Updated: Friday, September 27, 2024
The word “finals” strikes fear in the hearts of most students, as it’s the culmination of a semester’s worth of work and sometimes the determining factor of a final course grade. The end of the semester can be especially distressing for first-year students, who have never taken a college-level final before. Students may not know what to expect, and the anxiety can leave many feeling lost.
Colleges know the pressure that students are under when it comes to finals and often aim to curb this anxiety by offering on-campus events to ease the stress. Over the years, quite a few colleges have developed finals week traditions as a way of bringing the campus together and easing the stress of exam time.
Just like in high school, finals week takes place at the end of each term. This is when students complete their final exams for their courses, which can be an intense and stressful experience. These exams are often a big percentage of the overall grade, so having a good strategy to prepare for finals is crucial.
Schools offer all sorts of events to help students blow off steam. Here are some of the most common traditions celebrated at colleges and universities across the U.S.
Who doesn’t love breakfast at night, especially when you don’t have to cook it? Numerous colleges and universities help students de-stress before finals with bacon, eggs, pancakes, and other breakfast treats served at night — typically at midnight but sometimes slightly earlier. Students are often served by faculty and staff, and some schools even include entertainment.
It’s a chance for students to get together for a little fun and a hearty meal before exams. Schools that participate in this tradition include George Washington University, North Carolina State University, Barnard College, DePaul University, Carnegie Mellon University… and the list goes on.
If studying for exams makes you want to scream, then the Primal Scream is for you. It’s exactly what it sounds like — at a designated time just before finals, students scream to alleviate their stress. Schools that participate in Primal Scream include Carleton College, Stanford University, Swarthmore College, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago, among others.
Learn what it takes to get into Stanford University and Northwestern University, in case you want to add these schools to your college list!
If you’re a dog lover, you’ll be pleased to know that a growing number of campuses bring in some furry friends to help students cope during finals week. Many colleges and universities have dog therapy programs — sometimes making pooch pals available to students throughout the semester — while others work with third party programs to help students de-stress before exams.
Dogs won’t help you ace your chemistry final, but they will lower your stress and your blood pressure. Besides, what’s better than cuddling canines? You can find this tradition at numerous campuses, including UC Davis, Miami University, Chapman University, Illinois State University, Mount Saint Mary College, Lafayette College, and more.
Looking for finals traditions that are a little more unique? These schools have their own special events to help students cut loose during finals week.
The First-Year Holiday Dinner at Yale University kicks off finals week, where students wrapping up their first semester enjoy a grand dinner with classmates in a dining hall decorated with lights, ice sculptures, and a plethora of food. It’s a great opportunity for students to take a break from studying, plus it is a highlight of the first-year experience. Learn how to get into Yale so you can experience this tradition for yourself.
Brandeis University takes the classic Midnight Breakfast up a notch. During exam week, the Brandeis Student Union arranges a takeout dinner known as the Midnight Buffet. Students can sample a variety of cuisines from restaurants around Waltham, Massachusetts, and the Student Union tosses swag off the balcony. Good food, friends, and fun prizes are a great way to decompress while studying for finals!
Harvard University’s Primal Scream isn’t the same as the tradition we mentioned above — it’s more primal, less screaming. Just before midnight on the night before finals begin, students line up outside Hollis Hall. As the clock strikes midnight, they remove their clothing and sprint around the Yard, accompanied by the partially clad Harvard University Band. Students do this each semester regardless of weather, so it can sometimes be a bit nippy! If you want to witness this tradition firsthand, learn how to get into Harvard.
Fall semester finals usually take place a few weeks before Christmas, so it’s no surprise that Columbia University kicks off its holiday celebrations just before finals week. Students meet at the Sundial to enjoy hot chocolate and a cappella music as they wait for the lighting of the trees along College Walk. Then, in a ceremony that dates before the American Revolution, the Yule Log is carried from the Sundial to John Jay Hall by students dressed as Continental Army soldiers. This is followed by readings, toasts, and songs. Learn how to get into Columbia University so you, too, can enjoy this tradition.
Finals can be extremely stressful, so it’s comforting to know that colleges are working hard to ease the anxiety in fun and creative ways. Wherever you end up going to college, you will likely experience fun traditions throughout the academic year, not just during finals week.
For many high school students, December is also a big exam time. If you’re struggling with course material, or just need some help with organization and a study strategy, contact us today for more information on our premier tutoring services.
Spring ushers in new beginnings and high school senior rites-of-passage, such as prom and graduation. Fortunately, many colleges and universities also have deeply rooted traditions celebrating the end of winter, the new life of spring, and the campus community.
One of the fun aspects of researching colleges is to learn about their unique traditions, such as the fun ways these five schools celebrate spring.
As a part of the University of California system, UCLA participates in the UC application. This is the only way for a prospective student to apply to UCLA. The University of California system does not use the Common App. When a student applies to any school in the University of California system, they apply using the same UC application. That means that if you apply to one UC school, you can apply to any other UC school using the same application. The UC application deadline is November 30, slightly earlier than most regular applications for admission.
Whether you are getting ready to start the college search process or are already finalizing your balanced college list, this is a great opportunity to learn all about Columbia, Princeton, and Harvard from those with firsthand admissions experience at these Ivy League universities. Princeton tops many students’ lists for dream schools to attend. Like most other Ivy League colleges, the university is known for its rigor and increasingly competitive applicant pool. As competition for a seat at the top-rated college intensifies, most future applicants are asking themselves the same question: What does it really take to earn admission to Princeton University?
Experiential learning opportunities are an important part of your college education because they give you practical experience outside of the classroom. These opportunities often take the form of externship and internship experiences. Internships provide opportunities to expand your skill set — which can enhance your resume — and give you a taste of your desired career field, but their longer duration can sometimes conflict with a busy college schedule. Or, you may just want to get an idea of a potential career without committing an entire summer to exploring it. This is where externships come in.
