Why Study Days Matter

The Spring 2026 finals schedule puts students at a disadvantage, offering insufficient prep time due to poorly timed study days. Study days typically give students time to prepare for exams on days when classes would take place. This year’s calendar falls short in that regard. 

Study days are essential for academic success. Students will testify that it’s not necessarily the material that makes finals week difficult, but rather the rapid succession of exams that causes havoc. Often placed before and between finals, study days give students some breathing room to prepare for their next exam. This is especially helpful when one has multiple finals in a day.

However, the 2026 academic year finals schedule misses the mark: Finals begin on Thursday, May 14, and end the following Wednesday, May 20, with no study days in between. The placement of the three scheduled study days is not ideal: Friday, Sunday and Wednesday before finals begin on Thursday. The vast majority of students don’t have class on Friday, and Sunday is always off. In other words, instead of scheduling more study days during the school week or between finals, the administration picked two days when students would already be studying without having to attend classes.

Additionally, study days typically mark the end of regular classes before finals begin. This year, since study days are scheduled so early, there are two days of scheduled class when students would typically have off.

YU has to offer a minimum number of school days under New York State law, which complicates the scheduling of the academic calendar. The early timing of Shavuos this year further complicates the schedule; however, the nuisance persists. Once finals begin, the only day without scheduled exams is Shabbos.

This follows a general dissatisfaction with YU’s academic calendar. I was troubled after learning that the semester break for the current and next year would only be 10 and 11 days, respectively. Winter break is crucial for students to recover from finals. Without adequate rest, they enter the next semester burned out from the previous one, which can negatively affect academic performance. 

The positive side of YU’s academic calendar is the guaranteed accommodation for the Yomim Tovim. I couldn’t imagine having exams at a secular college during Sukkot or Pesach. That doesn’t, however, excuse YU from scheduling its calendars to better suit students. 

Next year, YU is set to begin classes on Aug. 30, even though it can begin a week earlier on Aug. 24. If classes started this year on Aug. 25, why can’t YU start next year on the 24th, thereby saving a whole week that can be allocated towards the semester break? Starting school in the last week of August is unlikely to affect anyone’s summer plans, as most internships, camps and summer programs would have finished by then.

The administration balances many factors when planning academic calendars, including students’ needs, professors’ needs, state regulations and Yomim Tovim, making it impossible to satisfy everyone. However, it’s important to remember that the academic calendar has a tremendous impact on a student’s academic success. It can allow a student to rest during winter break or start the next semester feeling burned out. It can provide students with sufficient study days between finals or cause them to be overwhelmed with back-to-back exams.

It’s in YU’s best interest for its students to thrive. Properly placed study days can significantly boost academic performance and reduce unnecessary stress. Dedicating these precious days to Friday and Sunday a week before finals even start is not an effective use of this tool. I hope the administration will address these concerns when creating the next calendar.