“I only got the jitters when I hadn’t studied enough.”

Nicole Joller, Assistant Professor of Immune Regulation

“There are people who get downright sick at the thought of exams. Luckily it was never that bad for me. Sure, I got nervous at times – and of course especially when I hadn’t studied enough. I specifically recall one exam that went particularly poorly for me: Organic chemistry. The exam was written by a new professor. He had given us a practice test, but it turned out to have very little in common with the actual exam. Fortunately I was able to make up for it by completing other modules. This experience taught me important lessons for my studies and later for my professorship. Being well-prepared doesn’t just mean studying enough but also knowing how an exam will be structured – for example, for oral exams – and knowing what material you’re going to be tested on. If your preparation is on point, you can show up to your exam with a clear conscience and say, ‘This is going to go well. I can do it!’”