How+to+Survive+-+Final+Draft


 * How to Survive an 18 Credit Semester as an English Major **

As I end my senior year of college, (still no graduation as my teaching degree requires yet another year) I’ve had the pleasure of writing 29 papers, reading 18 novels and creating and presenting 7 projects all in one semester. That’s what taking 6 classes, all 400 level and above English or Literature classes with do to you. It seems crazy, I know. Taking all 6 classes wasn’t necessarily a choice; in order to graduate “on time,” it was a must. Through my four years in college, and especially this latest semester, I’ve compiled a list of do’s and don’ts to get through those difficult semesters.


 * Social Media **


 * Don’t watch TV. **You think you have time to DVR How I Met Your Mother and watch it because it’s only a 30 minute show, but you don’t. You’ll enjoy the 22 minutes of no commercials, but then you’ll only pay for it later by staying up writing papers and doing homework.


 * Don’t buy Netflix. **The $7.99 price looks and sounds amazing, but it will only cause you trouble. Instead of doing homework, writing papers and reading the three novels, all due on the same day, you’ll be sucked in watching The Mighty Ducks, or other old movies from your childhood, as well as episode after episode of your favorite show because the instant watch feature is just so alluring.


 * Avoid Facebook. ** Although having mental breaks from the mundane homework is essential, seeing whose boss is a jerk and wants them to work overtime, whose boyfriend/girlfriend just dumped them and how they are oh so heartbroken, and who missed Glee and doesn’t want anyone to spoil the episode doesn’t make the top ten list of priorities.


 * Campus Life **


 * Find a comfy place on campus. **Campus will soon become your home away from home, so find a place you like. Preferably away from the idiots in the Student Center, who don’t care how many people are working on homework, and are loud and annoying all the time. Without fail. Might as well invest in a sleeping bag.


 * Get a Starbucks card. ** You’ll constantly need the caffeine so you might as well earn points and get free coffee periodically. Before you know it, you’ll become one of their “Gold Card Members” and you’ll get a free coffee after a whopping 15 drinks!


 * Find free printing. **With 29 papers to write in one semester, paper and ink gets expensive. Might as well put your over-the-top, ridiculously expensive, tuition money to good use!


