I think that line is pretty blurry, especially in today’s world of technology and social networking. Professors are on Facebook and Twitter just as much as our peers. One professor that I was fairly close with asked us not to add her on Facebook until we graduated. I really appreciated that because even though we were friendly, she still had boundaries. She was only a few years older than us, so she asked us to call her by her first name because it made her feel more comfortable. You should only call a professor by their first name if it’s okay with them, and even so, if your professor is older it’s probably a good idea to use their professional name.

I had another professor that I really got along with, but his class was extremely difficult. I went to him several times during office hours, and we exchanged frequent emails, but it was always academic. He offered advice if I needed it and was very helpful in figuring out what I want to do with my career. I was closer to him than a lot of my classmates, but he was a mentor not a friend.

Now that I’m a senior, there are a few professors that I could consider friends because I’ve had them several times over my college career, and I’ve really gotten to know them. I know about their relationships and hobbies. We have each other’s cell phone numbers, and we email funny links. However, there’s still a level of professionalism that we carry. I’ve noticed that these friendships are very particular to certain departments at my school. My professor-friends mostly hail from the Creative Writing department. These classes are really small (about 10-12 people) and everyone becomes extremely close. Writing is one of those things that makes you very vulnerable, and there are things we share in class that we’d never share with our friends outside of class. Becoming friends with these professors is the norm, but I don’t think that would happen in the Biology department.

It’s great to be friendly with your professors because they’re great resources, and if you’re close with them it can help you out greatly. Some professors really want to get involved with your life because they truly care. Some want to stay in touch after you graduate because they want to know that they made an impact on you. This doesn’t mean you need to text them every day, go out for lunch, or hang out. Your professor is still your professor until you’re out of the class. At the end of the day, they still control your grades.

What do you think? Is it okay to be good friends with your professor or should you just keep it friendly?

[There are over 100 million sites on the Internet. 100 million! You might think you know about all the important ones (CollegeCandy, Gmail, Google, Facebook…), but there are thousands of other sweet sites out there (like Teach Parents Tech, We Are Hunted and Paper Back Swap) and more showing up every day! We get it – it’s not easy or fun sifting through the crap and porn to find those gems, so we’re gonna bring the gems to you. Just sit back, kick up those feet and allow us to introduce you to the diamonds in the internet rough.]

Winter Break is awesome: there are no tests to study for, you get to spend time with your friends and family, and you can get lots of sleep. The worst part of Winter Break, however, is that it just seems to go by too quickly. Sooner than you probably want to think about, you’re moving back into the dorms, buying books,  and dropping those 9am discussion sections you got stuck with. However, the process of preparing for the upcoming semester doesn’t have to be a hassle.

With Stingy Campus, planning your semester is easy, because everything you need is in one place!

Stingy Campus allows you to search housing, roommate and job postings and browse the online marketplace to buy and sell items (such as old textbooks or furniture). Utilizing the listings on Stingy Campus will not only save you a bunch of time by putting everything in one place, but it will also save you time (and money) by allowing you to connect with people on your campus or nearby campuses to buy and sell items, instead of having to wait for and pay shipping on an online order.

Stingy Campus also helps with the academic aspect of college. There’s a searchable database for class notes, in case you’re too hungover sick one day and can’t make class. They also offer a “rate a professor” system, which can help you choose classes based on what other students had to say about the professor. You can help out your fellow students, too, by uploading your own notes and contributing to professors’ ratings.

They also feature some pretty sweet giveaways. They just gave away an Android Netbook, and they’re currently running a contest to win an iPad! You can learn more about how to enter that contest here.

Stingy Campus makes getting ready for school/life faster and easier — so you can spend more time working on that Spring Break bod or, dare I say it, reading for pleasure!?

