Finally. Sometimes I thought it would never come.

But, you see, here’s the thing. Although I’m glad that the work is almost over and I’ll be going home to four weeks of zero academic responsibilities, at the same time, I don’t want it to end. My first semester of college has been very good to me – albeit stressful much of the time – and I wish it could last just a little bit longer. I don’t know what the future holds (a lot of work, I imagine), so I’d rather stick with what I have now – great classes, some semblance of a social life, and experiences that I’ll never forget with people whom I’ll always cherish. Though I would like to skip those final exams, if you don’t mind.

Of course, time waits for no woman. This semester won’t last forever, which I suppose is a good thing for some. It’s time to start looking ahead to January and my second semester of college. Armed with three months’ worth of knowledge on how to handle the college life, I should be able to breeze through the spring without too much trouble. Right?

Well, the more I think about it, the more I start to believe it might not be that much of a cakewalk. There’s the second (and infinitely more difficult) introductory film analysis course I’m taking next semester in which I must get a B+ or better to even apply for the film studies major…yikes. And the English class I’m taking is rumored to be unusually heavy on the reading; while I do love to read and the syllabus looks incredible, I don’t want Thomas Hardy and Oscar Wilde to completely consume my life. Then there are the two science classes I’m obliged to take in order to get my distribution requirements out of the way. Me + science/math = a very sorry equation.

Okay, so the academics are still going to be tough. But, hey, what else can you expect from an institution of higher education? Classes aside, at least, the next semester should be easier to deal with. I’ve already adjusted nicely to life on campus, I’ve made a fantastic group of friends, and I’m involved in some extra-curricular activities that I enjoy. If I could survive the fall, I’ll be able to survive the spring.

I hope.

Maybe looking ahead this intently isn’t such a bright idea right now, when I have finals to worry about. But all my worries aside, I’m positive that the spring semester is going to bring with it some of the best experiences of my life. And warm weather…thank God.

What are you looking forward to most about starting a new semester of school?

Yep, I guess you could say I’ve been experiencing a bit of a time management crisis.

I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later, since I’m pretty compulsive when it comes to my work and I have a hard time saying no to an extra-curricular opportunity. But, then again, it seems counter-intuitive that I, a devout non-procrastinator, should have trouble budgeting my time. Aren’t procrastinators the ones who usually feel the crunch when 500 pages of reading come crashing down on them at 3 in the morning? Since when does actually completing all the work assigned to me do more harm than good?

On the verge of a meltdown and a stress-induced chocolate binge, I turned to my college-grad-turned-medical-student brother for advice. I told him what my weekly schedule was like and asked what – if anything – I’m doing wrong. Much to my surprise, he told me that I’m actually doing much more than is necessary to do well in my classes.

Huh??

According to his – erm – medical advice, skimming readings here and there doesn’t hurt, nor does skipping some readings altogether when I just don’t have time – prioritizing, basically. It turned out that I was also studying far more than necessary for my exams, starting my review two weeks in advance in some cases; although I was getting good results, I could’ve cut my study time in half and still have done as well, as long as I had a structured and effective study plan. He also suggested that I cut back on my dozen or so extra-curricular commitments, at least until I get my bearings in college and can balance my schedule better. It was difficult for me to do so, since I have an interest in pretty much everything my school has to offer, but I trimmed down my schedule until I was sure I could handle the load in addition to my classes.

I’m also discovering ways to maximize my working time and minimize time wasted. To keep myself from getting distracted while I work, I’ve been hitting the library without my laptop, since I tend to fall prey to the allure of e-mail/Facebook/Twitter even when I’m in my most intense work mode. Also, instead of going on the Internet multiple times throughout the day, I’ve started setting aside time in the morning and the evening for that business so that I’m not breaking my focus every twenty or so minutes. That’s been the hardest habit to kick, given my love for being wired every second of the day, but it’s been paying off in efficient studying.

