"WHY AREN'T THEY UP YET?!"

Your stomach has been churning since you walked out of your last exam. You know the grades are curved, but you also know that leaving the last essay blank is not going to bode well on your overall score. You talked to your friends in the class and compared answers. You’ve flipped through your notes again and again. You’ve attempted to calculate your score in your head.

And now you just have to wait.

You pack your bags to head home. Then you check your grades online. Nothing.
You take a cab to the airport. Then you check your grades from your phone. Still nothing.
You check them again as soon as you land.
And again after you kiss your mom hello and drop your laundry in the laundry room.

Still nothing.

You know that there is no way the professor is going to get the tests graded in the next few days so you attempt to forget about it. You don’t want to think about grades anymore, anyway. You’re on break, the test is over and there’s nothing you can do about it now, dammit.

And then you sit down to dinner with your parents and before you can say “Pass the ketchup,” your dad turns to you and asks, “How did finals go?”

“I don’t want to talk about it right now, OK? My stupid professor isn’t going to post the grades for 2 weeks anyway and I did my best and there’s no changing it and that last question was so absurd. No one got it. I swear he never went over that thing once. And now I probably got a C in the class and my entire GPA is ruined. Why do you always have to nag??”

Your family goes silent.
Then someone changes the topic and you move on.

After dinner you check your grades again. Then again before bed. You wake up in the morning thinking about the test. You check your grades again. Still blank.

You try to keep busy – wrapping presents, watching TV, meeting up with home friends – but you still can’t stop thinking about it. You log in again and again. And are disappointed and stressed again and again.

Finally,  during your routine wake-up-and-check-your-grades-while-you’re-still-in-bed, you see it. That little space under to “final grade” has a number in it. A number way higher than you were expecting. You pump your fists. You do a little dance. You email everyone you know in the class to see how they did (but make sure to tone down the enthusiasm in case they bombed…). You run downstairs to find your parents.

Then, for the first time in weeks, you relax. Winter break and weeks free of studying, papers and exams can now officially begin…

Dear Tuffy Luv,
I’m pretty sure you already answered a question like mine but I couldn’t find the answer, so here goes. I’m a high school senior applying to college and I’m having a bit of a problem with my safety school. It’s brilliant: great nightlife, safe area, amazing dorms and has a course that I love. One bad thing though: it’s my hometown. The dorms are down the road. The campus is a 10 minute drive from home. Not that I don’t love my hometown and my folks, but isn’t college my one chance to become independent and get a little space? When it comes down to it, I want to be able to stumble home drunk at 2 a.m and not have to worry about seeing people I know on every street corner.

Would staying in town for college be a waste of an experience? [Ed. Note: No! Just ask our commuter student!]

Should I apply to a worse school just because I don’t want to stay in my town? I mean, my folks think I should stay in dorms (and I will) but still. Any advice would be lovely

- Confused about College

Dear Confused about College,

Well, I’m more of a relationship columnist, but…well, I really like your question. So, okay, I’ll come at this from the angle of forming new (and dealing with old) relationships via college, yes?

Yes, a major function of college is to have new experiences. You may indeed feel the need to “stumble home drunk at 2am” (although, if you do, and this goes for ALL OF YOU, please NEVER NEVER do it alone!!! Stumbling in any condition at 2am anywhere is not safe enough to go it alone!!!), and certainly that is harder if you’re worried about running into people.

But, look, you’re certainly not gonna bump into your parents on campus. So that’s a plus. And I think it’s really great and supportive of them that they want you to live in a dorm even though the school’s so nearby. It’s cool that they want you to have new experiences without them.

This leads me to believe they’ll probably kinda leave you alone. So you can check that off your list of worries.

As for running into people you know from, say, high school–well, they’ll all be busy having their own new experiences. I doubt they’re gonna care what you’re doing, just as you probably could give a shoop about what they’re doing out at 2am.

Who knows? You might even find that, outside the context of high school, someone you’ve known for years and never connected with could be really cool. Old associates often become new friends.

And, honey–if it’s a good school, that, honestly, is more important. Don’t go to a worse school just to avoid old neighbors! Seriously, girl. You got a good head on your shoulders. Go to a good school and use it!!! Besides, it’s your safety school, yes? You may not even end up there.

Here’s to hoping you get into your first choice and have all the exciting, brand-new, branching-out experiences you crave and deserve! (WHILE, of course, maintaining your GPA!!!!!!!!)

