Lisa Bertagnoli
College Press Service
Finals week means it's time to study, eat too much (or too little), freak out and indulge in a little ritualistic behavior.
When it's exam time, student around the nation report they'll try almost anything to invoke the gods of good luck.
"One student rubs a redhead before taking a test. Another writes to her mother before every test or 'she is cursed.' Still another student reported that she does not take a shower during finals week," said James Farmer, a public information officer at Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colo.
Others take a more simple approach. "I pray a little more," said Mike, a staff member at the Orion, California State University-Chico's student newspaper.
Believe it or not, a little ritual or two might actually help you pass that exam, according to George Howard, a psychology professor at Notre Dame University.
"You want to do everything you can do to be prepared, and if that means walking on the right side of something, then you're prepared," he said.
Engaging in such rituals can put students in a good frame of mind, which is crucial to good test-taking, Howard said.
At many colleges, exam rituals have taken their place in the hallowed halls of tradition. Here's a sample of some exam superstitions students across the United States engage in every year:
Screaming from the towers: Students at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., open their windows and scream at the top of their lungs at 9 p.m. the Sunday before finals, a tradition dating back as long as anyone can remember.
Therein lies the rub: Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., has a strange good-luck ritual: students rub the nose of a statue of a child holding a frog located on campus. At Miami University in Ohio, students pet statues of turtles that decorate a sundial, and at the University of Maryland, they rub the head of a status of Testudo, the school's diamondback terrapin mascot.
Seal of approval: School seals provide a route to good luck at several colleges. At Miami University, students who aren't petting turtles avoid a metal seal embedded in a sidewalk.
"Some people press their luck and jump on it, but most people stay away," said Melissa Morris, a graduate.
At Ohio's Bowling Green university, students walk on the right side of the school seal for good luck. And here at the University of Houston, students once regarded a school seal set in the floor of the foyer of the Roy Gustav Cullen Memorial in a similar fashion.
Blame it on the study area: At Baldwin-Wallace in Berea, Ohio, students avoid studying at a recently constructed study area near the library. Legend has it that anything learned in that area will be forgotten come test-taking.
The lamps of learning: At Notre Dame University, students can light candles in an on-campus grotto for good luck the week of finals.
Dennis Moore, director of public relations for the school, said this practice is rooted more in religion than superstition.
"Eighty-five percent of our students are Catholic, and they've been raised to turn to prayer when they need to get through something," he said.
Well, I may fail, but at least I won't fail hungry: At Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, professors cook breakfast and serve students the night before finals week, and at Berry College in Rome, Ga., administrators treat students in a similar fashion at 9 p.m. the Sunday before exams.
"Everybody enjoys the fun and stress relief this provides," said Oglethorpe spokesman Randy Robertson.
It's in the scent: At Colorado Electronic Community College, students are encouraged to wear a fragrance they have never tried before while studying, then wear it again to their exam.
"This actually works," said college President Mary Beth Susman. "Of course, on exam day, the whole classroom smells like a fancy whorehouse.