The choice to go or not to go is yours, but with every choice comes consequences. In this case, the consequence could be missing essential material, missing a pop quiz with no make-up offered, missing material that will likely be the key to the next exam, losing out on extra credit awarded for simply attending class, getting poor grades and failing out of school. From time to time you will find yourself unable to make it to class. It happens. Just make sure that you can at least do the following to cover yourself:

 

  1. Some professors will award credit just for attending class. Make sure to find out your professors’ attendance policy. Ask your professor or teaching assistant if the information is not in your syllabus.
  2. Get notes from a friend in your class. The only catch is that you have to actually go to class so that you can make a friend who can share notes with you. And then, when your new friend is out of class, you’ll be the one sharing notes.
  3. If you should get sick or miss classes because of reasons beyond your control, you have options. You can drop a class before it counts against you. Talk to your professors and your academic advisor—but be sure to do something. A dropped class doesn’t typically count against your grade point average. An F can and will hurt you.
  4. If you find that you’re consistently missing class because you’re nursing a hangover, or that you’re still partying in the morning while your class is in session, there’s a pretty good chance that you need some professional treatment. That’s not normal.
  5. If you find that you’re missing so many classes that you forget where your classes are and which days you even have them, ask yourself this question: Why in the hell am I here if I’m never going to classes? I might be better off buying a Ferrari with my tuition money.