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How do midterms and finals make you feel? Antsy, anxious, stressed? No matter what you go through, though, you won't be alone. And, believe it or not, colleges will do whatever it takes -- one weirder and wackier than the next -- to help you get through it. Take a look...

"I feel like I'm in a maze of test questions."
The Wellness Center at Green Mountain College (Poultney, VT) helps students relax using a variety of techniques. Its latest project is a meditative labyrinth, a 30-foot wide maze with circular slate pathways.

"Walking the labyrinth helps students clear their minds from the clutter that builds up during stressful periods," says William Kelley, associate dean of student life and director of the Wellness Center. "There is something soothing about walking in a slow rhythm without having to make choices about where to walk."

The buzz on campus is significant, adds Kelley, from students to staff and faculty. "Various classes have come and assisted in the digging class projects."

"Finals make me want to scream."
And that's precisely what's encouraged at Northland College's (Ashland, WI) "ScreamFest." The event, which encourages students to scream away their stress in unison, is part of National Stress Out Day, an idea conceptualized by Active Minds, Inc. and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. There are chapters of Active Minds at a variety of colleges and universities across the country.

"The fun thing about the event was that after we screamed, a group of students who were having class outside let out a big unified scream as well -- almost as if to challenge us," says Kristin Smith, founder of the Northland chapter of Active Minds. "Of course, we screamed again. And then, there came a huge unified scream from [students in] Wheeler, one of the academic buildings nearby. That demonstrated that people were aware of what was going on, and were supportive of it. We're all in this together."

Other measures Northland offers to ease exam anxiety include community time where students meet up to knit, work on various art projects, or just hang out.

"I'm mentally and physically drained."
At the University of Scranton (Scranton, PA), students get physical when finals roll around. "Human Foosball was one of the attractions at our end of semester Finals Frenzy, held the night before finals," says Amy Paciej, director of student activities. What's that, you wonder?

"Human Foosball is basically a soccer court with inflated sides and goals for boundaries, and bungies with harnesses to keep each player in place," explains Amy.

About 300 students usually come to the event. This past spring, Human Bowling was the top attraction. "Going through our event takes about a half hour - the perfect length of time for a study break," adds Amy. "The attractions we pick encourage students to maintain some sort of balance between the mental and physical at a time when its easy to just concentrate on the mental."

Other stress relievers include a giant obstacle course, oxygen bar, massage chairs, mechanical bull, and snacks.

"Studying gives me the munchies."
"Feed your body, feed your mind" might as well be the mantra of dozens of colleges that offer up feasts for students battling finals stress. Manhattanville College's (Purchase, NY) Midnight Brunch takes place every semester on the evening before Study Day to mark the onset of final exams week. Music is played, students dance, and culinary stations at the school are manned by staff and faculty.

Those who attend leave with a coffee mug filled with treats. And, the school's president Richard Berman even has a reoccurring role at the hotdog cart. At Austin College (Sherman, TX), "Finals Breakfast" features student affairs staff begins preparing traditional breakfast foods with a Tex-Mex flair at 10 p.m. the night before finals begin. With about 75 percent of students participating, it's one of the best attended campus events.

"I'd pay a million dollars to ace my finals."
Students in psychology instructor Matthew Lange's "Personality" course at Aurora College (Aurora, IL), turn that notion into gameshow fun by playing an in-class version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" to review for their final.Students work together in two- or three-person teams to earn extra credit by answering questions to reach the million-dollar level. All students also participate through game lifelines like "Poll the Class," and "Ask a Friend."


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Dawn Papandrea is the Managing Editor of The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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