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Skipping Class: Benefits And Consequences

Updated: February 10, 2023

Published: July 2, 2020

At one point or another in your college career, everyone wonders if maybe they can skip a class or two. It’s a common question: should I skip class? And the answer whether skipping class is a good idea or not very much depends on the class you want to skip, your reason for skipping, and what you will do with that extra time. Read on to find out if you really could skip that class or not.

Should I Skip Class? How To Know

There may be times when skipping class is okay, and there are other times when you should avoid skipping. Here’s a few ways to know if you should skip class:

Read The Syllabus

Before you think about skipping class, read the syllabus! It will hold important information about participation points, graded attendance, and absence procedures. You should also double-check the class schedule to confirm that there are no exams, mandatory presentations, or assignments due on the day you need to skip.

Get to Know The Professor

Find out how your professor reacts to others who skip class. Do they talk to the students afterwards? Do they act like it’s no big deal? Do they mention the absence during class? Try to find out if the professor takes attendance or not as well.

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4 times you may want to skip class.

There are a few times when skipping class may be warranted — here are some of those times:

1. You Need A Mental Health Day

If you need a mental health day, you should take it. Sick days are not just about physical well being, but mental and emotional as well. But make sure you put that mental health day to good use — meditate, talk to a loved one, go for a walk, do some creative expression — whatever helps you feel better. Make the day all about you.

2. You Need To Work

If you are struggling to make ends meet, it may be worthwhile to take an extra shift during class time. Try not to make it a habit, however. To avoid this happening often, make sure your work schedules and class schedules are not in conflict with one another each semester, and that you have plenty of time to work outside of class time.

3. It’s A Waste Of Time

If you have gone through the class enough times to know that your instructor’s teaching strategy simply isn’t working for you, and you have found more effective ways to learn the material, it may make sense to spend that class time doing something else. Before you make the choice to skip class for the rest of the semester, however, double check the syllabus to see if class attendance counts for your grade. If that’s the case, then it isn’t a waste to attend class.

4. You Need To Finish An Assignment

If participation counts for zero points, and an upcoming assignment or exam is worth 20% of your grade, it may be in your favor to spend the class time finishing the assignment, practicing for your presentation, or studying for an exam.

3 Times NOT To Skip Class

There are three times when skipping class is non-negotiable. Don’t skip in the following circumstances:

1. The Day Before The Exam

Don’t skip class the day just before a big exam. Oftentimes, this is a day for review, and you may receive additional help or information about what might be on the test. Even if it’s not written in the syllabus as a review day, it may become one anyways.

2. When Participation Counts

When attendance and participation count for part of your grade , don’t make it a habit to skip class. Those docked points will add up over the semester.

3. On Test Day

This one might seem obvious, but unfortunately it can happen. To avoid this, double check the class syllabus often, check in with classmates and professors often, and write down all exam dates in your personal calendar. The same goes for presentations and large project or essay due dates.

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6 downsides to skipping class.

Skipping class may not always be the best choice, especially if it becomes a habit.

1. You’re Wasting Your Own Money

Tuition is usually paid by number of credits, so you are literally paying per credit for the classes you are taking in college. Let’s say, for example, you sign up for the average of 15 hours of class per week. According to the average cost of tuition , this can mean you are paying $51.02 per class at a public college, and $69.40 per class at a private one. So, essentially, each class you skip is money down the drain. And tuition can run much higher than those figures.

2. Your Grade May Suffer

If participation points are measured in attendance, comments during lectures, or other in-person actions, skipping class means losing out on those points. Even if attendance and participation are not part of the class grade, repeated absences may factor in when professors are grading your projects and assignments.

3. It May Start A Bad Habit

Once you skip class once, you will likely be tempted to skip again. This can lead to a pattern of skipping class that you never meant to get into. It’s best not to give yourself the chance to get into this habit at all by attending lectures each time.

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4. playing catch up sucks.

When you miss a class, you need to find out what you missed, what happened in class, catch up on any revised due dates, study the material, and more. You may spend more time playing catch up than you would have spent in class!

5. Skipping Class Leads To Anxiety

If you skip a class, you may start to worry about what you missed. You also may need to start scrambling to catch up, reach out to classmates to find out what happened, and worry about what your instructor thinks about you. If you lean on the anxious side, it may be better to just attend the class and skip the worrying.

6. Sends The Wrong Message

Professors are passionate about the subject that they are teaching, and show up to share that knowledge with students. Moreover, they put a lot of effort into the classes that they teach. So just deciding not to show up sends a message of disrespect to the instructor.

Alternatively, students who regularly attend lectures show the professor their commitment to their education and can make an excellent impression, leading to potential professional and academic opportunities.

The Bottom Line

Overall, the choice to skip class really depends on something called opportunity cost. If the opportunity to do something useful or beneficial means skipping class, then it may be worth the cost of skipping that class. However, the vast majority of the time, class is the most worthwhile or beneficial use of your time for that hour. It is important to get the most out of your education, and the most out of your financial investment — and that means going to class.

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Skipping Class, Hating College — What to Know, How to Help

Amy baldwin, ed.d..

“There are times when I go into a depression for a week and cannot do anything. Then, I feel better and will catch up on my work.”

