Maybe it’s because you work during the day. Maybe it’s because you signed up for classes late. Maybe it’s because you’re taking 21 hours already, and you need to squeeze in one last class to graduate on time. No matter what your reasoning is, you’ve signed up for a night class. I’ll refrain from berating you for this crazy decision (but not really), and instead, give you some advice so you can survive your night class with the grades you want!
1. Coffee will not help you.
If you are not already addicted to an IV-drip of caffeine, don’t get on one. If you are, get off of it. Coffee may be what you need to get that extra kick to finish a paper at midnight, but it won’t help you in the long run. Don’t rely on it to get you through class. Caffeine has been known to make people build dependence, and it actually has negative effects on memory and concentration over time. Not to mention, that if you get enough in your system to keep you awake until the end of class, you’ll still be awake when you’re lying in bed trying to get some sleep. Not a pretty picture!
2. You do actually have to go to class.
What you may not have realized when you signed up for this class is that you may have friends who like to do things in the evenings, when they do not have class. This means you will be left out of things that your friends do. You will come to a crossroads, my friend. Down one road, you will see your friends beckoning, your hot guy friend that recently became available, your best friend who has offered to buy you sushi, etc. Down the opposite road will be your creepy crypt-keeper-of-the-night-class instructor who wants to tell you about anything from covalent bonds to British literature. You will want to ignore the crypt keeper. You can’t. You signed up for this class. You have to attend it.
3. You still have do homework.
Just because you can put off your homework until late that evening doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea. Why not? That’s the entire reason you signed up for this stupid class, right? No, the reason you have to do your homework during regular hours is because you’ll forget it exists if you don’t. It will be 7 PM, and you’ll be walking into class. All of a sudden, it will hit you. The last twelve times you told yourself, “Oh, I totally have time to do that,” have blown by, and now you’re walking into your class with no assignment.
Night class: 1 You: 0.
Hopefully, by this time I’ve either helped you know better than to sign up for night classes in the first place or I’ve at least given you some advice to help you survive it. Now, I have to write a paper for a night class, and I wish to goodness someone had written this article for me last semester. Stay studious, my friends, and wish me luck!