My own situation is that of having procrastinated 
the big paper right down to the last second.  
However, I've been on the other end too...

But my best high school buddy is now a prof at a 
school which, how shall we say, does not attract 
the best and brightest.  Not only does she do 
the "didn't they learn anything" routine, she 
regularly gets the "you expected us to READ?"...

Finals no fun no matter which end you're on!