I’ve had a fun few weeks, full of productive days that involved sleeping until noon, catching up on the new season of The Bachelor, and trying to determine the real reason Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal broke up. So I really don’t have time for pesky things like classes, and homework, papers and projects. There are so many other things I’d rather be doing. In fact, now that I think about it, there’s not much I wouldn’t rather be doing than starting classes…

10. Go a week without internet access. If you knew me at all you’d know this is big. Very big. I don’t think I’ve gone 24 hours without internet access, never mind an entire WEEK. It would be pure, unadulterated torture for me to go a week without updating Twitter, Facebook stalking or checking my favorite blogs (Looking at you, CollegeCandy), but I would do it if I meant I didn’t have to go class. I really, really would.

9. Spend some quality time with my professor during office hours. Yes, I would. I would make awkward conversation with my professors in their creepy offices with their creepy things if I didn’t have to listen to them lecture. I would dodge questions about the lack of progress I’ve been making on my thesis, and suck up so they’ll write me awesome recommendations letters. Just don’t make me go to class.

8. Listen to “California Gurls” on repeat. When the song first came out, this wouldn’t have seemed so bad. But after a summer of hearing this song every day at least twice a day, I cringe at just the intro. Still though, Katy Perry seems preferable to professors. Greetings loved ones, let’s take a journey!

7. Let Jenny Humphrey do my makeup. I am not a fan of the raccoon eye look, even less so when Taylor Momsen is the one wearing it. But I would wear that raccoon eye makeup for a week straight (and then another week because it will take that long to get it off) if it meant I didn’t have to go to class that week.

6. Submit an application to be on the Bachelor. I have a love/hate relationship with one of the greatest reality TV shows of our time. I love the drama that ensues every season. I love the ridiculous scandal that always spontaneously manifests when someone is supposed to be on a fantasy date. I love that none of these relationships barely make it a month in the real world.  But I hate that there are women out there desperate enough to go on this show. But, hey, I would be one of those women if it meant I could skip the spring semester. Let me just practice crying on demand.

5. Clean my brother’s room. I know none of you have ever seen my brother’s room (or at least I hope you haven’t), so I’ll give you a description. Just picture taking three weeks worth of your trash and dumping it on the floor. Then add some football gear, a few loads of dirty laundry, and lots of sneakers.

4. Get slushied, Glee style. I hate those scenes when Rachel and co. get a slushy thrown in their face. I just can’t watch it. The thought of washing cherry flavored slushie out of my hair makes me flinch in a mixture of fear and disgust. But I would totally let Noah Puckerman slushy me if it meant I could skip Senior Seminar this week.

3. Rewrite my final papers. And that’s a lot to write. I mean, I used a lot of blue books on these last few finals. I wrote and I wrote and then I wrote some more for every one of my classes. But one day of cramping my hand up would be worth it if it meant I could put off starting towards this next round of finals.

2. Read Snooki’s new book. Cover to cover, front to back, word for word. I would read the whole damn thing if it meant no school. And I’m an English major, people. An ENGLISH major. That’s like asking a professional chef to serve Bagel Bites for dinner.  

1. Go without coffee for an entire week. Anyone who knows me and is reading this is probably in absolute shock right now, or maybe even in a bit of disbelief. Because you see, I’m kind of a caffeine addict. You know, it’s sort of the reason I live and breathe. It’s the light of my life, the reason I wake up in the morning. But if I committed I could totally do this. Especially if it meant not having to go to class, I mean…

Oh hell, I’m going to class, alright?

[Check out Jenn's other musings-in-the-form-of-a-list here.]

No scratch that, I hate it, actually. But what I do like is what that week represents. It’s the beginning of the end. The start of the finish. You’re over the hump. The semester is almost over. You’ve finally reached those last few dreadful weeks. And okay, maybe that doesn’t seem like something to be happy about, maybe you want to pull your hair out right now? Maybe you’re stressed? Sure, but just think, in a couple of weeks it will all be over.

How can you be sure that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel? Here are just a few signs that the semester is almost over.

10. You’ll do anything to avoid your homework. Okay. Time to get serious. You have a lot to get done these less few weeks. Time to buckle down and start working. No distractions. No Facebook. No phones. Reading time. But wait…you have been meaning to reorganize your desk. And your bookshelf. And…you get the idea.

