Campus classes are full, and with a huge influx of students this semester, many students were forced to take that awful 7:30 a.m. class. Though the early mornings might seem like a pain now, new research suggests that students taking earlier classes perform better in school and lead more organized lives. While taking a late afternoon class, spending the evening napping and going out at night might seem like the student dream, being lazy during the school day can lead to less study time and more booze consumption.
New research in a St. Lawrence U. study suggests “undergrads whose classes started later were more likely to binge drink and get lower grades.”
“Students who had later class start times tended to stay up later, were not as well rested, had more daytime sleepiness and earned slightly lower grade point averages,” according to the study. In addition to the lazy daytime schedule, students “also reported more alcohol use and more binge drinking.”
While those 2:30 p.m. classes allow for sleepy mornings and late nights with friends, leaving the morning lessons off a class schedule can hurt more than help when midterms roll around. Many students who take afternoon classes justify late nights with not having to wake up early, leaving less time in the day to study and prepare for upcoming tests. While you might plan on studying after class ends, that study hour can easily turn into happy hour with friends when the evening rolls around.
With a booming bar scene just minutes from campus, the idea of skipping that boring test review to throw some back with friends can be tempting. The structure of getting up in the morning and hanging out for hours until class can be useful for some, but with work schedules, a mountain of errands to run and friends who want to see you, it is more tempting to skip a class when it is not the first thing on the to-do list.
Having a structured day that starts with class is a positive for many students. While waking up before the sun rises isn’t the most exciting way to start the day, finishing classes early and having the remainder of the day to go work, study and see friends is a recipe for success.
“Though most of my classes are only offered for one session, I prefer early classes so that I can do other stuff with the day,” said Allie Mertz, a U. Arkansas senior majoring in food science. “I perform equally well in both morning and afternoon classes, but afternoon classes are easier for me to skip, especially if it is nearing a holiday and I want to get a head start with my trip home.”
There are some downsides, though, to taking early-morning classes.
“Unfortunately with early classes people are less awake so they may need to spend extra time outside of the classroom learning the material,” Mertz said. “Since I am more attentive during my afternoon classes, I feel I get the material and can more easily justify skipping.”
If the majority of your classes start after noon, consider waking up early anyway and using the morning as study time. Grab a coffee, textbook and a pen and head out of the dorm room and into the study hall. By finishing any class work before the lecture meets, your afternoon is free for the occasional nap or night out on the town.
Though many students like to tackle class before the day has begun, some find later classes a better environment for focusing.
“I have an 8:30 a.m. class some days and an 11 a.m. class on others,” said T.J. Wuellner, a UA junior majoring in kinesiology. “I like the later classes because I can get a full eight hours of sleep that I don’t get on my early class days.”
Whatever time your classes meet this semester, be sure to set aside time for work and fun. Consider meeting with friends for a morning study session if class meets in the afternoon, and cut back on the social events in the week when classes are important.
If you get stuck with an afternoon workload, make sure to pick up a few study tips to have a successful semester on campus. Being a college student is about being responsible and making sure to maintain a healthy balance of work and play, regardless of when you head to class.