It's that time of year again; the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and...finals are approaching. To some, it's a relief to be so close to three or more months of freedom. For others, it's an unwanted wake-up call to do the work that they've been slyly avoiding all semester. The following are just a few signs that finals are near enough to strike fear into even the most apathetic college students.
1. Everyone is trying desperately to boost their class grades (and GPA)
Suddenly, the people that don't even know what textbook is required for a class are actually reading in preparation for the final. This is a phenomena that occurs only twice a year, and is followed by them swearing up and down that they'll never wait until the last minute again. You know that they definitely will do it again, but don't say anything in an attempt to show support.
2. Coffee consumption rates skyrocket
For 99.9% of the student population, coffee is the glue holding our lives together. And as studying goes later and later into the night, you better believe everyone is in desperate need of caffeine. Suddenly, everyone you see on campus is holding some kind of coffee cup or mug in their hands and all you can think is same.
3. Every student on campus suddenly has a look of desperation in their eyes
Do you have a final paper/project that you've procrastinated on until the night before? Join the club. At the end of the semester, it seems that everyone is trying to find the best way to fit 20+ hours of work into about 8; then, while feeling dead inside after doing this, we promise ourselves it'll never happen again. That is, of course, until you're doing research for a paper and instead fall into an Internet rabbit hole.
4. The number of times a day you contemplate dropping out more than triples
Sure, you've done all of the work for the class for the entire semester and you're doing fine, but it's so hard to make it past the last few weeks when all you can think about is sleep. Sometimes, it just seems easier to quit than have to study for one minute longer; that is, until you remember how much you've already spent on tuition this semester.
5. People start begging for extra credit
Ah, the two little words we all love (and let's be honest, need) to hear: extra credit. With only a few weeks left to pull those 36's up to at least a C, everyone is desperate for an opportunity to boost their grades. Most don't even care that the professor explicitly said "Don't come up to me at the last minute looking for extra credit." It's better to try and not succeed than to never have tried at all, right?6. Sleep becomes a distant memory
At times like these you just have repeat the sacred college student mantra, "I'll sleep when I'm dead." That, or when your GPA isn't in serious danger. Whichever happens to come first.