9. You’re staying in instead of going out. Thirsty Thursday? Try thesis Thursday. You have so many papers due, so many pages of reading to get through, so much to get done in such a short amount of time you can’t even think about going out. Well, okay you think about it (and even plan your outfit) but then you don’t go. And you reward yourself for being such a studious student by taking a five minute break to Facebook-stalk. The next thing you know, four hours have gone by and your roommate is stumbling in, ready to tell you all about her great night. The one you missed.  And you still didn’t do you reading. Oops.

8. You can no longer find a seat in the library. It’s not like you’re hanging out in the library all that often, but every once in a while when you need to take a nap write  a paper, you head on over, and you expect there to be seating. But towards the end of the semester? You can’t even find a floor spot in the corner near a plug.

7. Each and every one of those people fit into one of these categories. Go read them. No explanation needed.

6. Facebook statuses start appearing in countdown code. You know, those Facebook statuses that start popping up about a week before the semester ends, listing everything the person needs to get done between now and then. Sort of like, five finals, four papers, three days, two meetings, and one nap until winter break. Not that I’ve ever participated in such a thing. Not at all.

5. You’ve decided it no longer makes sense to do laundry. There’s only a few weeks left of the semester, and your Mom helped you out so much when you were home for Thanksgiving. You’ve got enough undies to get you by. If you just hold off until then, you won’t have to scrounge for change or waste precious moments waiting for your clothes to dry. Mom will be happy to help. And you can make it. Sort of….

Did you just sniff your shirt?

4. You have to use your credit card for your coffee. I don’t live on campus so I don’t have a meal plan. But I do have did have flexicash (you know, like a giftcard for the student coffee shop). It provides me with infinite amounts of caffeine and chocolate chip muffins whenever I need them. Except now. Because I ran out. Just when I need my coffee the most, DAMNIT!!! The other day, I charged change. Yes, change. 89 cents to be exact. For a banana. It’s time for winter break.

3. You’re no longer speaking to your roommate. You two are actually quite close, really. But it’s that kind of close that only works for small periods of time. Not months and months in cramped quarters. And not during such a trying time in your life. Sure, her jokes are cute and funny in October, but now? Now the only thing that makes you laugh is the thought of beating her with a pillow while she sleeps.

2. Professors can’t even be bothered to show up to class. In the past month, my professor has canceled my Senior Seminar more times than I can count. You know it’s bad when a senior’s response to a canceled class is “Again?” followed by a disgruntled groan. I firmly believe that if your professor can’t be even be bothered to make it to class then it’s just time to call it a semester already. We won’t mind, really.

1. You can’t even remember the last time you read for class. I don’t know about you ladies, but once the last few weeks of the semester approach (or basically as soon as I come back from Thanksgiving) I just can’t seem to find it in me to read for class anymore. I mean, the semester is practically over, isn’t it? And you have so many papers to finish up, and final assignments to turn in that those books you won’t need to know anything about (because that class doesn’t have a final) seem less and less important.

Ew. Is it over yet?!

[Check out Jenn's other musings-in-the-form-of-a-list here.]

I have three finals, two papers, and one draft of my senior thesis keeping me from my winter break. Not a walk in the park, but also not an all time high as far finals week frenzies go.  But yet, here I sit, far too enamored in this week’s episode of What Not to Wear to even think about getting any of this work done.

This is not stuff worth procrastinating. It requires no freak outs, no massive amounts of brain power. These papers are not worth the all-nighters they will result in if I leave the researching and the writing until the last minute. They are not worth the caffeine induced frenzy I will face the morning after just to get through classes. I should focus, and buckle down, and power through so that I can be done with it. But yet, here I sit, watching Stacy London argue for wedges over flip flops.

It’s time to face the facts: I have senioritis.