This is what one student told me when I asked her about her inconsistent grades and attendance in my class. It is no exaggeration to say that I have these conversations at least twice a week throughout the entire semester now.

And those are just the students who will agree to meet with me and show up to the appointment . I praised this student for meeting with me and being honest about what is going on, and I encouraged her to get help even though she thought she was managing fine.

This is the time to share that I am not a mental health counselor or therapist, and I do not offer advice to students other than that they should consider meeting with a professional.

Our Students Are Struggling

Educators have been telling anyone who will listen that our students are struggling (and we are, too!) and that the issue, which predates the pandemic, has only gotten worse over the past two years.

There are days when I lament that I am not able to just teach but must also spend countless hours checking on the well-being of my students. Let me be clear: I have always reached out to students who were stumbling and offered support and resources, but now it seems as if this is most of what I do. Fortunately, many of my students accept the opportunity to talk through their troubles.

What I want parents to know is that there are signs that my students have told me can mean something more is going on. While the list I am about to share are common behaviors that all college students experience at some time, when these behaviors are coupled together and are persistent, they can interfere with learning and success.

4 Signs That Something's Wrong

1. missing classes and habitual tardiness..

On the surface a missed class or a late arrival doesn’t seem like a big deal. Who hasn’t overslept once or had difficulty finding a parking spot? I don’t really notice when it happens infrequently.

What does alert me that there is something else going is when the student consistently arrives 20 minutes late to a 50-minute class or misses once a week for several weeks. This is when I usually request a check-in to see what is going on.

2. Late or missing assignments.

Because I teach first-year students, we spend time working on organizational and time management skills . They know within a few weeks of my course how to submit assignments and follow the calendar. When they repeatedly wait until the last minute or forget that they have an assignment due each week, I know there may be more to the behavior.

3. Low or no motivation to do the work.

This is harder to discern without asking students why they are not submitting assignments or why their work doesn’t meet the standards. A lack of motivation can signal a variety of issues: fear of failure, perfectionist tendencies, unease with asking for help, and uncertainty about why they are in college.

Therefore, I try to get students to dig a little deeper on what is influencing the lack of moti v ation . In some cases, they indicate high anxiety, bouts of depression, and attention deficit disorder (ADD) as the reasons. And most who come to these conclusions have not yet sought help.

4. Excessive use of technology.

Many of my students have reported that they have difficulty putting their phones down when they need to study or complete work. Some have conquered the issue by designating certain times of the day to check social media or answer texts.

However, I see more and more students who cannot stop using technology during class, even when asked to put their phones away. My students are allowed to use their phones or laptops when we are doing something specifically related to technology, but I also can see that some are on SnapChat or are doing other work than listening or participating in class. And it doesn’t seem to matter if I talk to them after class to encourage them to put away the distractions or make a blanket statement during class to that effect.

When I have a one-on-one conversation with them and we talk about their excessive use, they usually admit to having anxiety and that checking their phones makes them feel better. We discuss other, more appropriate ways to ease their anxiety that would help them also pay attention.

Parents, We Need Your Help

I share this list because I have found that students rarely fail a course or a semester because they are not academically prepared. Instead, it is more likely they are not able to make themselves do the work.

In a few cases, instruction on how to manage tasks and time are all that are needed to get students on track. However, for many, the issue is deeper. The recognition — that they are not motivated or are in need of mental health support — is essential to finding the best solutions for them.

Here is some comforting news: It is most likely that a professor, advisor, or counselor has reached out to students who are exhibiting such behaviors. But we need your help. Providing a safe place to talk through their issues and encouraging them to take ownership of their health help us in higher education do our jobs better. When students see that they have a team surrounding them who want them to feel better and do better, they often have the courage to take the next positive step.

Even though some days I am exhausted and demotivated myself, I won’t stop asking students to talk so I can help them figure out the best strategies for getting back on track or getting the help they need. All it takes is that one student who found a better way to manage that makes me feel as though all this hard work has paid off.

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My bright teen is skipping homework and failing classes, and I don’t know what to do

Q: My 15-year-old son, a high school sophomore, has stopped doing his homework when he doesn't like the subject or the teacher, or when he thinks it's stupid, and he's now failing two classes. He has also lied to me about it; he got away with the lies until the school sent notices, so he has all but destroyed my trust in him. This has been going on since grammar school, but it's getting worse as he gets older. I've tried everything I can think of: therapy, taking away the Xbox, using the Xbox or other things as rewards he can earn, letting him handle it on his own, partial involvement, hovering, crying and screaming — and I feel awful about those last two. I'm trying to take your advice to be careful not to damage our relationship over things, but I don't know what else to do. Failing major subjects in high school seems like a problem. Am I wrong to be so concerned? He won't work with a tutor anymore, either. He's a smart kid, so it's not a lack of ability. Please help.

A: I am going to be honest with you: I relate to your son. I started to check out of school around sixth grade and stayed checked out well through high school. I was bright but had stopped caring about most of my classes, and nothing changed my mind. Paid for good grades? Nope. Punishments? Nah. Rewards? Didn’t care. Threats? Didn’t matter. I was only affected by a handful of people, and otherwise, I couldn’t be reached. And this wasn’t even in a pandemic; this was just the ’90s.

