Stress, Cramming & Costumes: The Chaos of Midterms Meets Halloweekend
The best way to balance your night life & GPA on the wildest weekend of the year.
BY Ava Willoughby ★ November 10th 2025
Photo Credit: Juliana Nani
Halloweekend or midterm meltdown? At this point, they feel like the same thing, just with different dress codes. The flashing lights and booming music from the frats down the street distract you from the chemistry midterm creeping up on you. One of the most festive weekends at SU collides with the most stressful week of the fall: midterms. But don’t be spooked! You can have the best of both worlds; playing dress up with your girls and meeting that Blackboard deadline— it’s all about balance!
The Hangover: How to Prevent it
There is nothing worse than waking up with your hair in knots, your costume still on from the night before and a splitting headache. Newsflash: your mornings don’t have to look like this.
Tips for survival:
Eat a full, balanced meal before you go out. Consuming protein, carbs, and fats help to slow down alcohol absorption… Plus, drinking on an empty stomach is always a bad idea.
Hydrate ALWAYS! Water is your best friend, so make sure you drink enough water before, during and after the Halloween party.
Try to avoid the sugary drinks. They can contribute to those awful headaches we have all felt in the morning. Instead, if you are still looking for something sweet, a vodka Diet Coke is my go-to!
The Plan: Ultimate Guide to Preparing Yourself for the Chaos of the Weekend
I get it, Halloween in Syracuse is one of the most exciting weekends of the year, but remember: you worked hard to get to this school! Don’t avoid assignments, start studying before celebrating the weekend. During the week leading up to the parties, make sure you have a solid schedule of all your exams and important deadlines. I personally like to write out everything on my to-do list, that way I know what needs to be done before the festivities begin. It’s important to study early, not twelve hours before your midterm (we’ve all been there, though).
Some of my favorite “party girl” hacks as an academic scholar who loves to have a little fun:
Set alarms for assignments/deadlines: If you are putting on your Halloween makeup and an alarm goes off, you’ll know what you have to get done before hitting Marshall street.
Schedule with your friends: Coordinate a time to hit the books with your friends by heading to Bird for some much-needed studying.
Motivate yourself with a sweet treat: My personal favorite method to get my work done is studying at Schine: treating myself with a coffee from Dunkin’ is always motivating!
The Sunday Reset:
It’s important to take care of yourself, especially after a long weekend out. When you have a long week ahead of you full of exams and deadlines, Sunday is the best day to refresh and recharge from your Halloween festivities.
The best ways to reset after the weekend:
Take a walk and get some caffeine: A morning coffee is always a favorite pick-me-up, and it's great to get some fresh air!
Clean & reset your dorm: There’s nothing better than freshly washed sheets and a clear desk. Your dorm is your home and workspace: cleaning up can be refreshing and motivating for you to get some much-needed work done.
Hit the gym: Unwinding and focusing on yourself is the best thing you can do after a few wild nights. Grab some headphones, your water bottle, and even a friend! The gym is a great place to take control over yourself and get in a productive workout.
Till Next Halloweekend…
It's easy to get distracted with all the Halloween celebrations on campus, but balancing your social life with school can be just as easy if you apply yourself. Playing dress up and having a 4.0 GPA don’t have to be exclusive. It’s up to you to make the most of your experience in college, and there are so many great ways to live a balanced, enjoyable life. Now, go ace your exams and put on your costume girl!
Edited by: Eliza Brown