Everyone student knows they shouldn't skip class, mainly because they’re told not to, but how many students ever stop to examine the real impact skipping class can have?
It’s not only because it’s the “wrong thing to do.” It can really stress you out more than you think! You think you’re taking a day off class to relax and, in the end, you’re stressing more about missing.
We thought we’d break down the real reasons why skipping class is a bad idea and how it can really impact your daily life. Here are five of the main reasons you should
never skip classes:
1. It’s a Huge Waste of Money
Have you ever lost $100? What about more than $100? It’s painful, isn't it?
The point isn't in skipping class. When you skip class, it’s really like you’re throwing money out the window, flushing it down the toilet or whatever else you’d like to picture. You wouldn't
actually do those things, but that is exactly what you’re doing when you skip.
We don’t need to tell you that college is expensive – you already know that. Based on tuition costs, each class can cost anywhere from $50-$150 so, when you skip one, you’re essentially just wasting all of that money.
2. You’re Way More Likely to Get a Lower Grade
Some professors count attendance as a part of participation grades. If you continually skip class, your grade will likely continue to lower throughout the semester.
Additionally, many professors will consider your attendance when grades are on the cusp. You would not want to have to take a lower grade because of something silly like not showing up! (Oh, and don't even
think about a letter of recommendation or extra help on the exam review if you don't show up all year...)
Lastly, you’re always going to gain a better grasp of what’s expected of you as a student, what’s going to be on exams and the meaning of the subject material if you attend all of the classes.
That’s just a given. Anyone who says differently is just yanking your chain.
3. It’s Habitual
Sure, you may think it will be just once. But once turns into twice and two times turns into three. And so on.
Skipping class becomes a slippery slope that can become a seriously bad habit – causing you some unanticipated issues. So, it’s best to avoid the pattern all together so that you don’t get caught up in something you didn't intend in the first place.
4. You’ll Have to Play Catch Up
The less you attend class, the more time you’ll have to devote to playing catch up. You’ll have to try to anticipate what was covered in class, studying more material than necessary because you weren't in class that day to hear what was actually necessary.
Additionally, class time is a great time to review and discuss material so you don’t have to do it on your own. Discussion learning can be much more effective than trying to comprehend the material on your own – especially if you have questions on the material covered.
So, by skipping class, you’ve really created a ton of additional work for yourself.
5. It Adds Some Serious Anxiety
When you skip class, you need to worry about things like what you missed that day, if the professor noticed your absence, contacting other classmates to check if anything was assigned and, of course, scrambling to get the notes from someone who attended that day (because the power points online do not cover everything).
That’s a whole lot of added worry that could have easily been avoided.
6. You’ll Miss Out
A main part of college is gaining new experiences and making new friends. How are you going to be able to expand your social circle if you never attend your classes?
Skipping class will really start to limit your social opportunities, especially since class activities often call for studying with partners or group discussions. Get up and get to class, preferably a few minutes early so you can make small talk with others and expand your social circles and make new friends and/or study partners.