I remember the symptoms from the last trimester of senior year in high school. Lack of motivation. An unwillingness to go to class. The desire to sleep through every single one of my professor’s well intentioned lectures. Reading for classes is a nuisance. Getting up in time for class is a struggle. I have no desire to accomplish anything ever…

Okay, so maybe most of those symptoms aren’t exactly restricted to senioritis.  But right now, they’re amplified. Procrastination is a part of every student’s life, but lately I’ve made it into an art form. I know that I should do these papers, go to class, finish out the semester, graduate, but right now I’m just having trouble seeing the point of it all.  Because frankly, I really, really don’t want to. With graduation comes responsibility, real life, a weekend that doesn’t include Friday’s off, and days that don’t include time slots for naps and Facebook stalking. So I should embrace the chance to be irresponsible while I can, right?

Right.

I mean, I am a senior. Shouldn’t I be exempt from all of this? Shouldn’t I be guaranteed good grades and allowed to sleep in because I won’t be able to for much longer? Shouldn’t I be rewarded for making it through the past three years alive?

I wish.

But no. As nice as that would be (a girl can dream, can’t she?) that’s not exactly how it works. I still need to finish out the semester.  And even then I’m not exactly done. I still have to go back in January and take classes. Again. I still need to finish my thesis. And my major. And that means one more semester of papers and professors and procrastination.

So I need to figure out a way to focus. I need to not end up cleaning my keyboard or Windexing my computer screen every time I start to type. I need to figure out how I end up reading celebrity gossip every time I turn on my laptop. Yesterday, I sat down to type out an outline for my senior thesis and ended up on zappos.com looking at shoes I cannot afford. And that was after I spent an hour sifting through Facebook photos from years past. But not before complaining via text about the fact that I even had to write the paper at all.

I just need to focus. Sign out of Facebook. Shut the television. Put my phone on silent.  Concentrate. I can do this. Because I need to. I need to kick this habit. And I need to kick it now.

In fact I think I’ll go start researching for that paper.

Oh wait…is that a Gossip Girl rerun?

AHHHHHHHH!

Hi everyone, my name is Jenn. And I’m a grad school application survivor.

The experience was traumatic and tortuous and for a while there I didn’t think I’d make it through.  But now that I’ve seen the other side I thought it was time I shared some of my lessons learned with you. (While editing out the banging my head against my desk, pulling my hair out, staring at a blank computer screen as I read the application essay over and over parts.)

This is not a full proof guide to getting into grad school. In fact, it’s not a guide to getting into grad school at all. (I may have finished the applications but I haven’t gotten into any of the programs yet…) These are just some tips, things I wish I knew before I started the application process. So I thought I’d pass on my infinite wisdom to our lovely readers…

1. Make friends with your professors. And no. I’m telling you to make him your beer bong partner. Or a friend with benefits. But make sure at least one or two of your professors know who you are. Start with your advisor. They’re supposed to have a vested interest in your academic career so sharing your goals and aspirations with them, and asking them for advice about graduate programs is a great way to start talking about the application process. Once you’re comfortable with them, then you could start fishing around for recommendation letters. Some professors might even offer. It’s much easier than awkward e-mails or a post-class request when they have no idea who you are. I promise.  

2. Take the GRE the summer before you senior year. Even if you don’t think you’ll be applying to graduate school, do it anyway. This was my original plan. And then I started to have doubts. Should I put myself through the tortuous process of studying and stressing when I wasn’t even sure I would be applying to graduate schools? I didn’t. But I should have. Because then I ended up prepping for the GRE in the midst of a million other things that needed to be done. Take the GRE. And take it early.  

3. Double and triple-check the application requirements for all of your schools. No two schools have the same application requirements. I can assure you of that. Some require the GRE. Others require the GRE and a GRE subject test. Then there are the ones that don’t even require a GRE at all. But those often require more than one personal statement. Or writing samples. Or an absurd number of recommendations. Make a list of programs you are applying to. Then, underneath each college write down exactly what you need for each application. Take it one school at a time, one step at a time. Anything else gets far too complicated, far too quickly.

