You asked:

I’m staying at school during fall break, and it looks like the campus is going to be a ghost town. How should I spend my days without going stir-crazy?

Over fall break, most students are homebound or vacationing. But finding yourself stuck on campus doesn’t mean you’re going to go crazy -- it just means you need to be creative with how you spend your time. Take a look at some of the ideas posted below.

• Explore the town. What does your town have to offer for tourists, students and people your age? Go solo or round up a couple of other hall-mates who stayed on campus. Consider it an adventure, a chance to really explore your college town. Most likely, there will be endless opportunities for a good time, such as ghost walks, historical tours, famous sites, museums, zoos, shopping, outdoor activities, movies and so on.

• Study up! Use your break time for catching up on schoolwork and making study guides and flashcards. That way, you’ll be ahead of the curve for your next exam. You’ll be less stressed later on if you prepare yourself now.

• Work on a big project. This doesn’t have to be school-related. Use the time to craft a holiday gift, or make things to decorate your room. If you do have a big school project, get a jump-start by finishing up your research.

• Ask your boss for extra work hours, if you have a job. Why not make a little extra cash? This is a great time to save money for the holidays and spring break.

• Thinking about a graduate degree? Spend some time surfing the web to scope out potential grad schools.

Name: Sarah Arsenoff
School: UNC Wilmington
Year: Senior
Major: Marine Biology
Her Deal: This is Sarah's third year as an R.A. for freshmen and international students. She writes for Periplus, a university newsletter for students who, like her, are in the honors scholars program.

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