It happens every semester without fail. Right before Spring Break and Thanksgiving break, professor's weigh down students with deadlines and tests. This problem is understandable from both points of view. Students and teachers alike are feeling the weight of the semester and pressure to get things accomplished.

On the one hand, professors have requirements that must be met. They have to meet their departments standards and, in that, it seems to all come down at once.

The students, on the other hand, are frustrated because some professors (not all) firmly believe that their class is the only one that students are in; hence, they give a plethora of assignments, deadlines, projects and tests all at the same time.

It seems to be an endless cycle. At the beginning of every semester student gets their syllabi, they mark down in their planners when their tests and projects are, then they panic realizing that all of the assignments are within three days of each other.

Student Emily Livingston is one of these students. "You when you map out your semester and then you see those tough weeks and dread them from the beginning if the semester?" said Deeter, "Well, that's this week for me."

Student Myles Cunningham agrees with Deeter. "It's always right before a break," said Cunningham, "this week and finals are my two hardest weeks of the semester."

Senior Abby Rhodes offers her own suggestions. "If teachers in each department could just get together before the semester and map out who is doing what and when, it would make life so much better for us and them," said Rhodes, "Think about it. We would perform better, giving us better grades while also allowing our professors an accurate testimony of our understanding of the class."

In theory this is an excellent idea. The only downside would be that these collaborations would only benefit juniors and seniors who are in classes for their major. Other students, freshman and sophomores mainly, would still have to work through these difficult weeks.

From the professors' standpoint, they have criteria that must be met. They have to be allotted enough time to teach the material before they can require the students to have a grasp on it enough to test them. Tests often fall around the same period because the professors have to teach the students before they can expect them to understand it.

Some professors are understanding and are willing to work with their classes to find a date where the students will be able to study properly for their test and not have four other tests for which to study.

Senior Trip Brown is lucky enough to have one of these professors. "One of my management teachers was gracious enough to push our midterm back after realizing most of the students in our class had a huge paper and at least two other tests that same week," said Brown.

Nonetheless, on both parts this situation is frustrating. Communication is key in fixing this problem. Take Brown for instance. He and his classmates were able to communicate their distress with their professor and she helped them find a solution so that they would be fully prepared for her midterm. Many students fear approaching professors while many professors wish their student would communicate with them.

The cycle is one that can be changed and resolved if both parties are willing to work. Good luck getting through this week, spring break is just around the corner.





Find more videos like this on The Loveliest Village