4. Go to open houses. It may seem useless to carve time out of your schedule to listen to admissions counselors tell you everything you already knew from reading their brochure, but the feel of the school is something else entirely. Walk around. Talk to some of the students. Check out the housing facilities if you plan on living on campus, or the public transportation facilities if you plan on commuting. You could be taking classes on that campus for upwards of two years, so make sure you like it before taking the time to apply.

5. Ask for help. This is something I hardly ever do. But it’s something I really need to learn to do. And you should too. The graduate application process can get really overwhelming, really quickly. Having someone there to offer you some guidance can only help. Once again, your advisor is the perfect person to talk to. Don’t forget once upon a time they were undergraduate students applying to masters and PhD programs and they made it through okay. They can tell you what to look for and what to avoid and help you make sense of it all. Take advantage of that!

I leave you with a little bit of wisdom, and lots of luck…

Click here to follow Jenn’s other ups and downs of senior year.

But um…well…actually, it’s probably a little bit more than mild amusement. But it’s not my fault, honest. You see I have tutoring hours in the library and when no one shows up desperately asking me to explain what the Bard was rambling on about (All they really need to do is watch 10 Things I Hate You.) I’m left with nothing to do but catch up on my reading…or you know, listen in on other people’s conversation. And I can’t help it if the freshman sitting in the library basement at the table opposite me talk, really, really, loudly. And really, who wouldn’t be intrigued about “OMG. The most perfect schedule. EVER,” or how one particular girl was so thrown off by midterms week that she gave up brushing her teeth because she just didn’t have the time. Or about how one professor “totally mentions sex in every one of his lectures.”

No I am not making this stuff up. I am not that creative or gross. So yeah, as I said. These conversations are a lot more entertaining than Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit. Frankly, the guy liked to ramble on, and his writing can get a little stale.  But the freshman, they never steer me wrong. Their life altering college experience is my reality tv.

Here are just a few of my favorite freshmanism. (Yes I made that word up. It totally works though, don’t you think?)

1. The way they wear their id cards around their necks on a lanyard for the first three weeks of school. I don’t know. This could just be my college campus. But the first few weeks of school, it’s always really easy to spot the freshman because they are the ones who walk around campus wearing their id cards around their neck. Its stops after a while though, it gets thrown in your bag, you put it in your wallet, you leave it in your car. In your dorm room. Before senior year you’ve had to replace it three times already. By senior year, you’re not even sure you have an id card at all anymore.
2. The way they travel in packs. That’s the second best way to spot the freshman. They walk to class together. They go to lunch together. Of course your roommate doesn’t mind stopping by the library with you, then can you just swing by the business office with her? Don’t get me wrong, hanging with your friends is great. But by senior year, you’re lucky if you wake up in time for class, never mind waking up early enough for a group breakfast  followed by that core class you’re taking together followed by a coffee break. Followed by…you get the idea.
3. The look of pure and absolute horror that graces their faces for the entirety of midterms’ week. Now I’m the first to admit I’ve had my fair share of midterm induced panic attacks. And as a freshman, I remember the entire process being ridiculously overwhelming. But by senior year (read: when there’s so much else going on that you forget you have a midterm during the next class until your professor mentions it.) it’s not quite as stressful. You’ve survived before, and you’ll survive again
4. Their shock at how quickly the classes they want manage to fill up during registration week. The registration process is not a fun one. For anyone. But if you’re a freshman it’s particularly brutal. You’re the last register, but yet your advisers warn you of picking the perfect schedule and core requirements and classes you need to take. So you plan, and pick and you fantasize about how amazing it will be to only have class three days a week. And then you go to register. And all the classes you want are gone. And your left with the teacher ratemyprofessor.com warns against taking at all costs. Ah, memories. Cheer up, by senior year, you’ll get first pick. I promise.

So what do you think ladies? How much has changed since you were a freshman? Are you a freshman now?  Do you wish you could speed it up to senior year, or are you happy where you are?