Still, there are certain weeks when I find that everything seems to be converging at once. An English paper due here, a history research paper there, an article for the paper and an exam to study for and a club meeting – all going on in the same weekend, usually a weekend that is also hosting the opening of a student play or a concert that I’m dying to go to. That just seems to be the nature of college, though, and one of the many reasons I just love being here. At least now, thanks to a little help from my bro, I’m better equipped to handle these tougher times.

What are some of your own time management tips for the busy college girl?

With my midterm exams finally over, I’m taking this opportunity to do a little midterm reviewing of my own. Now seems to be the perfect time to reflect on the first quarter of my freshman year and to start looking forward to the rest of the semester, the next semester, and, well, just the future in general. As scary as that sounds.

When I first started counting down to college, I was doing so with a level of excitement you’d expect from a kid who has just eaten four bowls of sugary cereal. I couldn’t wait to get out of high school and show my stuff at an institution of higher learning, although admittedly, the idea of college itself was fairly daunting (living among 22 year-olds/life without Mommy and Daddy/doing my own laundry/etc.). Towards the end of the summer, the dream started to become a frightening reality. Was I ready? Could I handle college life? Would I get a roommate from hell?!

Then, college. Ahh, college. Orientation was definitely awkward at first, but a few weeks into school, I was absolutely loving it (and, of course, I still am, in spite of all the reading I have to do for class tomorrow). I got extremely lucky and quickly became friends with my hallmates, and as classes started, I began developing friendships with people who share my passions, understand my sense of humor, and appreciate my personal brand of insanity. Weekend movie marathons and game nights became my weekly rituals.

Then, there’s school itself. Although I’ve never worked so hard in my life, I really love what I’m studying. My professors intimidated me at first with their brilliance and extensive vocabularies, but I soon discovered the keys to doing well in their classes and getting the most out of each lesson. And now that midterms have come and gone, it’s back to the daily grind for the remainder of the semester.

Course registration for the spring semester, however, is proving to be more of a burden than I expected it to be. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be so concerned about it, but my ambitious nature is forcing me to plan out the rest of my college career by five o’clock next Monday. I hope to double-major in English and film studies, which is possible to do at my school but requires a lot of advance planning. Which is why I have Post-Its and spreadsheets all over my desk with potential schedules for each and every remaining semester I have at college. It looks like a tornado ripped through my room, sparing all but my poor desk.

Since this is a midterm review of my college experience to this day, I suppose I should assign a grade to it. I’m in a pretty generous mood, so I’ll give it an A. It really has been a wonderful start so far, and I look forward to seeing how the rest of the semester – as well as my collegiate life – unfolds!

To the current college students out there, how would you grade the first half of your fall semester?

[Photo courtesy of asymptotia.com]

Just get creative (and a permit from public safety)!

Here are a few ideas on how to have some extraordinary (in a good way) fun on Friday and Saturday night, based on things my friends and I have done or aspire to do at some point this year. Although it’s always nice to have a plan in mind, I’ve found that the most spontaneous things end up being the most enjoyable, so don’t be afraid to just go with the flow when the sun goes down!

Screen a musical outside and have a massive sing-along

A couple of weeks ago, a program house on campus screened Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and the musical episode of Buffy on the porch. If you’re a techie (or have friends who are), you can gather up all the theater geeks and have your own musical screening on the side of your dorm! Just be sure you have the necessary permits to do so.

Set up a bowling lane on your hall

This one’s really easy. All you need are assorted shampoo bottles/hairspray canisters and something that rolls, and there you have it – a bowling alley! If you want to raise the stakes, have a tournament for prizes, or simply for bragging rights. Not that knocking down a few bottles of shampoo with a grapefruit is that impressive, but it’s still something, I guess.

Have an old-school slumber party

Remember those elementary school pastimes of making prank calls to guys and stuffing your face with candy at a friend’s sleepover? Since college is technically one giant sleep-over, why not have a night of nostalgia and junk food (minus the confining sleeping bag/pretending to be snoring when someone’s mom comes down to check on you)? Play “Never Have I Ever” and “Truth or Dare,” and if you’re really bold, play a prank on your next-door neighbor. It’ll be even easier if they’re falling-over-themselves drunk, so you’ll get twice the hilarity out of less effort!

