Navigating the first year of college seems to be one big hurdle after the next.  Many high school seniors have finally decided on which college they will attend, but are unprepared for what other steps they must take in order to have a successful freshman year.  Orientation sign-ups, housing preference forms, meal plans and placement exams all must be done prior to the start of classes.  Another major decision a student must make is what classes to take and when.

First year students are given detailed advisement in course selection to get them on the right track in their program of study.  What they generally don’t realize is they have the power to choose the time of day they take classes, within reason.  Gone are the days of high school where every student is expected to be in class from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  College students may choose to attend classes anywhere from 8 AM to 10 PM.

A student recently asked me if I would recommend night classes or day classes.  This, of course, depends on personal preference.  Some people are more focused at night and prefer to sleep in and stay up late.  Others are early risers and function best in the morning.  Since most incoming freshmen have never had a choice in when their day starts, I would suggest trying a mix of early and late classes to see what works best.  I found that I preferred to have my classes start early in order to have my afternoons free for studying and extracurricular activities.  When I experimented with late afternoon classes I slept in too late and was rarely productive in the time leading up to class.

With that being said, it is also important to understand that some classes are only offered at certain times.  If you have to choose between a class and a time slot, always opt to take the class.  Although it isn’t a perfect science, finding the right time of day to take classes can improve your GPA and quality of life during your college years.

-Paul, Coordinating Manager