I mean, sure, part of me revels in the fact that this will be the last year I am forced to deal with pretentious professors and overzealous freshmen. No more writing papers on topics I just don’t care about or being forced to take core courses I have no use for. (I am a currently taking Plagues, Outbreaks and Biological Warfare for my science requirement. I can be bitter.) No more late night cram sessions or midterms. Or finals. No more college.

But no more college doesn’t just mean no more classes, its means no more college. No more college means no more built in, ever expanding social network. No more themed parties or club sponsored events or months off in between semesters. No more college means that I’m going to have to join the real world.

So with that in mind, I’ve decided I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts. I’m a recently 21-year-old, single college girl with way too much to worry about. I have every reason to check out and give in to that oh so tempting state of being known as Senioritis. The only problem? Life won’t let me. You see, it seems that Junior Jenn was much more eager than Senior Jenn. Junior Jenn believed that writing a senior thesis would be fun, that attempting to finish out both of my majors in the fall semester was a great idea, that taking on leadership roles in clubs would be worth it, and that – oh yeah – taking on the roll of tutor in addition to already working 10+ hours a week would be the right thing to do.

Granted, Junior Jenn had good intentions, but Senior Jenn? She’s feeling the pressure.  Those pesky, what are your plans for after college questions have already begun, the GRE is looming closer and closer with each day I avoid my review book, and I just can’t seem to muster up the energy to care about my Senior Seminar the same way I care about the latest episode of Gossip Girl.

I’m about to start my fourth full week of classes now. (I actually had to check the calendar to figure that out) and I see no signs of things calming down, but I’ve put my obsessive compulsive organizing skills to good use and I’ve figured out a way to fit it all in. And keep my sanity. (Hopefully.)

Senior year is only just beginning and the stress is starting to consume me, but my break from reality this past weekend (delayed birthday celebrations, mani/pedi, shopping spree, Starbucks) has made me realize the importance of taking time out, and enjoying those other aspects of college; the ones I’m actually going to miss.  No matter how hard I try I will never be able to know exactly how things are going to turn out, if I’m making the right decision or the wrong decision, if watching the late night showing of Pretty Woman instead of reading for 18^th Century Literature will set my life on a path of complete and total destruction, if dinner and drinks is worth that late night cram session that will surely ensue the next day.

So I’m going to stop worrying. Stop stressing. Start enjoying.  If I focus on the now, instead of on the future, things are looking pretty good. Okay fine, so I have to take the GRE and write a thesis, and I may have finally taken on one too many extracurricular activities. But hey, I’m also of legal drinking age now. And maybe I don’t have any idea what I want to do next year, but at least that means I have options. The possibilities are endless. And that’s a plus. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next year, because I’m not even sure what’s going to happen tomorrow (I’ll have to check my schedule.), but I’m going to make sure I enjoy it.

It might not be easy, but at least it will be interesting.

Freshman year is an incredible experience. For many, it’s the first taste of Keystone freedom, the first foray into frat parties out into the world. You‘ll drink with meet people from all walks of life. You’ll quickly wonder how you ever survived without your newfound friends.

But be warned: for every awesome new friend that you make, you’ll find yourself face to face with an enemy. Not a “sleep with one eye open” enemy; more like a “OMG I want to gouge out my eyes whenever you come near me” type.

Here are my personal picks for people to avoid:

The “Busy” Roommate- The first parent-free weekend, I was woken up by the rhythmic creaking of my roommate’s lofted bed. The second week of classes, I was woken up on Thursday night by a guy pounding on the door looking for her around 3 A.M, and she came in the following morning trailing a (different) guy from my English class. If you’re really lucky, you won’t be woken up like I was – you’ll be permanently sexiled. It’s not like you need to get into your room or anything, right?

The Bad RA- A good RA should have a balance of helpfulness and friendliness. She’s not supposed to be your best friend, but she’s also not supposed to be so aloof that you can’t relate to her either. Some RAs are overzealous, which can be more than a little annoying; like the RA who refused to start the floor meeting until all forty girls were present, even though the missing person had a legitimate reason for her absence. Even worse, though, was the RA who was so high he didn’t notice that there was an orgy going on in my friend’s room, nor did he realize my friend was out in the hall with a pillow at 4 A.M because he was trying to figure out where he could get some sleep.