Hearts & Skulls,
Tuffy Luv

Need more Tuffy Luv? Check it all out here!

"Ok, so I'll do all the work and you'll take all the credit. Sound good?"

It’s the start of a new school year and to honor that, we at CollegeCandy are bringing back the fan-favorite series, “We’ve All Been There.”  (We tried to get another national holiday/long weekend for you guys but it’s way harder than we thought so this will have to do.) Every week, Lauren – University of Michigan will comment on the common experiences all college women share – like the first day of classes or trying to figure out if that boy is crushin’ too. Read, relate, cringe and enjoy.

Your midterm is assigned and not only is it a group project, but you can’t even choose who you’ll work with. Your T.A. reads off your group of four then gives you the last half of the class to discuss your ideas. You pull your desks together in a mini-circle and start the introductions.

It only takes you five minutes to realize that this group is not going to work.  Between the kid who’s only showed up to class twice and the girl who speaks maybe three words of English, it’s going to be a disaster.

With only two weeks to complete both a four-page paper and a 5-minute presentation, you need to get to work quickly. The group spends ten minutes coming up with a topic and the next twenty trying to find a time to meet that works for all of you. Unsuccessfully. One kid holds an on-campus job at the library, one girl is heading out of town for the weekend and you all have 3 other midterms that you need to somehow complete.

The rest of the class starts packing up and – seeing a giant D in your near future – you decide to take charge.

“Ok, we’re going to break up the work. We’ll each take a portion of the paper and we’ll put it together at the end. Then we’ll use class time next week to write up our presentation. Good?”

The group agrees – most likely because they don’t want to spend another second in this classroom. You get everyone’s email address, divvy up the sections of the essay and go on your way.

You do your research and whip up your part of the essay the night before the next class. Only when you show up you learn you’re the only one with anything done. The boy doesn’t even bother to come, one girl was too busy to get her part done and the girl with the language barrier? You’re not even sure she understood the assignment.

You freak out. You only have a week left and half of today’s class to get the project done. While the T.A. drones on about that week’s reading assignment you zone out, thinking about your grade. “WTF? How is it fair that my grade depends on the other people in this group? I’m gonna have to do all the work myself. And then they’ll get my A? Ugh. But what else would I do? Let them ruin my GPA? I’m not gonna get a bad grade in a class this easy.”

Finally, she stops talking and you’re given the rest of the class to work with your group. Unable to count on anyone to get anything done out of class, you decide to use the time to write a script for the presentation. You’ll just do the paper on your own later. Do you want to? No. Do you have the time? Barely.

Do you trust these idiots to do anything worthy of your academic standards? Yeah right.

Thirty minutes is not nearly enough time to finish your presentation so you try once again to find a time to meet out of class. And, again, it’s a big, fat fail. So, again, you offer to collect everything via email and send out a final document before the big presentation next week.

You spend your entire weekend writing the paper, sending passive-aggressive emails to the group to get their stuff to you, taking the crap they wrote and turning it into something worthy of a passing grade and complaining to your roommates. Then you put it all into a Power Point with some fun clip art (Clip Art makes everything look better) and beg everyone to meet you 10 minutes before class to go over the plan.

When everyone finally shows up – even MIA Boy – you explain everyone’s parts to them. You run through it once, then, of course, get called on first to present. You turn in your paper to the T.A., take your place with your group and pray everyone in your group knows how to read aloud.

The presentation goes well (obviously – you did the entire thing) and a week later you learn your group has earned an A. All four of you.

Yeah, we’ve all been there.
Why anyone is still assigning group projects in college is beyond us too.

Got some college questions? Unsure of a decision? Worried about rooming blind this Fall? Just wanna chat it up with some really awesome chics?

Question:
Next month will be my second year at my new college. This past semester I didn’t do anything fun. I was miserable and studied the whole time. I came out with a 3.8 but no new friends. How can I balance schoolwork and get out and meet people at the same time?

