Well boys and girls, it's that time of year again! No, not Halloween; what I'm talking about is much more terrifying, includes a lot more tears, and a hell of a lot more caffeine: Midterm Week. I do see how you could mistake the two though, considering this week turns all students into zombies. The blank stares, rumpled clothing, and frequent sounds of despair? Those are just some of the exciting things Midterm Week has to offer. So, get your coffee ready and your notebooks prepped, because you're about to go through the five stages of grief (more than once, I might add) to get through this week of Hell.

1. Denial

*Looks at class syllabus*

*Looks at date on phone*

"Well, sh*t!"

No matter how many times you experience them, midterms always sneak up on you. Always. One week they seem so far away, and the next you're sitting in a classroom with a little blue book in front of you wondering how you got there in the first place. You'll say "there's no way it's Midterm Week" (even though it is), you'll ask "when did it become October?" (even though it's been October for some time), and you'll make the last desperate statement "this calendar must be wrong" (even though you know it isn't). At some point, you'll no longer be able to deny the sad truth: Midterm Week is upon us. And then, and only then, do you move on to the next stage.

Warning: Some people never make it out of the denial stage. Don't be one of those people. 

2. Anger

That nice, calming feeling you get when you stop denying the obvious? Yeah, that pretty much flies out the window when you realize just how much your professor expects you to know for the test:

*Sitting in class*

Professor: "For the midterm, you will need to know chapters 1, 2, and 3..."

You: "Okay, that's not so bad-"

Professor: "...as well as chapters 4 through 50, everything I've ever said in this class, and the overall meaning of life."

*Cue tears*

But don't worry, those tears will disappear when overwhelming anger fills your body. You will curse your professor's existence as you study late into the night. Fun, right?

3. Bargaining

You may be asking yourself, how does bargaining apply to Midterm Week? Well, when you're days into studying, suffering from hunger, exhaustion, and a lack of hygiene, you'll start bargaining with yourself. For example, you'll allow yourself to take a food break when, and only when, you finally memorize a page of notes. Tired? In return for studying your class notes, you'll give yourself an hour of sleep. It may seem crazy, but it happens. You'll want to move past this stage quickly, trust me.

4. Depression

At some point in your unending studying, you'll lose all hope. You'll convince yourself that you're never going to pass your midterms and that studying is hopeless. You're going to feel like crap, and you're going to look like crap; that's just the effect Midterm Week has on everyone. But at some point, you'll get fed up with yourself, force yourself into a shower (because let's be honest, Midterm Week is not the most hygienic time out there) and just replay the mantra "Cs get degrees" in your head.

5. Acceptance

Welcome to the last and final stage. After all the bullsh*t you've gone through, the day of your midterm is here. You walk into class, take out your pen, and get ready to slay any question that comes your way. You have finally accepted your fate; you are ready to conquer Midterm Week.

Of course, you could always just wing it to save yourself all this torment. Whatever you choose, Happy Testing!