Contributed to by Tami Benedict

Step 1: Realize that you have not bought the books for the finals.

Step 2: Frantically scour the internet for PDFs of the aforementioned books.

Step 3: Try to read said books as fast as possible. Two chapters should be enough to write a paper, right? Alternately, SparkNotes.

Step 4: Know that you probably won’t sleep for the entire week. Invest in cheap coffee by the bucket.

Step 5: Understand that the final project that was given to you a month ago is due in two days. You haven’t looked at the assignment since it was announced.

Step 6: Office hours have become your best friend. Beg for mercy and leniency.

Step 7: Realize you haven’t eaten all day, proceed to shovel down the cheapest, greasiest fare in existence.

Step 8: The barista at the coffee shop knows your name and drink order by now. This may be a good thing.

Step 9: Stake out a space in the library, preferably next to an outlet. Get your bitch face on whenever someone is talking.

Step 10: Hear people in library having mental breakdowns, understanding where they are coming from. Commiserate and take relief in the fact you aren’t crying…yet.

Step 11: Realize you forgot your laptop charger at home. Give up, decide no work is being done and you’re destined to fail and live a life of mediocrity.

Step 12: Look at the final review sheet, don’t understand any of it, and know that you are screwed.

Step 13: Follow these steps as your Plan B.