Send questions about parenting to [email protected]

As I see it, your son is a puzzle (as we all are), and we have a couple of the puzzle pieces in front of us. He is bright (a word that doesn’t carry much meaning), he doesn’t do his homework when he is disinterested in the subject and/or teacher, he lies about it, this behavior has been happening since grammar school, every manner of behavior modification has been attempted (and failed), you have tried therapy, and he refuses a tutor. There are many other things I don’t know about your son, including his health, any transitions or traumas for him or the family, possible learning disabilities or differences (yes, you can be bright and have a whole host of learning issues that prohibit learning in a “typical” way) and family structure. I could go on and on!

The big question is why. Why did your son begin to disconnect from school?

Although I can do little to help you in this note, I do want to keep guiding you to the “why” instead of the “what.” Of course we don’t want your son failing courses — no one wants that for their children — but our parenting goal is not getting him to pass classes. It is to understand him, so he can understand and help himself. At 15, he is well on his way to becoming a young man, and whatever is causing his disconnect from school is what needs your attention.

As you discover the “why,” you need to understand why rewards and punishments don’t seem to work with some children, especially when it comes to schoolwork. There is a time and place for typical behavioral techniques. Take something away that children love, they stop the unwanted behavior. Give them something they love, they repeat wanted behavior. Fine. But this only really works when children already care about school, their teachers and, yes, maybe the work. Caring about your integrity, what you produce and how your teacher feels about you is the primary driver of working hard, not rewards or punishments. If you have a teen who is accustomed to not caring about what his teachers or you think, then he is immune to your punishments and rewards. “Not caring” runs both ways; you don’t feel the “bad stuff,” and you also don’t feel the “good stuff.” As a person who didn’t care about a lot of things for a long time, I can say that it is a horrible way to live. I was wretched to parent and educate.

Let’s pause all the behavior-modification shenanigans. Let’s pause the fear of all this failing and what it means for his future. Let’s pause shoving him into therapy or tutoring. Let’s. Just. Stop. Repeat after me: “My son is not a project. He is a fully human young man, and he needs my support and love.” Repeat this over and over and over, then start getting curious. Invite him to eat with you, go on a hike with you, learn a video game with you, anything, and try to get to know him without an agenda. Every single class he is failing can be made up. Every single thing he hasn’t learned can eventually be learned, and I want you to tell him that. I also want you to highlight and discuss what he does well. He is passing classes! He is (maybe) doing chores! These failed classes are not the sum of his person, so stop treating them as if they are.

10 ways to take the struggle out of homework

I also want you to tell him that it’s typical to not want to do well for people to whom we don’t feel connected. My spidey sense is that something (or things) happened in grammar school that caused him to armor up, and the armor has grown thicker. And of course he’s lying to you. When people feel ashamed of their actions (not doing homework and failing), they lie, then they get in trouble for the lie (adding on more shame), which adds to more lying. Let’s just assume he isn’t going to do the homework for some of these classes. We can take out the extra shame layer.

I can hear you having a panic attack, and I know I have not told you what to do to fix this situation, but it is not going to get fixed. Your son is not broken; he just needs support. Please call your pediatrician for a good work-up, and peek around at possible learning issues. (Giftedness is on the table, too.) Please personally reach out to a teacher whom your son loves and respects, and ask for support. What got me through high school? A choir teacher, an AP English teacher, my Mom Mom, my aunt, and the fact that my parents didn’t give up and send me out of the house. That’s it. Find someone your son cares about, and have them start talking, hanging out, checking in, etc. As a former teacher, I did this and was never burdened by it; it is called community, and we all need it.

The most encouraging part about your note is that you know this is a relationship-first issue. Keep that as your North Star, and as your son begins to thaw, you can add other strategies, such as rewards and punishments. Check out Cara Natterson’s “ Decoding Boys ” and think about seeing your own parent coach or therapist. You are doing hard parenting work, and you need a safe place for your fears and big emotions.

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Is It Worth It To Skip Class To Study?

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It was impossible. I had a huge assignment due in a few days, and there was no way I could have it done by then. The assignment involved a massive workload, which would take me a lot of time. Unfortunately, I didn’t have that time. To save my grade, I decided to skip class to work on my assignment.

Skipping class meant missing out on a lot of knowledge I’d need for future tests; it’s amazing how much content can be covered in a 3-hour lecture. It also meant I was less informed about homework and assignments that were due. To stay up-to-date with class, I asked friends to send me their notes and to figure out what assignments and tests were upcoming. If I did not have a friend in a class, I was forced to ask a stranger when I got back.

Knowing I was on a short deadline, I made sure to manage my time wisely. I put away my phone, knowing that calls and texts would distract me. I listened to music, as it allowed me to focus better. I made sure to take breaks only when I needed them, as they could be time-consuming. When I did take breaks, I kept them to five minutes and watched YouTube videos, which were the perfect length for a short break.

I drank caffeine to stay awake and focused. Skipping class was exciting, even if it was to study. I got to miss class and be very productive in a limited time. However, I had to rely on someone else’s notes to be accurate, I couldn’t ask my professor questions on new material, and I was pressed for time. But I felt I had no choice. I normally got As on the assignments I skipped class to complete and I was relieved to have them done on time. If I had gone to class, I probably wouldn’t have finished them at all; but there was a significant tradeoff in the lessons I missed.