GPA Girl:
Story of my life . . . haha, no, just kidding. Well, sort of. I also studied almost all the time, but so did my friends, so I think it evened out. You are perceptive to realize that you need to strike a balance between your social life and your academics, and it’s wonderful that you place both things as such high priorities right now. Friends and relationships from college are just as valuable (and often more valuable) than the grades you get there, so I wouldn’t want to see you miserable but acing every test for another semester. Have you considered signing up for some clubs, activities, or intramural teams? Busy Bee might have more to say about that. Don’t go overboard and start attending every single thing on campus, but going to events that feature your hobbies is a surefire way to meet new people who share the same interests. If you can manage to get on the e-mail lists for a bunch of different campus activities, you can pick and choose those that fit with your schedule and start meeting people that way. Also, it’s totally possible to meet new friends and study at the same time. Ask interesting people from your courses to form a study group, or ask your current friends to study with you on a standing weekly date and bring their friends along as well. Go out for dinner or coffee beforehand and chat with the new people who come along. Good luck!

Party Girl:
Believe it or not, I was once in the same position as you are now. However, as you can see, I got through it (with flying colors, if I do say so myself). The trick is time management. Since my dorky days, I’ve become an excellent planner. In fact, I always have a planner with me. Seriously – that thing has saved my life (well, my social life) on more than one occassion. I decided that studying couldn’t dominate my life anymore, so I made out a strict schedule of classes, study times, and “break” times. I kept everything separate from each other (no drinking while studying and certainly no studying at the bar) and after a while, it became second nature. Of course, there were a couple times where I had to give up a sweet-ass party to cram for an exam (and times when I blew off a night class to catch Happy Hour). There’s always gonna be some give and take during college (despite my prayers, there’s no way you can get a 4.0 and binge drink every weekend). Hopefully, it won’t be all give this year for you!

Busy Bee:
Girl, I know EXACTLY how you feel. Sometimes we are so caught up trying to get amazing grades and beefing up that resume that we often forget about our social lives. I don’t know what your college is like, but at my school, it’s hard to make friends because people are always bustling in and out of class. In addition, I didn’t live on campus my first year of college so I missed out on the late nights and campus diner experiences. If you are living on campus next year, try getting to know your floor mates well. Also, make it a goal to befriend at LEAST one person in each class. That way, even if you don’t become BFF’s with them, it’ll be nice to have someone cover notes for you on days you want to sleep in. Plus, studies say that more friends mean better grades!

To answer your question, the best way to balance school work and friends is to understand time management. Know your capabilities – how much work can you do before you burn out? How much time can you allot for friends before you start stressing about unfinished school work? If you know your limits, then you can successfully study and party.
Lastly, understand that not everyone you meet will become your best friend. There are some interesting characters you will meet in college. Whether or not you make “friends” is not the big deal – just focus on getting yourself out there, meeting people, and knowing which hang-outs are worth your time.

Oh…and sometimes “fun” doesn’t have to mean hanging out with people. Sometimes, it’s allowing yourself shopping days, exploring the city, or finding a hobby that you absolutely enjoy. Just make sure you plan ahead and give yourself a much needed break sometimes!

[We're following one post-grad as she grabs that diploma, packs up her college life and heads on out to the big, bad world. There's a lot of change comin' her way and one big challenge: The LSAT.]

So, it’s crunch time. From this point on until October 9^th, my life is really about one thing and one thing only – the LSAT. Of course, I will still have everyday life to live, but from this point on my post-grad life really is going to be dictated by what I am convinced to be as one of the most evil tests in all of existence.

And I’ll be the first to admit – I am terrified. I’m absolutely shaking in my Rainbow flip flops at the thought of one test having so much power over my life.

You gotta do what you gotta do though, right? And what I have to do is do well enough on the test in October, so I don’t have to take it again in December, and come out with a score that satisfies me enough to get into a good law school for Fall 2011 admissions.

A lot is riding upon this exam. If you aren’t familiar with the whole “getting into law school business of admissions,” the LSAT is the end-all-be-all factor in admissions. According to Top Law Schools.com, “Your undergraduate GPA and LSAT score are the two most significant factors that admissions committees look at. The fact that a four hour standardized test carries as much, if not more, weight than four years of classes should tell you how important the LSAT is.” Yikes!

I realize the importance though, so as my dad likes to say during business calls when he’s serious about taking something to the next level: “It’s time to bring out the big guns.” First things first, I have enrolled in a Kaplan LSAT Prep class that meets one to two times a week for three and a half hour sessions – taking me through every single question that I could face on the wicked test. It is going to be intense, with hours of homework and test prep, but Kaplan promises that with their help and a lot of hard work, students will be successful with their program (in fact, they guarantee it or you can get your money back or take the class again for free).