The Sporadic Professor- This professor is out to prove you’re no longer in high school by giving you regular and difficult assignments. But, in order to make sure you do them, he’ll only grade them sporadically. It doesn’t sound as bad now, but it will be when you finally decide to skip on the ONE day he decides to check.

The Neighbor With the Subwoofer- Okay, I love music as much as the next person, and I love blasting it whenever I can. However, when you’re living in a building with other people, there are certain courtesies to be paid. Like not blasting your music on a crazy bass system that shakes surrounding walls, floors, and ceilings….at 11pm…during finals. This is grounds for justifiable homicide.

The Extremely Messy/Neat Roommate- Either extreme can be deadly, depending on what you’re like. I’ve seen these two paired together before and and it was the closest I’ve ever seen to an in-your-face war. If your roommate falls into one of these two categories, you will definitely have a problem. You’ll either want to strangle her for those passive-aggressive comments about how neat and tidy her side of the room is, or you’ll want to strangle her anytime her crap (read: dirty undies) creeps over to your side..

The Peter Pan Queen Bee- This girl has somehow managed to establish herself as the Queen Bee of the group/hall/floor. She chooses who’s worthy of hanging out with her and her followers, and is fickle about who she keeps around. Essentially, she hasn’t gotten the memo that high school is over. As a result, your grown-up college life will be fraught with the exact same drama you thought you’d left behind – petty gossip, rules about who you can and can’t socialize with, backstabbing, and other not-so-fun pastimes.

Crazy Drunk Naked Guy- Okay, so this one may not drive you crazy in the same way, but I do promise it will scar you for life. This guy is the reason you are warned repeatedly to double and triple-check your locks at night. The one night my roomie and I didn’t, a drunk, high, naked guy showed up in our room after relieving himself in the hallway, then refused to leave. Variations of the Crazy Drunk Naked Guy include 2 A.M streakers, the frat boy who peed in the fridge, and the guy who stood in the doorway watching the girls sleep.

College classes are the perfect example of things that can be accurately judged from a first impression, no matter how fleeting. Let’s take a look at some of the most common experiences you might have on your first day and what they might mean about the class ahead.

What happens: Your prof shows up 10 minutes late, frazzled and smelling heavily of espresso.
What it means: Feel free to come to class in your PJs and contribute to class discussion with garbled comments that aren’t fully formed, since your prof will neither care nor be able to tell the difference.

What happens: A PowerPoint presentation is already up on the screen when you enter, and the prof has a writing implement in his or her breast pocket.
What it means: Watch out, sister! This prof isn’t going to take any shenanigans. S/he is likely to be a hard grader, so start assembling your study group pronto with the cute dudes who sit near you.

What happens: The prof hands out the syllabus, reads it word for word, asks if everyone has the textbook, and dismisses you early.
What it means: Don’t be fooled by the early dismissal. This is a by-the-book prof who isn’t too keen on original ideas and probably doesn’t want to hear yours. Learn to read and regurgitate what’s in the textbook, and fast.

What happens: You all meet at the coffee shop and the prof buys everyone drinks and pastries.
What it means: Count your blessings. Your prof is either really nice or really insecure—better hope it’s the former.

What happens: You do an icebreaker activity with the other students in your class.
What it means: Your prof used to be a corporate motivational speaker. Polish off your phrases of cynicism, because you’ll probably need them for the kind of crap you’re going to hear in this class.

Ready for the big time? Start studying your profs’ mannerisms, fashion sense (or lack thereof), and office decor (yes, that does require you to attend office hours). It might be a pain, but it’s not a waste of time. When you supplement your in-class comments with similar body language or slip in that “Far Side” reference that reflects a cartoon your prof has outside his office door, you can start welcoming those A+’s with open arms!