Top Five Ways College Students Work Too Hard (Part 3)

‘Kay, so far we’ve covered cramming (hint: don’t) and note taking (less is more). This time I’ll tell you why those of you who do all the assigned readings are probably wasting your time. Ever seen a syllabus with readings like this?

Poultry Lactation 101
COURSE SYLLABUS
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Class 12: Avian pituitary fluxions
Readings: MENSA for Dummies, F. Smoottinkler, pp. 119-827; Unabridged Transcript of Congressional Proceedings, 1806 to 2008, pp. 1-211; Latvian Journal of Yorkshire Terrier Psychiatry, May, 1972, pp. 23-117; Introduction to Poultry Lactation, K. Pootwhistle, et al., pp. 72-76
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Many of the assigned readings have a very tenuous relation to the actual class. Here’s a little known factoid for you; professors assign course readings using a page quota system based on astrological readings obtained from the Tibetan Book of the Dead. I’m speaking hyperbolically, of course, but don’t you sometimes wonder?

Some professors only assign you readings that you actually need to read in order to ace the exams. These profs get together at the Annual Profs-That-Don’t-Assign-Busy-Work Convention, held in beautiful Chappahiney, Indiana. Last year, both of them showed up. Most professors, however, seem to work with the assumption that if they read it at one time (or at least thought about reading it), you should have to read it too.