One of the best parts about getting to university, is that you get to have [some] choice in the layout of your schedule. You can pick if you want to have all of your classes spread out, or if you want to have them all back to back. You can attempt to put all of your classes on days Monday through Thursday, so that you can have Fridays off. You can even try to have all of your classes in the morning, or all of your classes in the late afternoon and early evening. Some people are schedule wizards; they are able to craft a schedule with no issues and no compromises. Others have to make some concessions. What follows is two different perspectives on morning classes, reasons to love them, and reasons to wish they never existed.
Morning Class Lovers
1. Morning classes are great for early risers.
Luckily, I’ve always been the type of person that wakes up early. So, setting my alarm early enough to get up, have breakfast, and get dressed all before heading out the door for an 8:30 am class is not the end of the world for me. If you’re reading this and thinking that this sounds like you, then morning classes might be your thing as well.
2. Some people just function better in the morning.
They wake up, feel fresh, and are ready to be productive. Morning classes are great for these kind of people, they’re able to stay totally focused no matter what the professor is lecturing about.
3. Sometimes it’s nice to get classes over with for the day.
If someone starts at 8:30 or 10:00 in the morning, they may be lucky enough to finish by 1:00 or 2:30 in the afternoon. This sort of schedule leaves a lot of the day left over to study, work, hang out with friends and explore the city.
4. It starts the day with getting things accomplished.
Often when a person starts off the day with being productive, the rest of the day will follow suit. So, if you go to an early class and nail an exam or participate in the discussion, you may walk out feeling more motivated to continue being productive.
Night Crew
1. Some people have non-conforming sleep schedules.
Maybe you’re a party person, a late-night Netflix binger, or an avid video gamer that likes to play late into the night. Maybe you just sleep better during the day. Whatever the reason, these people often find themselves going to sleep closer to 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00 am which is not conducive to a morning class schedule.
2. You find your motivation comes at night.
For some, being productive during the daylight hours just isn’t possible. During the day there are other things that you need to do, that take up all of your time. Only when there is nothing else going on, is it possible for these people to settle down and get to work. If someone stays up until the wee hours doing readings, and writing papers, attending an early class just won’t be ideal.
3. Rush hour transportation.
Most students are subject to the pleasures of public transportation. Public transportation is not always the most reliable. Especially at times when an increased number of people are using the service. Rush hour is everyone’s nightmare. Even someone who loves getting up and getting to morning classes, can be discouraged when it comes to public transportation. Even if you’re a student lucky enough to have access to your own set of wheels, or parents that don’t mind giving you a ride, you’re still subject to the perils of morning transportation. This can lead many to choosing later start times in favour of avoiding the morning rush.
4. If you have a habit of sleeping through your classes.
This one is often just an accident. Sometimes though, students just have a talent for being able to sleep through any noise, including their alarms. This can lead to more than one missed class. If this is a consistent problem, then perhaps morning classes just aren’t your thing.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?