If you start searching on Google about 8 AM classes, one of the first autocomplete suggestions that pops up is “8 am classes should be illegal.” Many college students hate 8 am classes, and for good reason. The student may have an evening class that makes getting up at the crack of dawn difficult. Or they could simply not be a morning person.
Some students, therefore, avoid as many 8 am or early morning courses as they can. However, due to class schedules, you might not be able to completely avoid them for your entire 4 years of college. Here are some tips to create your college schedule around your needs, how to make the most of your 8 am classes, and how these courses could actually benefit you and help you get the most out of your day.
Why Do 8 AM Classes Exist?
Sadly, even for us night owls, morning classes exist. Whether it’s 8 am or 9 am, we might find it a bit of a slog to get up in the morning and be able to pay attention to our professors. A study actually found that the ideal start time for college courses would be around 10 am to 11 am as many in this age bracket just aren’t able to be awake and productive very early in the morning.
So why do 8 am classes exist if there are literally studies showing it doesn’t work for many college-age students? Well there are a few reasons:
1. There are Only So Many Hours in the Day
College classes can go all the way from 7 am to 8 pm and beyond, but a majority of classes happen between 8 am and 5 pm – the normal work day. Professors, just like students, have lives outside of the classroom. Since there are only so many available hours in the day, colleges and professors need to offer courses in the time available to them.
2. Professors Can Sometimes Choose their Availability
Professors, like students again, can be morning people or night owls. If you have a professor who is up at 5 am every single day, they’re more likely to be alert and ready for an 8 am course! Instructors also only have so much availability, and, if they’re parents or have other obligations, they could be highly restricted in their course selection time.
3. Early Morning Classes Work Better for Some
While some students may struggle with those 8 am courses, that’s not the case for every student out there. There are plenty who are morning people and thrive during the early hours. 8 am classes are also ideal for parents who are students and student-athletes who have a rigorous training schedule later in the day.
4. Limited Space Could Dictate Class Times
Even large campuses only have so many facilities – they aren’t finite! Other classes happen in those classrooms and labs, and the school needs to account for all of them. For labs in particular, this can be a juggling act as the space needs to be regularly cleaned and used for additional functions such as research. Add in graduate and doctorate courses, and a lot is going on behind the scenes that undergraduates may not know about.
The Benefits of Early Morning Classes
For those who struggle to wake up at 7 in the morning for their 8 am course, it could help to look at the benefits of this schedule. After all, it may just be for one semester! Here are just a few pros to keep in mind during your early morning walk to your class:
- Depending on your schedule, you could have the potential to be done with your day well before the end of the day.
- The commute or walk to class can be easier due to fewer people on campus.
- You’ll always be able to find fresh coffee or breakfast on campus.
- It can help you create a solid schedule for life after college.
- You can usually take advantage of smaller class sizes.
How Can You Make the Most of 8 am Classes?
Even with the benefits, though, 8 am classes have some attendance issues and professors see a drop in no-shows when they move the course to a later time. Some students simply opt to sleep in, and for those instructors who don’t have attendance baked into their grading system, students can find it easy to skip the class.
However, even if being absent doesn’t directly affect your grade, you are missing out on valuable information by missing the class. And you paid for this course! By skipping class every single day, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
So how can you make the most of 8 am classes even if you hate, hate, hate mornings? Here are a few tips:
1. Make an Effort To Show Up
As a night owl, getting up for those 8 am classes can be an exercise in futility, but by putting in extra effort, you can do it. You might have to go to bed earlier or you might have to schedule a nap later in the day, but it is possible!
By simply showing up to your 8 am classes, you’re ahead of the game. The professor will notice you putting in the effort, you have more opportunities for participation, and you will gain the benefits of learning in the classroom.
2. Change Your Routine
It can be difficult to wake up for an 8 am class two days out of the week when your other days have later start times. It might be beneficial to change your entire sleeping schedule. By waking up early every single day, you can better train your mind and body to start the day earlier. And since most jobs start at 8 am, this will set you up for success in the future.
3. Prepare Ahead of Time
Paying attention early in the morning can be tough, so preparing ahead of time can pay off. Set time aside to study and prepare the night before for your next class. By doing the homework and reading early, you can use the 8 am class as a refresher instead of hearing the information for the first time and struggling to retain it.
Tips for Creating Your College Schedule If You’re Not a Morning Person
Of course, you want to succeed in college, and if you’re a student (like myself) who truly struggles with early start times, you might be doing yourself a disservice by scheduling them in the long run. There are ways you can aim to take fewer 8 am classes though.
1. Plan Our Next Semester’s Schedule
You should never create your college schedule on a whim, and by actually having a system, you can create a schedule that benefits you. You likely won’t benefit from a schedule that has three 10 am classes and two 7 pm courses. By using this system, you can create a class schedule that works for you rather than against you. When it’s time to create next semester’s schedule:
- Write down all the classes you’re interested in, the days they’re on, and their scheduled start and end times.
- Cross off any start times that contradict with other unavoidable responsibilities
- Try to cross off any courses that have extreme start times unless unavoidable (for example, if almost all your choices have 10 am-3 pm start times, you might not want to take that 7:30 pm class to avoid being stuck in class all day long).
- First, schedule courses that have only 1 or 2 start times available to you.
- Cross-off times that are taken as a result of step 3.
- Repeat steps 3-5 to identify the schedule that works for you.
While you’re using these steps, be mindful of the morning classes. You may find that you can completely schedule classes between 12-5 pm and have Fridays off (I did that for a few semesters)!
2. Consider Holding Off on a Class
Sometimes, due to other required commitments and classes, you might not be able to avoid those early classes. For example, in a Spring semester, you could have to take Chemistry 2 to remain on schedule for a 4-year graduation, but Chemistry 2’s start time 2 pm conflicts with your Chemistry in Art elective 2 pm class, leaving you with having to take Chemistry in Art at 8 am.
Since Chemistry in Art is an elective, you don’t have to take it this semester! You can instead hold off until the fall when you have 2 pm available again.
3. Get it Over With if It’s Unavoidable
Some courses will always have an early morning start time due to professor preferences and availability. If this is unavoidable, it is best to get it over with. If you can, you might want to make that semester your “early morning” semester and schedule all of your classes earlier in the day. This will also help you adopt a routine that allows you to remain consistent and could result in fewer skipped classes.
8 am classes can be tough for those non-morning people. But for us night owls, there are going to be times when they’re unavoidable. By keeping the pros in mind and understanding how to best take advantage of the situation, however, you truly can benefit from those early morning courses.
Of course, many jobs start at 8 am. If you struggle with mornings, you might want to consider a career that is better suited to your schedule. By using our Career Finder, you can get started on this journey to discover a job that fits your habits and your goals. Use it for free here!