BAKE!

Even if you’re really bad at baking (like me), take advantage of the empty common kitchen and bake some cookies, or brownies, or both! The ends will definitely justify the means, no matter how frustrating the actual process is. Plus, who can resist sampling (read: wolfing down) fresh cookie dough? It certainly can’t be worse for your health than what’s cooking at the dining hall.

Host a marathon of a TV show

Yes, I know, watching DVDs gets old after a while. But when you’re trying to squeeze an entire season into an evening, things get interesting very quickly, usually by the eighth straight hour of viewing. If you’re really ambitious, screen a season of 24 in one sitting. I’ll personally shake your hand if you accomplish in one day.

Play the Wikipedia Game, extreme edition

I mostly use it as a procrastination tool, but I imagine it can get competitive with enough spirited people involved. You also might learn a thing or two from it, and isn’t learning what college is all about? Am I right? …hello? Bueller?

Oh, wait, that just might be me.

So, my college firsts? Some of them I remember vividly, and others, not so much (but not for that reason – really, Mom, I swear!). Maybe a trip down my four-week-old college memory lane will help joggle my sleep-deprived brain.

First meal

I don’t remember what or with whom I ate, but I do recall being totally daunted by the dining hall. My school’s main dining hall has fifty billion different lines criss-crossing all over the room; while I understand the system now, on the first day, I was clueless. I’m sure wasn’t the only one stricken with trepidation, but who would openly admit feeling totally lost to a bunch of unfamiliar people? Well, now I admit it. I was paralyzed with fear by a freaking dining hall. Laugh if you must.

First reading assignment

The first assignment I read was a “short story” (i.e. a rather long piece masquerading as a short story) for my English class. Heeding my professor’s advice, I annotated the sh*t out of it, but when I was through I had absolutely no idea what I had read. A second read revealed to me that it had been some bizarre satirical story, but for a good half-hour, I was reconsidering whether or not I was ready for college.

First weekend

Improv, Apples to Apples until 2 a.m., movies, and snack food. Lots of snack food. Not a bad way to spend your precious time off.

First paper

I’m going to preface this by stating an odd fact about me: I love to write papers. I don’t know why, but there’s nothing like constructing a badass argument and refuting the crap out of the opposition. So when I wrote my first college paper on the symbolism of a particular character in Jane Eyre, I had the time. of. my. life. And I got a good grade! Since college courses consist mostly of writing papers, I guess I’m good to go for the next four years.

First moment of pure nerdery

See above.

First all-nighter

I feel asleep around 3:30 a.m. Yeah, I’m a lightweight. But I succeeded on the second try! Not that I’m proud of it or anything…

First late-night snack impulse

I had a bag of Pirate Booty, Goldfish, half a box of Mallowmars, and a string cheese. I actually do this all the time at home, but it’s a lot more acceptable when it occurs in college.

First exam

…is today, actually. Film history. Wish me luck!

I can also safely say that I’ve learned quite a bit about college life from my experiences so far – or at least enough to help me survive the remainder of the semester. So take out your laptops and notebooks, because there’s going to be a quiz on this stuff next week:

1. I love freedom!
For the first time…ever, really, I have the power to make my own schedule, write my own rules, and run my life the way I want to. This new-found freedom was a little overwhelming at first, since there was so much to explore on campus and only so many hours in a day, but I’ve found a comfortable rhythm that allows for flexibility when necessary. For example, I usually hit the books after dinner, but if there’s an Apples to Apples game going on in the lounge at the same time, I’m so there.

2. College dining usually sucks, but the soft serve machines rule.
Even if the food isn’t always wonderful, you can always count on the soft serve machine (and sugar cones!) to cheer you up at the end of a disappointing meal. Seriously. I want one for my room.

3. The best discussions are to be had outside the classroom.
I’ve been involved in many deeply intellectual class discussions, but nothing beats spontaneous jam sessions with my hallmates or lounging on the lawn talking about the cultural implications of Disney movies. Staying up until 3 a.m. discussing the intricacies of the universe with my friends is far more rewarding than reading the confessions of St. Augustine. (No offense, Augustine.)

