How To Manage Missed Classes

First of all, you want to avoid missing classes in college. You’re paying for these classes, so you want to make sure you go to every class, however they are also content heavy so you can easily get behind. While you want to avoid missing classes in college, there are going to be times that you have no other choice either because you’re ill or have personal matters to attend to. So how do you manage a missed class?

First of all, if you know you are going to be missing class on a certain date, let the professor know in advance. And not just the day before you’re going to be missing. Let them know as soon as you know and if it’s weeks in the future, give them a reminder a few days before. You may need to make arrangements to take a quiz in advance or turn in homework that may be due. Most importantly, you want to find out what you are going to be missing and find out what homework would be assigned. This information may also be in your class syllabus, but you want to double check with your professor in case there is going to be more or less assigned. 

If it is an unexpected absence that you didn’t plan such as you are so sick you can’t get out of bed, you obviously can’t let your professor know in advance. Just because you didn’t plan on it, that doesn’t mean that you completely ignore the fact that you missed class or had homework assigned. You need to be as proactive as you would be with advance notice of a missed class. As soon as you’re well and able, contact your professor to find out what was missed and what you should be doing. You’ll want to start on this right away – don’t procrastinate. As you missed a class, you’re going to have a heavier work load and the only way to beat that increased work load is to start on it as soon as possible.

Whether you had a planned or unexpected absence, you’ll want to collect notes from a reliable friend in your class so you are fully up to date. The key with both situations is to be proactive and communicate with your professor. If you’re going to be out multiple days, let them know. They’re going to be more willing to work with you if you are in communication with them and if you’re proactive.