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Wear layers of clothing. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Campus is either totally freezing or completely scorching. There is no in-between! And since it will most likely be dark out when you get to campus and when you leave campus, you’ll want that coat.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Bring your own food. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> I know Subway has many options, but really, you can only eat so many varieties before it gets boring. And then you’re not spending all your precious laundry coins in vending machines every day. (Make sure you ask for gift cards during the holidays.)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Learn the parking lots. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Since you will constantly be coming to and from campus, find the parking lots that are closest the buildings you will be using each day. With a jam-packed backpack, who wants to trek across campus for 20 min, every day, in 30 degree weather? You’ll thank me later.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18.6667px;">Homework **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Fake it ‘till you make it. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">We’ve all been there, when you have five papers do in one week and the professors don’t cut you any slack and pile on the usual homework as well. There comes a point in time when you just need to fight your battles and turn something in. It may come with experience, but learn how to make simple ideas and sentences long and complex to make it look like you know what you are talking about. The paper may sound silly in your head, but hey, it’s better than taking a zero.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Prioritize your papers. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I don’t recommend faking your way through any ‘ole paper. When the papers you need to turn in are a mix of long research papers and two page reflections, fake the reflections. The longer papers are worth way more for you grade and the reflections are just ploys from your profs who want to see if you actually got anything out of your reading. Hint: read two pages, find something interesting, write about how you thought it was oh so interesting (maybe even how it relates to everyday life), throw in some quotes, and you’re golden. Seriously. It works.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Bookmark Sparknotes. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">With an 18 credit semester, all of the classes being in the 400 level and above, all literature or English classes, and some even being writing intensive, Sparknotes will quickly become your number 1 visited website when you have 18 novels to read in a matter of 14 weeks. You won’t survive without it, mentally or physically.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Audiobooks are your best friend. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">It may sound a little nerdy at first, but think about it, most people spend a giant portion of their day in the car, walking to and from campus and classes, or meandering around the grocery store. Take advantage of that time! Everyone already has their headphones in all the time anyway, people won’t even think you’re listening to a book. Just bob your head to a certain, random beat and no one will know the difference.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Keep a planner. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Seriously. Get one. You will go bonkers with the amount of work you have to do if you don’t write it down. If you don’t like planners, just get a dang notebook or something. And, if you’re anything like me, a prof will tell you what homework is due next class and less than ten minutes later you’ll forget.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18.6667px;">Social Life **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Become friends with your co-workers. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">On top of taking six classes, writing 27 papers, and reading 18 novels, don’t forget the at least 15 hours of work each week. (I know, got to pay the bills somehow.) Becoming friends with your co-workers not only makes work a little more bearable, but all the complaining about school work, professors, significant others, roommates, or whatever it is that makes you angry, finally has an escape. Your sanity will thank you for it.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Talk and Travel. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">With a tight schedule, there’s really not much time to talk to the people you care about. When you’re walking across campus, or wherever it is you go, take this time to finally call your mom who’s been itching to see whether or not you’re failing or your significant other who is desperate to hear from you.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Take a personal day. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Okay, in all seriousness, everyone will eventually go crazy between going to class, doing ridiculous amounts of school work and going to work. Every once and a while, take a personal day. Go out to the bar, go to the movies, make a lunch date with friends, or just be a couch potato and watch some T.V. Whatever it is, just do it. You’ll keep your sanity.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18.6667px;">Excuses **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Create a work emergency. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">We all have those days when going to class just isn’t going to happen whether you missed your alarm, forgot to do the homework, or just don’t want to go. Be a smart one and e-mail your professors, most of the time they’ll like you better for it. But, if you’re going to skip, do yourself a favor and come up with a good excuse. A work emergency is always a good one. Not only is this very plausible, but you don’t need to get specific when you send your e-mail. Just make sure you say how terribly sorry you are and you’ll make sure you’ll get notes and homework from another person in class. Now you’re considered to be responsible.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Piece of crap car. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Being a college kid who doesn’t get to work much, the chances that your car is pretty crappy is high. Even if it’s not, your prof doesn’t know that! Say you got a flat tire on your way to campus, your starter went out, you ran out of gas, or you got into a fender bender last night so now your car in the shop and you won’t get it back until Monday. Whatever your excuse, just make sure it’s actually plausible and stay away from crazy, action hero crap that we all know is just ridiculous.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Have the good ‘ole flu. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Don’t underestimate the flu. Especially during the winter semester when everyone is constantly getting sick. Just mention it started getting to you the night before (perhaps it’s even difficult for you to write the email because you’re just so sick!) but, most importantly, mention how your care about your classmates and you just couldn’t bear getting them sick as well. You would feel horrible if you did. Compassion isn’t dead.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Avoid any pets. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Simple. Your dog didn’t eat your homework. Just don’t go there. Ever.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Be Honest. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Seriously now, if I else fails, or if you’re not a liar, just simply be honest with your professor. If you arrive at a week when you have 5 papers due in the span of two days (yes, it will happen) and you are completely overwhelmed and overloaded, tell them! Most professors will understand and the much needed extension you require could be granted. Professors do understand that there is life outside of class and sometimes unforeseen circumstances arise and there is nothing you can do about it. Honestly goes a long way people.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Although my 18 credit semester was simply overall brutal, it does not necessarily mean yours will be too. Spreading out your upper level literature classes into different semesters will help alleviate the pain and stress that comes with each class. However, I strongly suggest, if you can avoid it that is, not taking 18 credits as an English major for it will be one of your most stressful, busy and overwhelming semesters of your college career. (Side note: although the 15 week period is unpleasant to say the least, the amount of accomplishment you feel when finished is astounding.)