4. You + hilarious friend + quiet library = bad.
If you go to the library to do work, sit as far away as possible from your friend who can make you laugh with just one look. Don’t ask questions, just do it. Learn from my mistakes.

5. When it comes to reading, divide and conquer.
Yes, yes, I know. Procrastinating is much more fun. But I’ve found that if you take that 400 pages of reading you have this week, break it up into smaller chunks, and do a little bit of reading each day, you’ll retain the information better and won’t go insane from cramming for 30 straight hours over the weekend.

6. Professors can make penis jokes, too.
At least, that’s all my film professor does during his three and a half-hour long lectures. I suppose he gets just as bored by the material as we do.

7. In college, a capella is considered a sacred art.
I don’t know why, but a capella seems to be purely a college phenomenon. If you try to start an a capella group in high school, your peers look at you funny. But when your college a capella group sings N*SYNC’s “It’s Gonna Be Me” in an eight part harmony outside the dining hall, you become campus gods (and goddesses).

8. Make friends with plenty of guys so you can borrow their clothes for the gender-bender party.
Just make sure the guy you loan your clothes to isn’t so big that he’ll stretch them out. Don’t learn this the hard way. Rest in peace, favorite sweater.

What new things did you learn about college during your freshman year?

When real-world guys just don’t do it for us (like when they string us along and make us think they want something only to send us an IM saying they’re not looking for something serious….Sorry, I’m bitter), we love to escape to our favorite TV shows and live vicariously through the ladies with great boyfriends, even with all the baggage and dramz. There’s just something about leading men that makes us go crazy with adoration/jealousy/excitement/OMG-THEY-FINALLY-GOT-TOGETHER!

Oh, and the guys on TV are usually so. damn. cute.

But with all the amazing TV shows out there and their equally amazing hunks, how do you pick one to swoon over? I know, it’s a tough choice, but this guide might help you decide which boy is right for you:

Warning: Possible spoilers ahead if you’re not caught up with these shows!

If you like…a bad boy with a heart of gold:

Jess Mariano (Gilmore Girls)

When Jess first arrives in Stars Hollow, it’s obvious that he and Rory are going to collide somehow. And when they finally do, after a tumultuous season full of romantic tension, it is awesome. I’m extremely biased, but Jess is, and will forever be, the ultimate TV boyfriend. Sarcastic and mysterious, yet intelligent and (in his own way) caring, Jess is simply the ideal man. Who can resist a leather jacket-clad guy with a Hemingway novel in his back pocket?

Ryan Atwood (The O.C.)

At the start of the series, we get a taste of how bad boy Ryan is going to shake up the posh community of Newport Beach, California that leaves us begging for more. He meets Marissa Cooper, the girl next door, and thus begins a whirlwind romance. Ryan eventually steals Marissa from her banal beau Luke, and our hearts sing when they share their first kiss. Although he comes from a troubled past, he’s really a sweet guy with a caring heart underneath it all.

If you like…a loveable geek:

Seth Cohen (The O.C.)

Seth Cohen made being a nerd a cool thing when the show first debuted. From Batman comics to Dynasty Warriors video games, Seth just screams geek. And yet, Summer still falls for him, as do we all. It’s inevitable, really; he’s sweet, sensitive, and is just too damn cute to resist when he starts rambling. Plus, a Spiderman-style upside down kiss? Isn’t that every girl’s fantasy…and not just mine?

Jim Halpert (The Office)

It’s a familiar story: two best friends who have feelings for each other and, after a long, tormented struggle, finally get together and live happily ever after. Somehow, the writers of The Office managed to skillfully weave such a fairy tale storyline into the mockumentary aspect of the show. They also managed to make Jim absolutely perfect while still grounding him in reality. He’s smart, funny, adorable, and a total sweetheart, even if he is a bit on the dorkier side. But, like Pam, we love him that way!

