Chill.

We know that the end of the semester is rapidly approaching. We know that exam season is upon us. We know that there are deadlines. We know. And just as you are stressed for time, so are we. But bombarding us with tests, quizzes, and assignments is only hurting us more. Yes, they are last minute grade boosters than can make or break us, but we are already at the breaking point, so they do no good.

On top of being burnt out from a full semester of work, homework piling up, deadlines, having a job, social life, extra curricular activities, etc., preparing for 3-5 tests that last week before Thanksgiving is pure torture. Taking multiple tests a week is already bad enough, and all of those tests during finals are enough hell, but these are understandable. It’s college so it is going to be hard. But there is no point in giving us pre-exams before the exams. It’s insane!

Just as you feel pressured to get some final grades in, we feel twice that stress. Just imagine this: you are struggling to get enough grades, so you assign approximately 1 hour of homework per lecture day, and a test for the end of the week, requiring approximately 3 hours of studying. This is understandable from your point of view, its only 4 hours for the week, maybe 7 at max, but this is just for one class. And lets say that I (your student) am taking 15 hours, and all of my other professors have this same idea.

That is 5 classes requiring 7 hours of extra work per class. That is 30 hours. Not to mention, 5+ hours per two days just for classes, working approximately 10 hours per week, meals taking about 2 hours per day, and sleeping for 8 hours a night, not to mention any other activities taking up a part of our day. That leaves us about 3.5 hours per day to shower, exercise, and any other activity that we are involved in, on top of preparing to go home for a week. That is not nearly enough time. Plus, having 5 tests a week and less than two weeks to prepare is absolutely absurd. Not to mention most students average about 12-18 hours per semester. This is impossible.

Work smarter, not harder Doc.

Why do you want to make yourself do twice the work you normally have to, creating an additional test and spending your Thanksgiving break grading them just to create another exam within that week or the next? Instead of spending a week having to grade 100+ exams per class and being miserable, spend that time sleeping in, watching some football, reading a book, gaining 10+ pounds on that Thanksgiving dinner, yelling at your family, doing more less-miserable things before tormenting yourself will 100+ exams to grade over Christmas break. Think about yourself and the relaxing time you need over this restful week.

Overall, if you’ve made it this far in this letter, please remember your poor, exhausted students who are just trying to get a degree in order to live, and don’t torture us with multiple tests on the week before Thanksgiving. We are tired, our brains are fried, and this type of punishment is inhumane.