I do not recommend skipping class to study or finish assignments. Being on a tight deadline, I was very anxious, constantly looking at the clock with my stomach in knots. The stress of finding someone who would give me notes from the lecture I missed was not an easy task either; even once I had them, I couldn’t guarantee they would capture all the important information. I risked missing pop quizzes, and felt the effect through deductions in my attendance and participation marks. Skipping class to study saved my grade a few times, but be sure to weigh the pros and cons before you do it yourself. Attempt to manage your time instead throughout the semester to avoid last minute assignments.

assignments , skipping class , studying

Smart Student Secrets

Minimalist Studying

Skipping Class Or Showing Up – When To Do What

I’m red-beard the pirate and i’ve helped thousands of students get killer grades with my book (and i’m even talking about the procrastinators too.), only $4.99  and you only pay it if you see the results you’re looking for – otherwise i walk the plank matey, want to know more.

Skipping class is almost always a mistake.

I’ll admit it. Showing up to class isn’t always helpful in a traditional sense. Some teachers can be boring. Learning from them can be impossible. It can even feel like a waste to try. It can feel more productive to just study but it’s not.

When you skip class, you’re missing out on a ton of advantages that you might not fully be appreciating:

• Teachers will like you more
• You will get more options after making mistakes
• You won’t need to manage attendance.
• You won’t miss test hints.
• You will still learn some stuff (even when you think you won’t.)

Do you really have to spend the time to go to class? Unfortunately…

Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice much of your free time studying when you know the right strategies. Be sure to read Time Or Grades? Do You Really Have To Pick Just One? in the members only area. You can join today for free.

The details are important…

Teachers Will Like You More

Teachers hate students that don’t show up to class. (Naturally, this applies less for classes that teachers can’t track attendance.)

In most classes, attendance is mandatory. They do that for a reason. They can’t teach students that don’t show up for class.

It doesn’t matter if you can still pass the tests while skipping class, teachers will still treat you like a student that doesn’t care. When your tests are being graded, your teacher is going to read your good answers and rate them worse. You’re throwing away points by not showing up.

This isn’t an easy factor to measure but it’s huge in high school. In college, it evens out a little based on less attendance taking but it’s still big.

You Get More Options After Making Mistakes

There are times when you’re going to screw up.

That’s okay. It happens.

It’s a whole lot easier to have the higher ground when that happens.

When you don’t show up to class… If you want extra credit, the teacher is going to be a lot slower to offer it. If you want an extension on a paper, you won’t be as likely to get it.

This is partially due to the likability factor. If your teacher doesn’t like you then you’ll struggle.

It goes farther than that though.

Teachers are more likely to give you leeway if they know you have a higher ground position. If you complain about the teacher while skipping any classes, odds are, you’re wasting your time. You can say, “this is a terrible teacher” and the teacher will be free to say, “this student barely shows up to class.” That’s an impossible to win case.

Overall, showing up gives you more options.

You Won’t Have To Manage Attendance

Showing up to all classes solves a huge problem.

How do you decide which classes to show up to and which you don’t?

You can think of a really basic strategy like:

• Show up for tests
• Show up for lectures on stuff you need help with
• Show up for the minimum classes to still pass
• Show up whenever you’re not sick

But any strategy like this comes with a ton of potential challenges:

• How do you know when stuff is rescheduled?
• You’re a terrible judge of where you’re struggling (until after the test.)
• What happens when you skip the max number of classes and unintentionally are forced to miss one?
• But what if you get really sick and need to take long periods of time off?
• Any pop quizzes?

The reality is that picking and choosing which classes to go to is hard. You need to have a student on the inside of the class to give you careful notes on everything. You have to keep notes on your own decisions you’ve made. You need to manage your future choices. Showing up is dramatically easier.

It’s just not worth it to skip.

You Won’t Miss Test Hints

The most important part of any lecture is the teacher emphasis.

When a teacher emphasizes a point, you know it’s going to be on the test. You need to get that information. Showing up for class is the most reliable method you have.

Sure… this can be managed borrowing a quality set of notes but this comes with it’s own challenges:

• Who will do it?
• How can you trust they’ll notice the important things?
• What do they want from you for it?
• You will still be less exposed to the information.

Showing up to class should be your bare minimum strategy to success in class. Skip homework if you must. Skip assignments. Don’t study for tests once in awhile. Showing up for class is a head start for everything that you decide to do. It helps with priorities in every area.

You Will Still Learn Stuff (Even When You Think You Won’t)

Some stuff will stick with exposure.

Sure… listening to a boring lecture is usually a bad way to learn. There are some strategies that you can use to improve your ability to learn. Little things like focus can make a huge difference. If you can find a way to maintain focus, despite not wanting to be there, you’ll remember a reasonable amount.

Most information won’t stick.

The reality is: you don’t need it to.

Lectures are terrible for memorization but they’re useful for finding the links between information you can remember later. It will get you familiar enough to connect the information you lock in your brain.

You don’t need much for familiarity. You just need to focus. You don’t need to remember it immediately. Getting the first exposure from class will get you an important chunk for your learning.

