It's arguably one of the most stressful moments in a college student's life. Running on all cylinders, burning the midnight oil, eating whatever we can find, and all the while trying to retain enough information to prove we are academically competent. Yes, folks, I'm referring to exam time.

Different colleges deal with the stress in different ways. For example, according to this neat article, students at Northwestern University all venture outside their doors for a ritualistic yell at 9PM sharp. This "primal scream" is shared by Stanford, Harvard and a host of other schools who need a way to vent their stress. As one guy put it, this is a way to share in the anxiety of everyone else. So at least you don't feel alone!

NYU has a different stress-relieving technique. Like other schools across the country, staff members will serve up a midnight breakfast to jittery undergrads. Not a bad way to get to know your professors either! With all the stress of trying to be so competitive, students are needing professional help too. The president of Saint Leo University, Arthur Kirk, says that long lines aren't uncommon at counseling centers during this time of year. Where does all this emotion come from? In the words of psychologist Pat Carey, "There are so many pressures to compete and succeed these days."