If you like…the artistic type:

Lucas Scott (One Tree Hill)

Whether you wanted him to end up with Brooke or Peyton, you have to admit that Lucas Scott is one fine specimen of a man. He may have been an athlete in his high school heyday, but in his heart he’s always been a writer. He has the brooding artist thing down perfectly – and it never fails to make us swoon! It’s no surprise that three women on the show (plus the millions of fans out there) all want a piece of him for themselves.

Charlie Pace (Lost)

What is it about a boy with a guitar that drives us crazy? Well, if he’s Charlie Pace, we have other reasons to swoon like mad. It’s easier to overlook his troubled past when you see him with Claire, caring for her and for Aaron as if he were his own son. In addition to being a brooding artist, he’s a real sweetheart. And the accent…oh, that accent!

If you like…someone out-of-this-world:

Max Evans (Roswell)

Roswell may have been a short-lived and little-known show, but the romance between human Liz Parker and alien Max Evans was cosmic in scale. Imagine dating an alien with amazing powers such as healing! Not to mention the complex inner-workings of Max Evans that made him a completely human character in a different way. He’s shy and quiet, more of the sensitive type, and completely in love with Liz. If only I had a guy like that! I could watch the pilot’s opening scene over and over…

Bill Compton (True Blood)

The recent vampire trend has graced both the silver and small screens with un-dead hotties. (Editor’s Note: Anyone else think those two words would never be strung together in a sentence?) But the hottest of them all has to be Bill Compton of True Blood. Besides being, well, gorgeous, he’s a well-mannered gent who dearly loves his human girlfriend and will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Sure, his language is a bit antiquated, but he can’t help it; he was turned into a vampire when he was a soldier in the Civil War. And I happen to think his old-fashioned vocabulary adds to his charm. I don’t know about you all, but he could call on me any time he wants to!

If you like…a guy who’ll make you feel good better:

Derek Shepherd (Grey’s Anatomy)

McDreamy truly lives up to his nickname on Grey’s Anatomy. He’s a charming, handsome, intelligent doctor – and, conveniently, a bachelor (after his divorce goes through, of course!). Meredith really hit the jackpot with Derek, even if she doesn’t always realize it. Their relationship is proof that something good can come of a drunken one-night-stand, although you have to make sure to go to the bar near the hospital where all the doctors hang out.

Christopher Turk (Scrubs)

Turk and Carla’s romance on Scrubs is often overshadowed by Turk and JD’s bromance, but if you look hard enough, you see a sweet love story. Turk may be somewhat of a buffoon (especially when JD is in the picture), but at heart, he’s a great guy and loves Carla. Plus, a sense of humor is an absolute necessity when it comes to a guy. Turk has plenty of it, so if you like to clown around with your man, he’s not a bad choice at all. He can also be quite sentimental when the situation calls for it.

If you like…a party animal:

Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl)

When it comes to Chuck Bass, you either love him or hate him. Although he often is a disgusting pig of a man, you have to admit that he has style. Chuck Bass parties only with the best, so if you’re sole purpose is to have a good time, get on the guest list to one of Bass’s bashes. If he likes you, he’ll make sure you have the time of your life. In fact, he’ll guarantee it. Oh, did you feel that shiver down your spine?

This is nowhere near an exhaustive list of the best TV boyfriends. Who are some of the guys you’d like to steal from their leading ladies?

Try telling that to my wobbly knees and trembling hands.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m totally excited about going to college. But, at the same time, I’m nervous as hell. My type A personality is rearing its ugly head in the form of innumerable “what ifs” and “holy sh*ts.” While most of my friends have been counting down the days with New Year’s Eve-esque anticipation, I’ve put a 24-hour ban on talking about college in my house and can hardly look at my suitcase without having a mini-freak out.

For me, it’s a combination of doubts, fears, and just plain nostalgia. Going to college is a huge deal for me, perhaps more so than it is for many of my peers. It’s my first time being away from home for longer than a five week stretch, and since I’m generally a homebody and have a very close relationship with my family, the idea of going from seeing them every day to seeing them once every few weeks is hard to deal with. Plus, I have the general anxieties that I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling: coping with the workload and stress, making new friends, living on my own.