With my faith in Kaplan, I have come to realize that I need a lot of faith in myself too. Since a lot of my practice and studying will be outside of class, I need to rely on myself a lot. Taking the LSAT and going to law school was my decision, and I want to be successful in it, but I can’t help but be a little intimidated. That’s normal, right?

Although I may be a little scared (OK – a lot, but it’s kind of like first-day-of-school jitters … I’m sure it will cool off after I attend my first class tonight and actually take a full exam), I am very happy that I decided to commit myself to this. A lot of post-grads are so unsure of what they want to do, so knowing what I want to do and knowing how hard I have to work makes me feel grounded in a situation that has had me feeling like I’ve been dangling six feet off the ground. But even though I feel like this experience will keep me focused and grounded, it doesn’t mean it won’t be hard. In fact, I think this is going to be one of the hardest and trying things of my life.

With that said, it’s time for me to face my biggest fears on the post-grad journey: Ready or not, here I come!

Got some college questions? Unsure of a decision? Don’t know what to do this summer? Just wanna chat it up with some really awesome chics?

Question:
You girls seem to know what’s up with college. I’m transferring from a community college to a big college. I start with the summer term in a few weeks (I thought it would help me with my transition if I gave myself some extra time.) I’m really scared because I’ve never lived away from home and this is very different from what I’m used to from my current school. I want to know if you have any advice? Like, if you could tell me 3 things I should know, what are they?

Party Girl:
First of all, congrats on leaving the nest! That’s a big step and it definitely takes some balls. As for the advice, I can only say that going to a “big” college after community college is going to be like life in technicolor after living in black & white (a la Dorothy). Everything is going to be more intense: the classes, the drinking, and the lifestyle. There will be more opportunities to party and make friends at every turn – take advantage of them!!  If I have to funnel my advice into three bullet points, it would be these:

1) Fight the urge to hermit. Get a drink in your hand and your ass on a dance floor.
2) Study. I frequently forget to do this myself, so it’s good to remind yourself that going to a big college is more than just a huge 4-year speed dating event.
3) Live on campus. Even if it’s just for a semester, to really experience your new school you have to live on campus. Plus, you get an automatic in for any campus parties that most people living off campus don’t even hear about.

Busy Bee:
Know that the first few months will definitely be the hardest. You will feel tempted to call your mom every single day, book a flight back to your hometown every other weekend, and flood your friend’s walls with, “OMG IMY!” It’s normal, but you’ll get over this phase as soon as you start meeting new people and finding fun things to do.

Which brings me to my second point: busy yourself! I guess that only sounds right coming from me, but it really works. To get your mind off of homesickness, don’t be afraid to hang out with new people, find out which eateries are the local hot spots, or get involved with this new community. Go ahead and explore this new territory! That also includes scouting out some hotties around town.

My last piece of wisdom would be to take this time to learn more about yourself. Seeing that you might not hit it off with every new friend you meet, you’re going to have to be very independent. That means going grocery shopping by yourself, making your own dinner, and finding out what’s cool in town. If you’re not one to enjoy alone time, then take every opportunity you have in class to meet new people! Scary at first, but all you gotta do is say hi and ask them where they got their cute shirt from. Have fun, be daring, and enjoy the “big college” experience!

GPA Girl:
Girl, it sounds as if you are totally prepared! You’re giving yourself extra time to adjust and everything–very responsible. I know how you feel because I was also very scared and overwhelmed when I left home for the first time. If I had to give you three pieces of advice, I think these would be it:

1. Just because you’re living away from home doesn’t mean you can’t be connected with home anymore. Call your parents and your siblings, visit every month or two, and stay in touch with your friends from home and your community college. Write them e-mails and letters (yes, the old-fashioned kind). Send packages and cookies.
2. Take advantage of what your new, big school has to offer. I bet your community college didn’t have as many opportunities for fun extra-curriculars and places to bond with other students. Join any activity that looks interesting, even if you know next to nothing about it (there’s no obligation to keep going, after all), and try to find people with whom you have things in common.
3. Don’t neglect your classes. It’s possible that the work at the big college will be tougher or more time-consuming than it was at your community college, so it’s great that you’re trying to prepare now. I really believe that a solid academic foundation will also provide you with a solid foundation in other aspects of your life, so work hard and do well. Ask questions, review the material, go to office hours, and be really interested and engaged in what you’re learning. Good luck!!

