As scary as it may seem in the dark, the age-old naked-in-the-classroom nightmare never does see the light of day. But what if your back-to-school nightmare is real? Check out these five scenarios of back-to-school experiences gone awry and find out how to wake up from the nightmare and get set up for sweet, get-ahead dreams.

1. Closed Class
In order to graduate on time, you've got to complete a set of required courses. Unfortunately, the course you need is only open once a year, this was your last chance to get in, and the course closed before you had a chance to register. Don't be deterred. Find the professor and speak with him or her in person. Plead your case respectfully, explaining why you need (and want) to take the course. Many professors are more than willing to help a student who shows initiative.

2. Unavailable Textbook
You got to the college bookstore late in the game and the book you need is sold out. Thankfully, there are plenty of workable solutions to this back-to-school headache. The bookstore can place an order for you, or you can find the book online and order it yourself. If you need the book in a hurry, drop by the library and find out if the professor put a copy on reserve. If so, you can do your reading in the library or photocopy the pages you need. You can also ask a classmate if you can split costs and share her book throughout the semester.

3. Unpaid Tuition
You walk into your first class of the year, only to find out that you're wanted at the registrar's office. After waiting on a ridiculously long line and missing the entire class, the clerk informs you that your fall tuition bill was never paid. Whether the check got lost in the mail, your bank held the payment, or you just plain forgot to transfer the funds, it's not too late to put your account back in the black. Even if you can't pay in full, the school will probably be willing to negotiate a payment plan that you can live with.   

4. Unexpected Professor
You've been dying to take this course ever since you started your degree program, but little did you know that Dr. Death would be taking over Dr. Divine's classes this semester. Before you turn tail and run, see for yourself if the prof's bark is worse than his bite. If you decide you really can't deal, try to get into the course with another prof, or drop it altogether. Just be aware of the add/drop deadline so you won't be charged for a class you didn't take.

5. Academically Unqualified
When you were signing up for classes, you failed to notice that one particular course came with a slew of prerequisites - none of which you completed. Unfortunately, the registrar's office failed to notice this as well, so you now find yourself in an upper-level course where even the syllabus is hopelessly over your head. Do not attempt to tough this one out. Drop the class as fast as you can and replace it with one of the prereqs. No one will think any less of you for it.

Though you can definitely turn bad back-to-school dreams around, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Prepare early in the game, and you can avoid back-to-school nightmares before they even begin.

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