When Is Skipping Acceptable

As a general rule, never skip your classes.

Life gets a whole lot easier that way.

It saves you a ton of potential challenges. You no longer have to ask yourself when you should show up and when you shouldn’t. It will just kind of happen.

There are times when it’s not horrible:

• When it’s an accident

Yes… you’ll oversleep once in awhile. Forgetting your alarm isn’t the end of the world.

Sometimes you’ll be so sick that you won’t even realize it’s class time.

Maybe you’re just caught up doing something fun and miss class.

As long as it wasn’t an intentional decision (or a repeated problem) it’s completely acceptable. Showing up to every class ensures the occasional mistake isn’t something worth stressing about. It’s just a lesson.

• BIG Problems!

Imagine telling your teacher the reason you didn’t show up for class.

If the teacher would be sympathetic then it’s not so bad to skip class. (Ideally, send the teacher an email explaining the problem BEFORE you skip class. If you don’t send it before, don’t send it unless they ask.)

These reasons can include family problems, serious illnesses, or major accidents. So… if you’re coming into the next class with a cast then it won’t hurt to skip.

• Huge Classes, No Attendance Taken, And Serious Evidence It’s Pointless

Have a teacher that shows you movies all class?

Have a teacher that lectures about their own personal life and barely scratches the material (and tells you to read chapters 1-17 for next week?)

Have a class that is so big you wouldn’t have time to count all the students in an hour long class?

Does the teacher not take attendance?

Maybe skipping is acceptable.

It’s often easier not to try and manage this decision but okay… this is a reasonable time to skip. Overall it’s just a poor risk/reward ratio for most people.

Give up on asking yourself when it’s right to skip classes. It gets easier that way.

What do you think of skipping classes? When do you do it? Have you ever done it and regretted it later? Tell your story in the comments below.

A B&C Students Guide To Mercilessly Crushing A Students At Their Own Game (While Laughing Your Way Towards The Ivy-League)

Are you smart but getting meh grades?

The smartest students are often the ones the school system leaves behind. It’s easy to motivate a half-wit (or even almost-wit – like a horse with a carrot dangled in it’s face to get it running. Giddy-up horsey!

You would never fall for that, right? Then this is for you.

It’s easy to procrastinate when you’re getting a raw deal. That’s the smart thing to do.

Academics is a game – and its prizes are good. Really good! There is more to the story than that though. What do you have to do to get that prize? And that matters even more than the prize. Study 18 hours a day for straight-A’s and a high-paying job someday in the distant future? Ughhh… Not me. That’s for sure.

I scored near the top of my college Engineering class while studying less than 15 minutes a morning. And seriously, I don’t sound like a super genius, do I?

Hint: I had barely scraped a 1.0 GPA in high school and I wasn’t skipping and having fun with friends either – I was… dare I say… trying my best.

Big Tip: trying doesn’t matter unless you’re experimenting or already using an effective strategy. Trying without an effective strategies is a waste that can plop your grades in the stinker. First step – STOP TRYING with ineffective strategies.

You got that?

Look… I’m a bit crazy. I get it. I’ve read hundreds of books on grades, learning, and memory. I spent sleepless nights studying obscure academic journals. I swear, I even read the book “How To Read A Book” and didn’t have to drink alcohol to do it!

WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF!?

You wanna’ know why?

Don’t tell anyone but… I care. I was emotionally crippled by the school system. I had heartless, lazy, and downright mean teachers (and a couple good ones that couldn’t help.) It took years for me to untangle their mess…

And I went to college and beat them at their own wretched game. Top scores. Easy studying. Time to make friends and impress the ladies. (You know… the important stuff!)

But I know… I wasn’t alone and I know there are others facing similar and worse challenges than I did. And I may be out of the warzone now but I can’t in good conscience leave you behind without my arsenal.

That’s why a decade ago I founded Smart Student Secrets and got link backs from LifeHack, HuffPo, and good college professors with names I can’t pronounce from all over the world that see these strategies crushing every day. But forget about them… the emails I get from grateful students… that’s the stuff a good life is made of.

My newest book is, in my opinion, the best book ever written for students that want to absolutely crush the academic game.

It gets you to focus your energy on the most important aspects of grades – giving you leverage on the system.

It shows you the big painful studying, you’re not benefiting from – that you thankfully get to stop today and forever.

It takes the latest in academic research on memory and puts into your hands, the exact memorization strategies that a Purdue Professor proved can let someone memorize 2.35 things for every one they’re memorizing now.

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16 thoughts on “ Skipping Class Or Showing Up – When To Do What ”

Fire on Fire ❤🐺🔥

I was suggested this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem. You are amazing! Thanks!

Good information. Lucky me I recently found your site by chance (stumbleupon). I’ve saved as a favorite for later!

This website certainly has all the information I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.

I actually realized that I don’t skip classes. Now I have been two years in my college, and I don’t have any absent days (except for these days that I got sick). I just didn’t skip any classes intentionally. So I think not skipping your classes is easy for me or at least worth it.

Thanks for finally talking about >Skipping Class Or Showing Up – When To Do What – Smart Student Secrets <Loved it!

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I believe other website owners should take this site as an model, very clean and fantastic user friendly pattern.

