So every year someone is going to write an article for whatever university newspaper warning students about taking stimulants such as adderall and ritalin and every single year students still take these prescription drugs whether legally or illegally. I read an article in the New York Times Magazine last semester about how adderall is considered the academic steroid- giving students an advantage over their non-stimulant using peers, but the only people who really believe that crap are people who don't take the stimulants and still get crappy grades! Wake up people!!! I am not saying take adderall or ritalin, but don't blame your peers getting better grades than you on the fact that they take adderall or ritalin and you don't. Don't judge others because of their chosen study methods, but instead blame yourself for not doing everything in your power to guarantee that high grade- whether it be going to the library for 10 hours straight- or extra help- or study sessions. Just because students take adderall does not guarantee that they are going to do better- it just helps them stay awake and focus, but sometimes it cant even do that- it all depends on the individual. I am prescribed adderall and take my prescribed amount everyday- without the adderall my mind races- i cant stand still- i am way too hyper- cant focus- and worst of all i hesitate worse than a freshman girl approaching a scale. PLEASE stop making all of these rash generalizations about adderall like the ever genius comment about how people really don't need it and how its all in the person's head- or what about the amateur status diagnosis that if a person does take it they will automatically do better than the students who don't! All of these assumptions are reserved for those of you who are too scared to face the fact that you live in a world that will leave you behind if you don't keep up with the competition. If your not prescribed adderall and are going to take it- don't take enough to make you a crack head because you wont do well on an exam without SLEEP and FOOD! If your not going to take it- then don't be an ignorant fool and call those who do take it "CHEATERS." People like you will be spending their whole lives COMPLAINING instead of COMPETING. I LIVE IN A WORLD that: "run's on Dunkin" Donuts- has energizer bunnies that keep going and going and going- and markets pills called FOCUS FACTOR for a better memory (is that cheating too? or is it not cheating because it is legal for all to use?). I mean common even Bank of America promotes "HIGHER STANDARDS"!!!! America advertises to be the brightest- strongest- and fastest- so why look down on those who try to be just that? Everyone is responsible for their own health and what they do to their body is their own fault and they must be prepared to suffer future consequences if they should ever come across them- just like any smoker- or drinker! If BU is really that concerned about how kids are going to cope with final exams maybe they should worry about how there are not enough desks in the library for everyone to study!