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That dusk-'til-dawn study fest is a sleepless scenario that afflicts the majority of College students; chances are you'll catch it. To get an idea of what your college health is up against, take a look at our "patient studies" from New York University (NYU, New York, NY) and advice from Kenneth Paulsen, NYU adjunct professor and author of "Living the College life: Real Students. Real Experiences. Real Advice" (CliffsNotes, 2005).

Patient: Jim Schwartz, junior
Self-diagnosis: "I'm foolishly optimistic about my time."
Symptoms: During his freshman year, Jim was faced with a paper due the same day as two final exams. He stayed up all night and morning writing, studying, and taking his tests. With the aid of some caffeinated beverages, it wasn't until 11 a.m. that Jim finally got to sleep. Not a smart college health move.
Observations: Sleep deprivation and caffeine don't mix well, Jim explains. "Your thoughts are strange and manic, because you're running on caffeine. You feel all jittery."
Complications: One of Jim's exams required him to observe slides on a projector, and when the lights went down, so did his eyelids. Although he managed to stay awake, the temptation was there. "It felt so soothing," he says.

Patient: Ariella Spitalnick, sophomore
Self-diagnosis: "I work better under pressure."
Symptoms: Last fall, Ariella began a 10-page essay the night before it was due. Although she was allowed to reuse past assignments as a framework, Ariella decided to start her paper from scratch. Drinking coffee and promising herself sleep the next day helped sustain her through the night.
Observations: Ariella would like to get her work done in advance, but can never seem to buckle down. "I'm not as focused. I find too many distractions."
Complications: As an English major, Ariella has a lot of papers to write, putting her at risk for same-day deadlines. Luckily, the closest she's gotten to this worst-case scenario was two college  

All-Nighters

  in a row.

Expert Consultation
Paulsen cautions students not to believe everything they hear about the almighty all-nighter. "Anybody can find a story where someone stays up all night and gets an A," he says. "It's possible if you're in the right frame of mind, [but] that's more the exception."

He recommends laying groundwork for your assignments ahead of time instead of leaving research and writing for the last night. "It's better to put the pressure on yourself a few days beforehand," he advises.

And most importantly: "Don't fall behind on the stuff that is basic," says Paulsen.

In other words, keep up on your work before it's due. A looming deadline is more manageable if you've been staying on top of it all along.


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Genevieve M. Blaber is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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