I always was interested in this topic and still am, thankyou for putting up.

I never noticed how much I struggle with this until I read this article. It’s amazing I’ve never noticed all the bad habits I have when it comes to going to class.

I’m always telling myself the same old excuses. I always blame circumstance. I think, “I’m sick” or “I’m too tired,” or “I’m having a bad day.” Then the teachers mention my attendance and I’m amazed that they don’t think I show up to class enough. I always assumed they were overreacting. I assumed everyone else thought about class in this same way. It seems silly in hindsight.

Everyone has challenges that keep them from going to class. They just choose to go anyway. It’s not a debate. It’s a decision.

Thanks for taking the time to share your story.

It can be tough to make realizations like that. It’s even tougher to share it with other people.

I’ve had similar challenges in my life. That’s one of the reasons I wrote this article. I’m glad I’m not the only one. 🙂

I just wanted to give you a heads up. We’re contacting your email to send you a $5.00 giftcard for Amazon as a thank you for your comment.

We really love great comments from our readers and we’d love to reward some of the best. 🙂

I hope you enjoy the gift card.

I have a simple rule when it comes to showing up for class.

If I don’t feel like going into class then…. I go into class.

If I feel like going into class then I schedule a doctors appointment because I know something must be seriously wrong.

haha Thanks for the comment!

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How to Be Smart About Skipping Classes in College

Skipping classes in college can be tricky! You need to learn how to be smart about skipping classes in college to keep your GPA in check and ensure you’re not missing anything important.

Skipping classes is something I have a lot of experience with (it’s not as bad as it sounds!), and I’ve mastered how to do it without hurting my GPA. Sometimes it can be the right thing! Keep reading for my tips on how to be smart about skipping classes in college (the right way).

When Should I Skip Classes in College?

First, let’s talk about when you should skip classes in college. Like I said, you need to be smart about it. You shouldn’t skip classes because you don’t want to go. What’s the point of paying all that tuition money then?

Here are the only reasons you should skip class in college:

• Mental health
• Unchangable travel arrangements
• Special event
• To study for another class

Of course there are going to to be exceptions here. Maybe it’s your birthday and you want to take the afternoon off. Maybe your friend is visiting from out of state. Whatever the reason you choose to skip classes in college, you’ll need to use your best judgement.

Now let’s talk about how to be smart about skipping classes in college! Keep these things in mind before you sleep in or go out for happy hour.

1. Check Your Grades

Before you skip classes in college, check your class grades. This is a MUST.

If you’re doing well in a class, then odds are you shouldn’t have any problem missing a day or two. However, if you know you’re struggling to pass or grasp the material, then it probably isn’t a good idea to miss.

Generally, if you have a B+ or higher, you are probably in good enough standing to miss a few days. This is up to your own discretion, of course.

It’s always a good idea to be on top of your grades. If your college has an online portal with updated grades, that’s a great way to keep track regularly. If it doesn’t, or if your teacher doesn’t keep it updated, take inventory of your last few big assignments.

Do you participate and do your homeowkr? Have you scored well on your last few tests? If yes, you’re probably safe. If you aren’t sure, you can always email or talk to your teacher and see if they’ll let you know how you’re doing.

2. What Material Are You Covering?

What will you being doing that class period? Are you learning something completely new, or is this your third day of review?

If you feel confident you are already familiar with the material, odds are you don’t need to go. The first day of a new chapter is usually the worse day to miss, as this content usually is completely new.

3. Can You Get the Notes?

Do you have a friend or classmate who will let you borrow or make a copy of their notes if you miss? Some classes are note heavy, and missing a day of notes can be detrimental to your score on an upcoming test.

In this case, make sure you have someone you can ask to quickly catch you up on anything important you might have missed. If you do think you missed something important, a good tip is asking someone in the class when you return.

Get to the class early so that if you missed important notes, you can copy them quickly. Even better, take a picture of their notes with your phone camera, that way you can write them out yourself later or print the page. Just be sure you can read their handwriting!

4. No Assignments Are Due

I hope this goes without saying, but definitely do not miss any days where something is due! I lot of college students get freakout out when a draft or paper is due and will skip the class in order to save themselves from having to turn it in. This is a terrible idea.

Your professor then has the option of not accepting your late assignment or lowering your grade. A better idea is to email the professor in advance and explain the situation and ask for an extension.

If you know you need to miss on an important day, speak to your professor about turning in your assignment early or taking the test at a different time. Most professors will work with you.

5. You Need a Sick or Mental Health Day

If you’re sick, it’s probably a good idea to skip. If you’re going to infect your whole class and be miserable all day, there’s really no point in being there anyway. I’ve tried to sit through classes with a fever or other awful symptom, and spent the entire time miserable and unable to pay attention. You’re better off taking the time to get better.

Mental health is also super important! If you’re overwhelmed and anxious and really just need a break, take one! Remember, classes are NOT mandatory, you do NOT need to go to every one.

Missing one class will not be the end of the world, and MENTAL HEALTH IS SO IMPORTANT . Now, I’m not saying every day you need to take a mental health day, but if you’re really worn down or overwhelmed with work, it’s a good idea to take a day off to catch up and breathe.

