Syllabus Week (n.)
Unofficial term: the first school week of the new semester, during which professors often hand out a class syllabus; time spent on an overview of the course to come; little to no work is accomplished
A new semester means new classes, new professors, and new syllabi. The "Syllabus Week" phenomenon occurs only twice a year for the college student, but it is arguably the best week of every semester (aside from a few major holidays). You're going through a rare week without any serious material, so you can fully enjoy everything that college has to offer without the stress.
Here are the five main things to love about Syllabus Week.
1. Limited Thinking
You're fresh off of vacation and the higher functions of your brain probably haven't been tested recently or vigorously. Fortunately, syllabus week means that you only have to comprehend the overview of the course to come--not any of the actual material. Ease your way in and hope that you'll understand it all later.
2. No Homework
Well, technically your homework is probably to read over the syllabus. Odds are good that you already skimmed it in class, so you're basically done with that.
3. Checking Out The Class
There's no actual material to pay attention to, so what better way to spend class than by scanning your new classmates? You've gotta pick out the cuties ahead of time so that you know who to strategically pick for lab partners.
4. Checking Out The Professor
Unfortunately for most, this phrase won't apply in the same way as above, but figuring out your professor's style and attitude early on is important! Is it a seminar or lecture, do they give essays or tests, and can you daydream in this class or can you actually dream in this class? All of these are important to gauge.
5. Free Time
Limited/no complex material + limited/no homework = plenty of extra time on your hands. Did you forget to order any of your books or buy supplies? Don't sweat it--you have all week to get them and weeknight parties are perfectly possible.
Syllabus week is a time of limbo that is every college student's dream realized. It always comes and goes too quickly, but this coveted week is the epic high that starts a semester which is destined to end in the epic low of finals week. You only get eight Syllabus Weeks over the span of an average undergrad career, so be aware of this special time and use it wisely!
