It's midnight and you're not even close to finishing your paper that's due tomorrow at 8 a.m. Should you stay up all night and get so little sleep you probably end up sleeping through class? Should you drop out of college altogether? I promise there is a better option.

Ask for an extension! So many people are afraid to ask for an extension because they think their professors are these big scary authority figures. But the truth is they're human and chances are they are pretty nice! Even the professor you hate is most likely not a monster.

I can't even count how many times I have asked for an extension and I've never had a professor say no. If you explain why you weren't able to get the paper done in a nice email, for example, a busy week with extracurriculars or just plain bad time management, give your reason and be honest! Your professor is bound to be understanding.

Some may see someone like me, who asks for a lot of extensions, as someone who is "cheating the system," but I disagree. I just know that it is very important for me to get adequate sleep and not get overwhelmed with stress. I do my best to complete all my assignments on time but if I can tell I'm not going to be able to get something done, I don't hesitate to ask for an extension.

This option is open to everyone so you shouldn't be afraid to as for it. Yes, it does help that I am very active in class discussions so professors tend to like me, but even professors I don't have the best relationship with have given me extensions. Your professors want to see you succeed and they will give you the tools necessary to do so if you just ask!

It's always better to write something you're proud of and take a little extra time, than to rush it just to get it in by the deadline! There's no shame in asking for an extension, so you should definitely take advantage of this option!