Julee Allen’s math teacher was surprised to see Allen last Monday when Allen returned to the classroom.

The teacher said, I haven’t seen you for a while I thought you dropped the class,’ Allen said.

Allen, a freshman from Rockton, decided about a week ago that she had better increase her attendance and study time for that class.

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Allen is one of several SIUC students that have hit the crunch time in the semester. With only three full weeks of school left, Allen and others have decided to evaluate where they stand in the class and try to improve upon that standing.

Josh Leininger, a senior in history from Charlotte, N.C., said he just realized the end of the semester is approaching.

For the first time today, I am writing down my Spanish vocabulary words, Leininger said. I used to be okay just by looking over it.

I’m going to be spending more time on my books and thinking about the study methods that have given me A’s in the last couple of years.

Leininger said one approach that he has not taken this semester is the so-called kissing butt technique.

I need to start doing that more, he said. I think that has a lot to do with grades.

I’ve pulled the kissing butt’ technique from anywhere from the last month of school to the last two weeks. Normally it works if you are sincere about it, but don’t be blatant.

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Allen’s sister, who is a senior at the University of Mississippi, gave Allen some similar pointers on how to handle her problem.

I called my sister for advice, and she gave me a lecture, she said. She also told me to kiss up to my teacher, but I just can’t.

Allen said when she first started the math class early in the semester, it was easy.

But then I decided not to go for a couple of weeks, and now I’m lost.

I think every freshman has this problem, adjusting to the time schedule and so on, she added. You have to tell yourself to go to class and do your homework.

Marche Thomas, a senior in hotel/restaurant travel administration from Chicago, said she is trying to focus in on the classes that are giving her the most trouble this semester.

At the mid semester, I was like wait a minute, I’d better do something about my grade in this class,’ Thomas said. But I always feel this way at the end of the semester.

I’m just trying to get the best grades I can.