Your obnoxiously shrill alarm shocks you to a start in the morning. The realization hits you: It’s time to get ready for class. Despite the insistence of your alarm, you stay in bed contemplating the theory of existence for another 30 seconds, which turns into another 30 minutes. Then comes the question: Should I go to class today? That’s where we come in. Check out College Magazine’s reasons why you may, or may not, consider ditching appropriate school wear for a moo-moo onesie.
1. “I need more sleep.”
Don’t we all? It’s easy to find yourself rolling down the road of collegiate insanity so quickly that you forget to stop and smell the ramen. For most college students, a regular sleeping schedule is the first thing sacrificed in the interest of attaining the impossible 4.0. However, according to the University of Georgia Health Center, a lack of sufficient sleep can lead to a weakened immune system, decreased concentration levels and increases in anxiety levels.
If you’re suffering from the aftermath of the dreaded all-nighter, and you know for a fact that you already understand the material or can catch yourself up on whatever material is covered in class, roll over and find out how that dream ends.
The Verdict: Skip
2. “I have work to do instead.”
You’re strolling to your next class and it’s time to endure yet another lecture on the same material from yesterday. Meanwhile, in the back of your mind, you think back to the six-page research paper, lab report, discussion board response and literary analysis that are all coincidentally due within 48 hours. Before you enter the lecture hall, you think to yourself, “Should I make a mad dash for the library?”
There’s no shame in admitting that you’ve considered skipping a class to get caught up with other work, but it may not always be the best solution. By skipping, you catch yourself up in one course, only to fall behind in another. There’s no way to win. Missing out on one more review can make the difference on exam day, and unless you have an assignment due right after that class that you haven’t started, the lecture is too valuable to miss.
The Verdict: Go to class
3. “I have somewhere else I’d rather be.”
It’s so tempting to pull a Ferris Bueller and ditch the lecture hall to embark on an epic adventure with friends. After all, it’s a beautiful day outside and there’s an entire world of possibility out there. However, right before you step into the passenger seat of your friend’s Jeep Wrangler, you feel a twinge of guilt. You think about your professor calling attendance and shaking her head in disappointment when she notices that your seat is, in fact, empty. You think about whether or not a pop quiz was given that day or if some miraculous extra credit assignment was handed out only to those who attended.
You find yourself in quite the predicament; your hand is on the door handle, but your heart is on your grade. If you feel even a centimeter of guilt for missing class, don’t miss class. Your education is far too important to miss on a whim. There will be other beautiful days to enjoy afternoons of adventures playing ultimate Frisbee in the park, bingeing on Chipotle or dominating your friends in endless rounds of Super Smash Bros.
The Verdict: Go to class
4. “Frankly, I just don’t want to.”
Your honesty is truly admirable; kudos to you. Unfortunately, that’s not a real reason to skip. You’re at college to earn a degree that will eventually transcend into a career. Once you’re in that career, are you going to skip work just because you don’t want to go? If so, you might as well fire yourself before you’re even hired.
The real question is, why don’t you want to go to class? If the material doesn’t interest you, explore other courses and find a subject you like. If the professor isn’t the greatest, talk to your advisor and see if you can switch into another section. Whatever the reason, start thinking long term, figure out your reasons for detesting class and find a solution. Constantly skipping a class you hate might leave you with a lower grade than your GPA needs.
The Verdict: Rethink your life and go to class
5. “I have a 101.5 fever, I’m sweating bullets and I’m rotting with disease.”
This isn’t even a question. Email your professor and stay in bed to avoid becoming patient zero of the next university plague.
The Verdict: Skip
Even if you’ve heard the saying, “Most of what you learn in college comes from outside the classroom,” it shouldn’t be a moral compass for your attendance record. As a college student, you’re fortunate to have the opportunity to advance educationally. On top of that, think of every dollar you’ve spent so far on tuition, especially if you’ve taken out loans. Although there are good reasons to skip class, it shouldn’t be a regular occurrence, so when it comes to channeling your inner Ferris Bueller, use common sense and skip wisely.
