In the tradition of his indie predecessors, Tom Huang took out nine credit cards to help finance his first, full-length feature film. His willingness for a tenuous credit rating paid off in this realistic portrayal of college life.

Due to circumstances beyond their control, four strangers are forced into a history study group. Of course, the Louisiana Purchase is the farthest thing on their minds. San is coming to terms with his Chinese heritage while harboring an obsession for Billy Joel. Judy is a naïve cornbelt co-ed trying to make the social scene. Driven by the pressure to support her family, Tonisha commutes from Compton to get that college degree. Rick struggles with his choice of major, that is, when he's not picking up the shattered remnants of his privileged prep-school state of mind, blown to bits in the PC minefield.

Huang has done his homework. Dorm rooms are cramped places, where making out can lead to a pinched nerve; respect is earned, and not everybody will give it up; and many Chinese American guys do like Billy Joel. Most of all, Huang captures the drama and intimate conversations that freshmen past and present have experienced, and shows how many of life's most important lessons are learned outside the classroom.