You will agonizingly weigh pros against cons: “I’ll focus so much more out of my comfort zone”/”But what if that guy who sings along with his iPod sits next to me?”, “I’ll have access to all of the books I might need”/ “But WHERE am I going to park?”, “I’ll escape my roommate’s detailed story about last night’s hookup.”/ “But I might have to listen to the same story if I sit next to an obnoxious group of girls.”

You might make the decision, ultimately, to pack your belongings for the day or evening and reluctantly trudge to that haven of Starbucks, guilty Facebooking and stress ridden speed-reading. Or you might opt to keep your PJ clothed butt right where. it. is — sometimes the best decision. When you need to get studying done, but don’t have time or patience to commute to your campus library, just remember these helpful hints and you’ll be on your way to an A++ (oh yeah, they give those. To SPECIAL PEOPLE).

Nix the Noise. Some of my friends swear by rocking out to their iTunes while they run flashcards or do algorithms, but unless you’re rocking out to Bach, music is only going to detract from your attentiveness. If you feel overwhelmed by silence and need that background noise, keep your playlist tuned to soft, slow songs that you know by heart (so you won’t be pondering the true meaning of Jason Mraz lyrics instead of your philosophy textbook.)

Absolutely turn off the TV. Again, I know the noise in the background makes some people feel like they’re more alert, but eventually something is going to catch your ear or eye and will momentarily take your focus away from whatever is you’re studying. Even those 3 seconds will throw off your train of thought and make it more difficult to get back into your study groove.

Get Chunky. The most effective way to study and retain info is to study in 20 to 50 minute segments, then take a 5-10 minute break before your next chunk. I personally like to up the chunky ante by adding a little bit of “monkey” and grabbing the biggest spoon I can find…no one wants to learn on an empty stomach, am I right?

Feng Shui. Okay, not necessarily literally (although if you must, you’ll need sharp leaved plants, a cactus, wind chimes and windows to your left), but by creating a space that allows you to comfortably focus you’ll be a lot more productive. Your best bet is sitting at a desk. Make sure your chair is comfortable with a high back and isn’t too high or low for your writing surface. Eliminate clutter. If your desk doubles as a vanity/DJ table/cocktail bar/ or art canvas, clear away anything that isn’t VITAL to your studying (pretty much everything but a lamp, your book, computer, paper and pencil). Now settle in and crack those books.

Get Comfy. Don’t snuggle up in your favorite blanket or tuck yourself into bed (remember Feng Shui!), but allow yourself to get ready to settle into studying. Get a headband or clip if your hair is going to be in your eyes. Turn your air up or down to a comfortable temperature. Have water nearby and change into something comfy (the best part of skipping the library is avoiding the people watching—take advantage of this and rock your flamingo boxers if you must).

Turn Off Your Phone. If you can’t bear to do this, put it on silent and someplace where you can’t see it. Even if you don’t plan on responding or answering, a missed call from a friend can leave you distracted, thinking about them or wondering what they were going to tell you. Opening texts will definitely throw off your concentration, and stressing about answering will take your focus off your assignment. Just lose the phone for a few hours and your studying will go smoother and quicker.

Plan Your Schedule Accordingly. Set aside time to study for specific classes. If you have 2 or 3 really difficult classes, schedule regular time to read and review (not just before a big test or paper). The best time to study is during daylight hours, and the earlier you start, the better off you’ll be. Plan on setting aside at least 2 hours of reading or reviewing for each hour that you spend in class. Stay up to date by having assigned reading done one class in advance—not after the date on the syllabus, which is probably when you’re going over it in class.

Shying away from the library defies the picturesque image of a college bookworm, but don’t let that influence your study habits. If it is simply more effective for you to study in the comfort of your own home or dorm room, just stick to simple study tips and you won’t have any issues with your test—or noisy neighbors, overly-caffeinated Shakespeare enthusiasts or closing time at your campus library.

Adderall is many things. A relief for people with ADD and ADHD. A gift from Heaven (or that sketchy guy in your Bio Lab) for people with impending exams. An extremely effective (if not the healthiest) way to drop 5 pounds. An aid for those wishing to rage all night without the use of illegal narcotics. An incredibly un-ethical method of cheating.

Wait, what?

Yes. Adderall is our generation’s answer to the cheat sheet. It’s powerful, stealthy and available to only a select few. The exclusivity of this drug lends an unfair advantage to those who take it without being prescribed it. As a drug that was created to level the playing field for people who had trouble concentrating due to a DISORDER, it is now used to gain an edge in academia by people seeking to boost their learning capacity.

People like me.

As a frequent user of Adderall as a study aid (I do not have a prescription), I constantly enjoy the benefits of this unfair little pill. Do I need it to concentrate? No. But it sure helps me re-read entire textbooks and write 10 page papers in one night and feel great the next morning. And judging by the pill’s popularity among my classmates (and among my friends who have nabbed prescriptions and sell their extra pills for spare cash), Adderall is pretty much as commonplace as Starbucks at my campus library.

But how does this affect the structure of a competitive university setting? If the people who actually need Adderall to concentrate have no answer to my magic pill, aren’t they just back where they started–scholastically disadvantaged to those without ADD or ADHD? And what about those who can’t find or afford Adderall (the going rate on my campus is $3-5 a pill for 30 mg time release capsules. That adds up when you need 4 in one week)? They’re screwed over by those of us who have access to the drug; and while their academic performance wouldn’t suffer because of mine, if my grades were superior to theirs simply because I used Adderall to boost my ability, it’s cheating.

Why then, do I continue to use something that– in addition to being illegal and unhealthy– I consider to be thoroughly unethical? Because I know my classmates sure as hell aren’t going to stop using Adderall, and I don’t want my GPA to pale in comparison to theirs. I don’t want to place lower on a skewed curve. I don’t want to lose this unfair advantage.

What would you do?