manage their stress.
Anna Kulawiec, a peer wellness advocate at the Wellness Center, said that one of the department’s resources, the Duck Nest, is the place to go for students to regain perspective and manage their stress.
“We encourage others to look past daily struggles and instead focus on self-care, making sure that all of the work and stress doesn’t eat away at the individual,” Kulawiec said. “That’s why I love so many of our programs. … programs like meditation classes, yoga, and PAAWS [dogs at the Duck Nest] let students focus on well-being and fun.”
With events such as yoga throughout the week and different workshops every Tuesday, students have many opportunities to get the services they need.
After reflecting and regaining perspective, it is now time to face the material that was on your midterm. The Tutoring and Learning Center has you covered. Located on the fourth floor of the Knight Library, the TLC offers free drop-in help for math, language and writing.
Additionally, there are drop-in “study strategies,” Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 p.m., weekly pop-up support where students are encouraged to stop by with questions about time management, organization, reading, note taking, test preparation and more.
Garcia said it is up to the individual to regain confidence and perspective on their current situation.
“Oftentimes we ruminate over our stressors and self-critical thoughts, which makes it difficult to stay calm or focus on things we need to do,” she said.

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How to bounce back after tanking your midterm