Be Smart About Skipping Classes

If you keep these in mind the next time your want to skip a class, you’ll become a pro! I really believe that if you can be smart about skipping classes in college, you can keep your stress at bay and your performance levels high.

It’s really easy to burn out in college or even burn out after graduation , so don’t get too hung up on perfect attendance! You’re young, live a little bit! Take advantage of this freedom and have fun with it! Happy skipping! Do you have any tips of your own?

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How to Skip a Class in High School

Last Updated: April 18, 2024

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 48 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 310,187 times. Learn more...

Skipping school isn't something you should do all of the time, but sometimes you may need to get out of class for various reasons. Maybe you didn't study for a test, or maybe you're too tired to stay awake in class. Whatever the reason, pay attention to these tips to help you skip class without getting caught.

Deciding What Class to Skip

• Think about whether or not the teacher takes roll. It is best to know which teachers do and don't take roll in their classes. It is easier to skip classes where the teacher does not take roll because you are far less likely to get caught. If they do, you could try to sneak out of class after being counted present for attendance.
• Also consider what your teacher is like. It is easier to skip classes that are taught by more relaxed teachers. Never skip a class taught by a teacher who is likely to look for you or ask after you.

• Think about why you want to skip and decide if there is a better way to accomplish what you want to do. For example, if you want to skip class because you forgot to do your homework that is due today, maybe you could talk to your teacher instead and convince them to give you an extension. That way, there is less risk involved for you.

Deciding Where to Go While You're Skipping

Preparing to Skip

• To excuse yourself from class a few minutes before the bell, tell the teacher that you have a music lesson/sports practice, that you need to go and take medication, or that you desperately need to use the bathroom.

• If you think it's possible that your parents might drive by the school parking lot during the day to make sure your car is there, it might be a better idea to park at school and just walk somewhere when you skip class. That way, your car will still be at school when your parents check up on you.

Knowing What to Do If You Get Caught

• You were just running an errand for a teacher.
• You were on your way to the bathroom.
• You left your schoolbag/homework in your locker.
• You're on your way to/back from the nurse.
• If you get caught wandering around, pretend to go back to class and go to the nearest bathroom for the rest of the period.

• Some teachers may not let you make up a missed test without bringing in an excused note by a parent so make sure you're okay with taking risks.

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• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slqsvvsUEgA
• ↑ http://www.rookiemag.com/2012/07/skipping-school-2/

About This Article

While skipping class in high school isn’t something you should do a lot, there may be times when you have a good reason. Before skipping, have a plan, like where you’re going to go so you don’t get caught. If the class you’re skipping is near an unlocked exit, bathroom, or locker room, all the better! Tell a friend in your class that you’re not going to be in class because you have to see the guidance counselor or aren’t feeling well. That way, if the teacher asks where you are, someone in the room can give a believable response. If you get caught hiding in the bathroom or in a secluded spot on campus, just say that you weren’t feeling well or were having a bad day and needed a few minutes to regroup. To learn how to leave school grounds when skipping class, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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The cost of skipping class, by the numbers

You know the excuses when it comes to skipping class – hangover, too cold, fake job interview – but did you ever stop to think how much it really costs you?

We’re kind of thinking you don’t. What’s missing a class here or there, anyway, right? Well, USA TODAY College did some simple math and found that skipping class could cost you upwards of $24,960 over the course of four years.

According to the College Board , the average annual tuition at an in-state, public university is $9,139, and $31,231 at a private university. For students taking 15-credit hours a semester, USA TODAY College finds that each class session at an in-state, public university costs about $30, and about $104 at a private university.

And the cost of skipping class adds up quickly. According to the most recent survey by Class120 , which came out in 2015, the average college student skips 240 classes by the time he or she graduates.  For students at an in-state, public university this adds up to $7,200 of wasted tuition money over the course of four years, and $24,960 for students at private schools.

“I have purposefully slept through class,” says Brian Constantine, a chemical engineering major at the University of Maryland. “One time they were going over the homework, but I got a 100 on it, so I didn’t go.”

Journalism major Michelle Chavez says there shouldn’t be a stigma around skipping classes. After all, almost every student does it.

“I can’t think of a semester I’ve had perfect attendance in,” Chavez says. “Sometimes I feel like I need to skip a class to make up work for another class.”

Civil engineering major Sam Walter admits to regularly skipping class if she thinks attending the lecture will be counterproductive.

“It’s a waste of time going to class if my professor either confuses me or does not teach the material well,” Walter says. “I can do it on my own because I have a textbook. Then I will spend the time doing it on my own during the class period, but not if I sit in class first and then have to try to teach myself.”

Kathleen Cooley, a junior chemical engineering major, echoes Walter’s sentiment that she won’t attend class if she believes she can learn the material on her own.

“When I look at the ticket price, I don’t necessarily break that into credit hours,” she says. “There are certain professors I feel like I’m paying five dollars for and some that I feel like I’m paying $200 for an hour. So I’m not necessarily going to go to the five-dollar professor’s class every week, because I can teach myself what a five-dollar professor can teach me.

Cooley estimates that she skips, on average, two classes a week.

“When I think about that money I guess I’m technically ‘wasting,’ I’m spending that time doing things, like stuff for other classes, and I feel like that is generally better for my overall education,” she says. “So when I think about my overall education, it’s better to cut a class to do better in a class I’m struggling in. I still feel like I’m getting a full education.”

