Calling All Smart College Students

What are you doing the evening of October 1? Nothing? Then register online for the Jeopardy! college test.

I've taken the regular test twice. The first time, I made it through to the second round, which involved an invitation to a swanky New York City hotel with a few dozen of my closest friends for an in-person test and mini-show. Apparently, I didn't do as well as I thought, because I never got the call to head out to California.

I figure it's because there was another "Chris" that season who was a big winner that caused me to never get off the list. At least that's what I'm telling myself. I tried to be upbeat and chipper and the perfect TV candidate, but apparently it wasn't enough. Hopefully it wasn't the fact that I tried to be cutesy by answering "What you talkin' about, Willis?" as a question (Hey! It's a question!) without adding the "what is" part at the beginning, or the fact that I made fun of the guy who worked for the College Board who was also in my group. (Sorry, College Board Guy.)

(The name thing, apparently, actually happens. I don't know if it was in Ken Jennings' book or an interview I read with him, but he said that they don't allow people with the same name to compete against each other, to eliminate confusion when Alex is calling the name of whoever has buzzed in first. You saw it a bit during this year's teen tournament, when two Rachels made it to the finals. One had the unfortunate nickname "Steve," which Alex called her for two days during the finals.)

Any way, go online and register, and tell me how you do! I'll be rooting for you.

(And if you're in my freshman seminar tomorrow, yes, this will be a "required" activity this fall.)