Back to school

Abstract

It’s back-to-school time. Give or take 1 week, Labor Day marks the end of the holidays and the beginning of the academic year for many schools across the US. The same applies to colleges and universities—most welcome undergraduates during the last week of August or the first week of September. Returning to school after the summer hiatus requires adjustment to a fixed schedule. For those starting at new institutions, it means getting acquainted with an unfamiliar environment—a new city, a new campus, new friends and colleagues. It also signals a return to homework, coursework, and tests. Growing up, I recall this time as exciting. I looked forward to meeting new people. And—I’m sure I’m not alone in this—to acquiring new textbooks. I’ve always loved books, and textbooks are no less appealing. However, as a student in receipt of a governmental grant to cover accommodation, food, fees, and other bills, there