The Eye is taking the week off for midterms. But before we take our leave, we thought it important to give everyone some sage advice about how to make it through the next week and half with your sanity intact. 

That frantic sense of dread is settling over campus again with the arrival of midterms. Because of Columbia’s baffling interpretation of the word “midterm,” some of have have been in the throes of exam woes for a couple weeks now, while the rest of us are awaiting their approach in terror. Nevertheless, we shouldn’t stress so much—we will all live to see finals. Here are a few tips on ways to survive your midterms without too much trauma:

Things to stockpile:

1. Peppermints from Ferris. If you save up enough of them, they will give you the sugar high you need to get through that all-nighter.

2. Paper towels: For when tissues aren’t enough to staunch the flow of late-night tears.

3. Winter clothes: Because when you finally emerge from your exile in Butler, it will be November, and it will be freezing. Don’t be caught unprepared!

Ways to decompress:

1. Go to Ricky’s and browse for Halloween costumes. Who knew they had a whole room dedicated to bachelorette parties?

2. Bring your laptop to the Hungarian Pastry Shop and pretend that midterm paper is the next great American novel.

3. Go to Homecoming. This could be the year, right, guys?

Things to remember:

1. If you feel like you want to drop out, just remember that Alexander Hamilton did, and he got a building named after him!

2. There are people who would give literally anything to get the kind of education you’re getting right now.

3. Fall break is right around the corner! Soon you will be able to prepare for Election Day in peace!