I mean seriously, I just cannot devote any of my (precious) time to appreciating teachers today. Sorry. Nope. Not gonna happen. Not when I’m  running on little to no sleep, am elbow-deep in research papers, and my blood caffeine content is higher than my average BAC on mug night. We stretch ourselves so thin trying to be perfect for teachers, studying so we can get an A, then promptly forgetting all the material. We really make the most of our education, don’t we!?

Nope. But at least there’s one professor, at one school, that knows what’s up.

According to Duke University’s Cathy Davidson, “I can’t think of a more meaningless, superficial, cynical way to evaluate learning than by assigning a grade. It turns learning into a crass competition: how do I snag the highest grade for the least amount of work? How do I give the prof what she wants so I can get the A that I need for med school? That’s the opposite of learning and curiosity, the opposite of everything I believe as a teacher, and is, quite frankly, a waste of my time and the students’ time.”

You go girl…er…woman!

Davidson, clearly fed up with the current college grading process, is turning grading over to the students. In doing so, she’s found that the students feel more motivated to complete the work, which is reviewed, discussed and critiqued by two student discussion leaders at each class meeting. Her process is clear: you do the work, you get the grade. Not happy with your work? You can go back revise, and- you guessed it- get the grade. Furthermore, students can be more of themselves in their writing, rather than the thesaurus-happy intellectuals they pretend to be when trying to please other professors.

And it’s working! Students are actually learning, as opposed to half-assing assignments in order to get a better grade.

Davidson’s method turns learning from a dictatorship to a democracy, letting students have a say in their classroom experience and changing the dynamic between teacher and student, and that’s something we can all appreciate.

Now I just wish my professors, for whom I haven’t slept in 3 days, would take the hint…

Question:

Ever since I joined the business program at my school I’ve been overwhelmed with group projects. WTF? It’s college; doesn’t anyone know how hard it is to get people together in a group!? Anyways, I’m never good at this whole group thing because I always get frustrated and either start fights or take total control. I don’t like leaving my GPA in other peoples’ hands. I’m just wondering what you think is the best way to do group projects. Any tips? Advice? Ideas for working around the busy schedules of 6 people???

GPA Girl:

Okay. As someone who also despises working in groups, I can definitely sympathize. But I think you need to look at things from your professors’ points of view. Perhaps the reason they’re assigning group projects so often is because group work is vital in the business world. And people in the real world aren’t going to be any less busy than people are now at your b-school.

It sounds as if you have a commanding personality, which is a great for a career in business and for being a good group leader. I think you just have to channel your personality in a more positive way. You have the gift of being able to commandeer a group, so use it well! The next time you feel yourself starting to get frustrated and wanting to start a fight, just take a step back and do your best to shut out the emotional part of your brain. Focus on the logical (and, if you can, on the compassionate). What could you say that might be best in this situation? How can you work to bring people together and cooperate with all of them rather than isolating yourself by taking control? Trust me, you’ll be working with difficult people for your whole life long, so it’s best to start building an arsenal of tips and tricks ASAP.

As far as coordinating schedules goes, don’t be afraid to try the unorthodox. Skype meetings might be the way to go, or maybe you can delegate different tasks to different small groups, then meet together as a big group later and discuss everything as a team. That method could also cut down on fights. If all else fails, bring cookies to your group-work meetings. That way, no one will ever complain about you taking control.

Party Girl:

I have to say that I completely agree with you. My professor announces we are doing a group project and I sink down into the depths of my seat and silently weep. Unlike high school when you would lock eyes with your BFF and demand you partner up with her, group projects in college are wrought with difficulty. Everything from meeting with your group, to getting everyone to do quality work is the absolute devil.

But it is possible to be successful if you rule procrastination (my favorite pastime) out of the equation. Beginning your group project/meetings early will give everyone time to lay out an effective work schedule for meeting and getting the assignment done.  I have also discovered a lovely nugget of group meeting goodness called: Google Docs. Set up a free account on Google and your entire group can work on a Power Point/paper together, miles away. It really is the diamond in the rough of group projects, and members can work on the project during their spare time.

And, really, there is one good thing (besides that “A”) to come from group work: you get to know people in your class that you never would have spoken to otherwise, which could mean new friends to hang out with/grab a drink with after that dreaded project is finally done.

