Thoughts on Thursday: That First Test

Welcome to Thoughts on Thursday! Every week, this section will feature helpful tips on keeping up with classwork, assignments, and life as a college student.

Well folks, it's about that time. You're professors are planning review sessions, and your friends are freaking out...it's time for your first test as a college student.

Regardless of whether or not your professor has given you your first test date, if you haven't started studying by now, you're probably not in good shape. I know your mother has probably already told you this, and I also know that you probably didn't believe her. However, I'm speaking with the perspective of a college senior who has been down the procrastination road a time or two. I know that you're busy, but you have to start studying early for tests. Even if you just work a few practice problems or skim your textbooks every night, make sure that you're constantly being exposed to class material.

A few other things to keep in mind while preparing for that first test:

• Don't be afraid! You took tons of tests in high school, and the fact that you are an Honors student means that you probably did pretty well on them. If you've gotten this far, you certainly have the ability to succeed in the realm of college academics.
• College tests will most likely cover more material than your high school tests did. This is one of the reasons it's so important to study throughout the semester (not just the night before the test).
• Listen closely for professors to give hints. Many professors will point out information that will be on their tests, so you need to be listening for these hints during class.
• If there is a review session, go to it! Not only will going to review sessions help you to review relevant material, but many professors will also give additional hints at review sessions about what will be on their tests.
• Never be afraid to ask for help. If you don't understand some part of the material that a professor covered in class, ask for help! One great way to get help is to go to office hours (professors LOVE students who do this...you may even be able to pry a few additional test hints from you professors during office hours). Of course, you can also ask a friend. It doesn't matter how you get help, just do it!
• Remember that college courses build on each other. So you're great at cramming, and you're determined to ignore the advice that I've presented here? That's great. Let me know how cramming for Calculus I worked out for you when you get to Calculus II (or Calculus III, or Differential Equations, or etc. etc.).

Hopefully some of this advice will be useful to you. Good luck!

T-Town Tuesday: Dreamland Bar-B-Que

 Dreamland: The Basics

• What: Bar-B-Que (specializing in ribs)
• Where: Original (Google Map) Downtown Northport (Google Map)
• When: Monday-Thursday 10:00-9:00
  Friday and Saturday 10:00-10:00
  Sunday 11:00-9:00
• Cost: Around $10 per person. ($20 for a slab of ribs)

Continuing with our post from last week, another restaurant that may be described as "legendary" is Dreamland Bar-B-Que. While the two locations are quite different, the fact remains, Dreamland has some of the best Bar-B-Que around.

The Tuscaloosa location, also referred to as the "Original" is little more than a shack with a grill and a screened in porch. Don't let this deter you though. Well off the beaten path, it can be a little tricky to find, but there isn't anything quite like picking up a slab of ribs from the original Dreamland. Parking and seating are scarce, but it is well worth the wait. On the inside, you will find the walls lined with license plates from all over the country; Alaska to Alabama it has them all. The Original is more than a restaurant, it is a cultural experience, but if you can't make it out there, the Northport location is a little closer to campus.

While the Northport Dreamland may not have as much flair as the original, it still provides the same great food, with some added convenience. The inside has plasma TVs, seating for about 60 instead of 30, and an actual menu. Just a short drive over the bridge to Northport, it can easily be reached in about 5 minutes from any of the dorms on campus.

Regardless of which location you choose, you will be chowing down on some good food. All meals are served with white bread and the famous Dreamland Bar-B-Que sauce. They are most famous for their ribs, which is just about the only thing you can order form the original, but also offer some side items, other types of bar-b-que, and of course the banana pudding. Served with some of their sweet tea, it is a southern meal to the core. It may be a little more expensive than other restaurants, but it is well worth it. So make sure you check out Dreamland: "Ain't Nothing Like 'Em Nowhere."