That being said, I’m also very excited for the new opportunities ahead of me. I know that, once I get settled in, I’ll find my niche and have the best four years of my life. It may take a couple of weeks, but I’ll find my place eventually.

Do you current college students and grads have any advice for an anxious prefrosh?

The New York Times is a journalistic institution, arguably the best newspaper in the world. So to see it scraping at the bottom of the barrel for stories – especially in the always over-hyped Education section – is disconcerting, to say the very least.

The Times recently published an article about colleges remaking the college tour. You know, rattling off facts and figures while walking backward (and skillfully avoiding tree root death-traps). However, the article focuses not so much on the content of the tours as the way the tour guides walk – backwards, as is traditional, or forward, the direction in which many colleges are now heading (no pun intended).

The article does explain how colleges are abandoning the fact-based approach in favor of anecdotes and personal experiences, but the bulk of the story is about the merits of walking forward on a college tour versus walking backwards. Isn’t this the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever read (well, besides the Times’s investigative report on hugging)?

According to Jacques Steinberg, the author of this article and a well-known higher education guru, “Driving the overhaul of the campus tour is colleges’ desire to provide visitors a more natural, spontaneous and, ideally, engaging experience — and to relieve mothers…of the nagging worry that their guide might…fall backward over a bicycle rack.” If the article had focused on the first part of that statement, it would be a unique angle on a rite of passage we all went through during our junior and senior years of high school. But Steinberg only skims the top of that issue and instead emphasizes the walking aspect of the tour.

Like the tour guide’s walk is what I assessed the most when I looked at schools!

When I was looking at colleges, a lot of things went through my mind. How accessible are the professors? How is the campus life on the weekends? How’s the food? The last thing on my mind, for sure, was the direction in which the tour guide walked.

Steinberg notes that the number of students visiting Hendrix College in Arkansas has increased greatly since 2006, and the number of applicants to the school has also gone up. But how can you attribute that to the changes made to the tour? Isn’t it possible that Hendrix is just feeling the effects of the upward trend that has affected numerous schools across the nation? My university received 22% more applications this year than it did last year, but the tour guides walk backwards!

The Times must really be desperate for news, because now it is resorting to making up news. I may be a lowly journalism student, but my advice is to stick with that you’re good at: reporting the news in the best possible way rather than creating it. In college tour lingo, I’m guessing that translates to moving forward as opposed to moving backward.

While flipping through the channels last night during primetime, I discovered the real reason why our favorite shows go off the air during the summer: to make way for the sh*tshow that is summer television, which leaves us begging for The Office and House come September.

It’s the perfect advertising strategy: cut off the supply of good shows, and the viewers will demand that the season premiere of Grey’s Anatomy be moved up several weeks. But it’s absolute torture for the rest of us.

That is not to say all summer TV is bad. True Blood and Mad Men are perhaps two of the greatest shows on television, period, despite the fact that they premiere during the summer. But take a look the other night’s TV listings, and you’ll want to cringe along with me: America’s Got Talent, Big Brother, More To Love? Nothing even halfway decent to watch!

My DVDs are the only things keeping me going. When I find that there’s just nothing good on TV, I’ll pop one of my favorite shows in the DVD player and pretend it’s fall sweeps. Of course, maintaining the same level of interest and excitement becomes difficult after a while, especially since I’ve watched the third season of Gilmore Girls so many times that I can recite it all the way through. But when the reality shows start gearing up in the evening, I need something else to escape to.

So I spend my evenings researching when my favorite shows will return. Here’s what I’ve got so far.

So You Think You Can Dance: September 6th
90210: September 8th
Gossip Girl (woohoo!): September 14th
30 Rock: September 15th
The Office: September 17th
House and Heroes: September 21st
Grey’s Anatomy: September 24th
Desperate Housewives: September 27th

Oh, sweet September. I can’t wait to see you.