With a day packed full of classes, studying, and running back and forth across campus, the typical college student is usually quite deserving of a good night's sleep. But how many times have you crawled into your narrow dorm bed and fallen fast asleep, only to dream of . . . classes, studying, and running back and forth across campus?

If you're a student who has found that your dreams are more a continuation of reality than, say, of you frolicking on a beach with your favorite movie star, consider yourself in good company. No matter how much you might be enjoying your collegiate years, there's no doubt you're under quite a bit of stress, too. For most, college is that first crack at independence, from which feelings ranging from euphoria to exhaustion can evolve all in the span of a few hours. And you don't have to be a psychology major to know that when you're stressed during the day, there's a good chance that the tension will spill over into your shut-eye time.

Take Julia F., a sophomore at Villanova University, for example. Julia loves campus life.... She makes good grades, enjoys her part-time gig as a tutor for inner-city kids, and is otherwise pretty happy with the choice she made for college. She's not even stressed that she hasn't chosen a major yet-or is she? There is a recurring dream she has right before she goes home for a weekend or a holiday break that may prove she is indeed a bit worried about where her college life is heading.

"I always dream that my family has no recollection of ever knowing me!," Julia says. "It's like I never lived [at my house]. My room was never mine, there are no pictures of me there, etc." She spends the whole dream trying to convince her family that she belongs there. "It's the most bizarre thing!

Julia's dream could very well be a repercussion of her not having declared a major just yet. While she seems to be dealing well with the fact that she's exploring her academic interests during her waking hours, her indecision is clearly plaguing her at night. In her dream, her family's inability to recognize her could symbolize her own stress of not knowing exactly who she wants to be when she grows up. Who wants to make a bet that Julia will stop having this frustrating dream as soon as she declares a major?

Whether you take your dreams with the proverbial grain of salt or go the Walt Disney route and believe "A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep," we consulted DreamMoods.com to consider what some academic elements of your dream could mean...

Computer FAIL. If your computer crashes or has a virus in a dream, it could mean you're worried about something in your life that's spinning out of control. Figure out what it is before it crashes, just like your computer in your dream.

Test stress. If you fail an exam in your dream, you're most likely insecure about something. If you pass it, then you're ready for whatever waking task you have before you.

Chow down? If your dream has you sitting and eating in the cafeteria, you're not craving the French fries, but there are some concerns that are "eating" away at you.

1-2-3... Take off! If you dream you're walking to class and then suddenly take off in mid-air, relax and enjoy your flight. Your dream of flying simply means that you're enjoying your newfound independence at college.

I'm late, I'm late... If you dream of showing up late to your classes, it could mean that you fear an impending change. Alternatively, it could mean that you have so much on your to-do list that you're afraid of not completing everything in time.

Dreamin' of the scale? Have you put on a few pounds in your dream? Then perhaps you are feeling "weighed" down by all of your responsibilities. On the other hand, if you've lost weight in your dream, you may need to beef up and work harder on your current projects.

Vampires! Aside from the fact that you may be watching too many True Blood episodes or have overdosed on the Twilight series, vampires represent a forbidden obsession-like being attracted to a "bad" boy or girl.

Now starring: Your Prof?! While dreaming about a teacher or professor could simply mean you have homework to finish, it could also mean that you're looking for advice, guidance, or knowledge in something that has been confusing you.

Books, books, and more books. As if you don't have enough of them in your life already, now you're dreaming about books. Surprisingly, a dream about books doesn't represent stress-it means that you are actually growing calmer as you reach your goals.

Everyone has a dream every once in a while that knocks them for a loop, which is why it's important to remember that dreams are the direct opposite of reality. However, if you find that your daytime worries are causing you nighttime stress on a regular basis, find someone to talk to on campus, be it a counselor or a really good friend you trust. Once you figure out what's bugging you, you can set a course that will help you make it better, and you'll be back to having sweet dreams again in no time.

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