Busy Bee:

I completely understand! I never understood why anyone ever assigned group projects – they make no sense whatsoever. I’ve probably experienced every kind of problem there is with doing group projects (members decide to withdraw from the course and not answer any of our calls, members who “forget” what our group essay topic is the day before it’s due…sigh).

I’ve found that the best way to keep everyone on point is through Facebook messaging. I love how when you message 6 people at once, everyone gets the updates, and the previous messages are kept as well. This is the easiest way to make sure everyone knows what they need to know in an organized manner. As for schedules, I’ve usually asked for everyone’s schedule and found either an hour or two where everyone was free. In cases where absolutely no free time is available, just have half the group meet at a time. One half can take care of the logistics while the other half can take care of the presentation factors (or whatever division you want). Just make sure that before the due date, there is one day where everyone can meet quickly and ‘okay’ the final product. If that’s not possible, then make sure people have the opportunity to voice their opinions through your Facebook message thread.

Lastly, it’s okay to be proactive – just not overwhelming. Everyone is busy and there is a fine line between a friendly reminder and constant nagging. Let people know that if they don’t do their job by a certain date, they will face some sort of consequence.   Remember, give your group members the benefit of the doubt until you have reason not to trust them for following through. If they don’t do what they’ve been told to do, then alert your professor at least a week or 2 in advance.

Got some college questions? Unsure of a decision? Need some sober fun? Just wanna chat it up with some really awesome chics? We’ve got the girls for you. Hit them up in the comments or shoot them an email with the subject “College Q&A”! They’ve got all the answers you need, no matter who you are.

Question:

My professor is a complete jerk. He talks way too fast in class and I’m always completely lost. I have a big exam coming up so I went to office hours and he refused to help me. He claimed I needed to figure it out for myself. I’ve been trying! I can’t bomb this test (its 30% of my grade) so I don’t know what else to do. Ideas?

GPA Girl:

Wow, that’s incredible. It sounds as if your prof has a major chip on his shoulder for some reason. Luckily, I don’t and I have a few ideas for you. First, you might consider writing your professor a sincere, well-thought-out e-mail that expresses your thoughts tactfully and considerately. Let him know that his class really matters to you and that you are willing to work to figure things out, but that you would really appreciate some guidance from him. Another option is to track down the star students in the class. Are any of them your friends? Could they be bribed with chocolate or beer to help you study for the test and review the material?

Finally, if you still can’t get the help you need and your prof doesn’t change his behavior after you approach him again, I’d recommend writing a letter to your school’s dean or academic advising team to let the right people know about how your professor reacted when you asked for help. If you do badly on the test because of his refusal to help you, they may review your grade and modify it, or–at the very least–your actions may protect future students from having to suffer the academic consequences of your prof’s indifference.

Party Girl:

Throughout your college career, you will have awesome professors and terrible professors. This guy sounds like he’s giving the latter a new meaning and I’m definitely sympathetic. I’ve had my share of beastly instructors. However, you have some options. Even if this d-bag won’t help you, I’m sure some of your fellow students will be willing to extend a helping hand. After all, you guys have to suffer through the same punishment, right? Try comparing notes and seeing if you can fill any holes that way. Whatever book the professor assigned for the class should also help supplement his terrible public speaking skills. Try recording his lectures from now on and playing them back at a slower speed. If all else fails, go to his department head or the dean of that part of your school. They should know what a dick their employee is being. And, of course, if you end up stressed and woefully unprepared for this exam, then start drinking. Most things turn out okay if you just start drinking (right?).

Busy Bee:

OMG. What is his problem?! I guess we can’t rely on all professors to help us, so let’s just weigh out your studying options.

1. Study by yourself. I know it sounds obvious, but sometimes if you put your mind to it, you can really figure out what it is that you don’t know. For me, I try reviewing all the notes I’ve taken in class and creating a big picture diagram. If I know what it is that I’m ultimately trying to understand, it makes all the smaller, detailed pieces fit together. When all the detailed pieces become unclear (so what is the mitochondria’s function, again?) you can either hit the books or do some extensive research online. There’s tons of reliable sources to double and triple check your understanding. Also, flash cards have never failed me! But one of the most important things to note is that because you’re studying by yourself, you won’t be able to consult with someone else for understanding. As a result, make sure you are POSITIVE that everything is correct.

