This is an exciting time to be a college student. I’m not talking about those pesky classes or internship applications, but the fall premieres of all your favorite TV shows. As someone whose schedule is basically planned around watching television, I recognize the intense influence that it has on the student demographic. Now, people will disagree with this ranking no matter what, but I tried to consider both quality (in my opinion, at least) and quantity (of the viewership) while throwing in the occasional lesser-known candidate.

10. Gossip Girl (Monday at 9 p.m., The CW) / Glee (Wednesday at 9 p.m., Fox)

Between one glossy show and one goody two shoes show, No. 10 has to be a tie. No matter how annoyed you may have become with the elitist Gossip Girl plotlines or with certain characters (I’m looking at you, Serena!), the amazing fashion and never ending drama always pulls faithful viewers back in. Glee, on the other hand, is such a feel-good show, you can’t help but sing and dance along as these high school students try to be truly great performers. Some highlights of the young season: performances of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” and Jazmine Sullivan’s “Bust Your Windows.”

9. Project Runway (Thursday at 9 p.m., Lifetime)

Project Runway is now six weeks into its 2009 season on its new network Lifetime (after an acrimonious split from Bravo). It’s sunny in Los Angeles, but it’s dark and stormy in the designers’ studio. So far, my personal favorite is Christopher Straub, the Minnesotan with no formal training whatsoever but who still turns out amazing clothes. Jealous, much? Plus I don’t know about you all, but I just think of Tim Gunn’s voice whenever a paper isn’t going well: “Make it work!”

8. How I Met Your Mother (Mondays at 8 p.m., CBS)

The eternal question: When will Josh Radnor (a.k.a. Young Ted) turn into Bob Saget (a.k.a. Adult Ted)? Because Ted and the rest of the gang never really act like adults, but that’s obviously what we love about HIMYM — it gives us hope that we can also act like college students well after graduation. Plus … Neil Patrick Harris is, hands down, the most amusing character to ever appear on prime time.

7. House (Mondays at 8 p.m., Fox)

I am NOT a science person. And while many Bio majors might flock to this show, I have found that House fandom is found in the most humanities-centric of people on Cornell’s campus; it brings out the pre-med in each of us, but without having to deal with the blood … and the patients … and that whole having actual medical knowledge dilemma. House is the doctor we hate to love, and here’s hoping that he will remain just as darkly endearing this season.

6. True Blood (HBO)

If Twilight is vampires for the middle school set, True Blood takes it up a notch so that it has just the right amount of intelligence, violence and sex for college students. Though the show ended its second season run a couple of weeks ago, the intensity of its fans’ obsession is still as white hot as the main characters of the show. Some Cornellians were disappointed by the recent finale, but True Blood’s trademark cliffhangers will be back next summer.

5. Entourage (Sunday at 10:30 p.m., HBO)

Sometimes called the male version of Sex and the City, Entourage defies the standards of every television genre in existence: too dramatic to be a sitcom, too funny to be a drama, too raunchy to be mainstream prime time, too much reality (e.g. Tom Brady guest appearance earlier this season!) to be fictional, the list goes on and on. Entourage can also serve as a personality test: My favorite characters are Ari and Turtle — I guess I must love loud, obnoxious men and teddy bear underachievers. Bottom line: These boys are too cool for school, so those of us still and school like to watch them every week in their ridiculous lives.

4. Lost (ABC)

Though it’s not on right now, extending the torture of all those diehard fans, the momentous final season will begin early 2010. As seniors come to the end of their Cornell careers, Lost will also find resolution. (Though I wouldn’t compare the two too much, I wouldn’t stake my future career on Lost answering all of our questions before it ends its run.)

3. Grey’s Anatomy (Thursday at 8 p.m., ABC)

The relationship between many college students and this daytime soap worthy show is something along the lines of addiction, but kudos to ABC for keeping us hooked for so long. Case in point: I hear there will be a funeral in the premiere, so we are now left to wonder which of the many troubled characters Shonda Rimes the Great has decided to kill off. With the two-hour season premiere set to air tonight, maybe those crazy kids over at Seattle Grace will finally grow up and settle down. Then again, probably not.

2. SportsCenter (all day every day, ESPN)

Some may not consider SportsCenter to count as a show, but ESPN’s 30-year-old baby has successfully combined the best elements of a sitcom and reality TV Who’s YOUR favorite anchor? Duh-duh-DUH, duh-duh-DUH.

1. The Office (Thursday at 8 p.m., NBC)

And last but not least, the No. 1 small screen obsession of college students — from Scranton or not — is The Office. There are no words to describe why this show is so popular, and deservedly so. As we have learned from Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, sometimes you should just shut your mouth and pay attention. Tune in Thursday nights and learn at the feet of the comedic masters of Dunder Mifflin.