But not every student is keen on skipping class. Junior English major Ellie Lewis transferred to the University of Maryland after receiving a full scholarship, and says skipping class would be a waste of her scholarship money.

“If someone’s paying for that education, whether it’s me, my parents or the school, that money’s worth it,” Lewis says. “The least you can do is go to class.”

“As an English major, most of our classes are discussion based, so if people don’t show up to class, we don’t have a quality classroom discussion, and our class time is wasted,” she says. “I feel a responsibility to be there.”

Sara Dignan is a University of Maryland student and a USA TODAY College correspondent.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.

Donald Trump was convicted on felony charges. Will he go to prison?

A New York jury's historic conviction of Donald Trump on felony charges means his fate is now in the hands of the judge he has repeatedly ripped as "corrupt" and "incompetent."

Two experts told NBC News that it's unlikely Trump will be imprisoned based on his age, lack of a criminal record and other factors — and an analysis of thousands of cases found that very few people charged with the same crime receive jail time. But a third expert told NBC News he believes it is "substantially" likely Trump could end up behind bars.

Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records , a class E felony that is punishable by a fine, probation or up to four years in prison per count. During the trial, Judge Juan Merchan threatened to put Trump behind bars for violating his gag order, but it’s unclear whether the former president will face similar consequences now. It's expected that any sentence would be imposed concurrently, instead of consecutively.

Former federal prosecutor Chuck Rosenberg, an NBC News analyst, said it's unlikely that Merchan would sentence Trump, 77, to any jail time, given his age and his status as a first-time, nonviolent offender. "I’d be very surprised if there's any sentence of incarceration at all," Rosenberg said. “Of course, he did spend a good bit of time insulting the judge who has the authority to incarcerate him.”

The next step for Trump at this point is his sentencing, which is set for July 11. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg would not comment Thursday on what type of sentence he’d seek, saying his office would do its speaking in court papers in the weeks ahead.

Arthur Aidala, a former prosecutor in the Brooklyn district attorney's office who's now a defense lawyer, said the judge will most likely use some of the time before sentencing to research similar cases to determine what the median sentence is.

"He wants to know before he sentences someone what the typical sentence is," Aidala said, and would consider other factors, like Trump's age and lack of a criminal record, while also taking into account the lack of injury caused by the crime. Aidala said he believes whatever punishment Merchan comes up with would be "a non-jail disposition."

An analysis conducted by Norm Eisen, who worked for House Democrats during Trump’s first impeachment, found that roughly 1 in 10 people who have been convicted of falsifying business records are imprisoned and that those cases typically involved other crimes.

Ron Kuby, a veteran New York criminal defense lawyer, took a different view.

“Judge Merchan is known for being a harsh sentencer when it comes to white-collar crimes committed by people who have wealth and privilege and power,” he said.

Kuby added he believes "it is substantially likely Judge Merchan will sentence Trump to jail or prison time," despite the logistical and practical complications that locking up a person with Secret Service protection would entail.

Kuby said that's because the criminal scheme went on for over a year and included a number of bad acts on Trump's part.

“It’s an entire course of conduct he was involved with — not just one bad decision,” he said.

Trump, however, most likely doesn't have to worry about missing the Republican National Convention, where he's expected to accept the party's nomination, even though it's taking place just days after his sentencing. Kuby said he'd most likely be able to remain free while he appeals the conviction.

Trump's behavior during the trial, including his flouting Merchan's gag order by making comments about witnesses and the jury, isn't likely to be a factor in the sentencing decision, Kuby said. It's also highly unlikely that comments that appeared to be aimed at sidestepping the gag order by Republican officials who attended the trial as Trump's guests will figure into Merchan's reasoning, Kuby added.

"If the judge is smart, he'd stay away from that," Kuby said. "The best way for judges not to get reversed in a sentencing is to stick to the facts and circumstances of the crimes and conviction."

Rosenberg said that despite Trump’s frequent criticisms of Merchan, which he likened to “a batter who’s been yelling at the umpire from before the first pitch,” Merchan appeared to run “a clean and fair trial.”

Rosenberg and Kuby agreed that Trump would appeal the verdict. Kuby said that could delay Trump's serving whatever punishment Merchan doles out for years, even if the appeal is ultimately unsuccessful.

His first appeal will be to the state Appellate Division, a midlevel appeals court, and it will almost certainly not decide the appeal until after the November election, Kuby said. If he loses there, he could then appeal to the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals. A loss there would be followed by a request to the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.

If all that fails, Kuby said, he could then try turning to federal court in another attempt to eventually get the case before the Supreme Court.

The appeals process typically takes a long time — Kuby said he had one client who staved off prison time for six years — but there's another potential complicating factor in this case.

"If he becomes president of the United States, he cannot be incarcerated in a state prison" while he's in office, Kuby said, because it could prevent him from fulfilling his constitutional duties. If he lost his appeals, "by the time he leaves office — if he leaves office — he'd be ready to be incarcerated," he said.

Dareh Gregorian is a politics reporter for NBC News.

Adam Reiss is a reporter and producer for NBC and MSNBC.