2. Study with a group. Now, this could be a hit or miss. Group studying, if done correctly, will allow you to better your understanding for the subject because you are supposedly reviewing and re-teaching it to others. If you go to a study group and end up gossiping about last night’s party, that won’t help. So a word of advice: you need to study with people who are serious about their grades! You guys will feed off of each other’s energy and there will be some good learning going around.

3. Consult another professor. I’m not sure what subject this is, but there are often a lot of professors who currently teach or have taught that subject. If you seek them out during their office hours, alert them about your issue, and then ask them for help, they may be willing to do so. You may not be their student, but your passion to want to learn might inspire them to help you out. Plus, they may know your professor personally, and can give you tips on how to survive the class!

I know it’s hard to get a good grade when the professor is such a jerk, but just try the best you can. You can also find out who’s taken the class before you, because they might know some ways around it. Either way, just prepare yourself to the best of your abilities…come test time, you might surprise yourself.

With the start of a new quarter comes the excitement of new classes and a new schedule. And new TAs. While my friends are frantically researching classes that both fill their requirements and leave Friday open, I’m zoning out at my desk dreaming (and praying) about a tall, handsome, smart, romantic, witty discussion leader.

One that I’ve never, ever had the pleasure of having.
I have, however, encountered a creepy TA that just would not go away, which seems to be more the norm than the exception. Here is my story:

I was a cute and innocent little freshman when this all went down. The grad student, let’s call him Jeff, was TA-ing for one of my history classes winter quarter. I’m a history major and have a natural love of history and hearing my own voice, so I was basically the ONLY person that ever said anything in section. But I always felt creeped out when Jeff looked at me. Especially those few times I wasn’t saying anything at all. I could see in his face that he wasn’t looking at me as the brilliant history mind that I (thought I) was; it was obvious he was thinking things a little – ew – naughtier. Being young and naive, I brushed it off and pulled an A in the class. Probably much easier than I should have.

The very next quarter – lucky me! – he was my section leader again. Awesome. The quarter went by pretty much the same as the one before it. And again, I pulled a very easy A.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! EWWWWWWW!!”

That’s me screaming in shock and horror as I opened a Facebook email from Jeff the next fall. Yes, 3 months later. He had friend requested me and I couldn’t really say no – I mean, what if I needed a letter of recommendation in the future!? The email was short. A little hello, a little “how’s school?” and a lot of “let’s get a cup of coffee and catch up soon.” I played it off well; “I’m too busy, blah blah blah, random niceties…” I clicked send and hoped that was the end of it; I was very clearly giving this guy the brush off.

But then I would see him at the rec center (la la la, Britney on the iPod, la la la, OH SH*T, hide hide hide!!), biking on campus (riding, riding, ahhh!, swerve, look busy, don’t attract attention to yourself!), while walking into class (dive belly-down into row of seats), and pretty much everywhere in between. I did a pretty good job of dodging him – he never approached or reached out again.

Or so I thought.

Earlier this quarter Jeff emailed me again. Rather than respond nicely, I finally just blocked that creeper. Of course, the next day, as I’m trying to get in and out of the history office super fast to avoid any potential run-in, I leap into the elevator and who follows me in? JEFF!

I was stuck. I smiled at him because I thought he knew exactly who I was and it was inevitable that I was going to have to make small talk with him. But no. He said hello to me, entered the elevator, and began chatting with another woman (presumably another TA). Did he know exactly who I was? Did my new haircut and 7lb weight gain throw him off? Whatever it was, I held my breath that whole elevator ride and then RAN out of it when it got to my floor.

That was the last time I saw Jeff. For now, at least. Who knows when that creeper will show up outside my window with a boom box over his head? Luckily the whole thing is over, but the entire situation just sort of creeped me out. There’s not much for me to do in a situation like this. I guess I could complain to the department head, but Jeff didn’t technically do anything wrong. The guy was just creepy. At the same time, though, the whole TA/student relationship is a weird one. We’re not that far apart in age, meaning that it would be totally acceptable for someone like Jeff to pursue someone like me in any other situation. And equally acceptable for me to give him a very stern “Leave me alone, dude!” when I wasn’t interested. But the fact that Jeff controlled my GPA (and my future) left me without much control and got this whole thing started in the first place.

So much for my hot TA fantasy.
Maybe next semester?

So, has anyone else been put in this oh-so-awkward position?
Any happy endings to TA stories?