When it comes to course scheduling, there are two major worries every college student faces. This first is whether or not they will be able to register for all the classes they need, and the second is if they will have to face the dreaded 8 a.m. class or a longer 5 p.m. night class. With course scheduling now behind us, many Elizabethtown College students had to grapple with this question as they chose between the lesser of two evils. It’s also likely that some students may have the misfortune of both an 8 a.m. and a 5 p.m. class looming over them. However, when given the choice, there are many factors which come into play when deciding which class time is the better option.
On one hand, registering for an 8 a.m. course means dragging yourself out of bed with enough time to get dressed, grab a quick breakfast and trek across campus to class. With the winter weather coming our way, this can be especially daunting as you face the grueling transition from warm bed to icy outdoor air. In addition, this early class means either going to bed earlier or staying up and depriving yourself of much-needed rest. Unless you have perfected a sleep schedule for early classes, this often results in sleepiness which may affect your class performance. Not only could this affect note-taking abilities, but lack of sleep may also affect performance on an early morning test. Plus, an exam right after waking up in the morning is hardly an ideal way to start the day.
Oftentimes, this desire for extra sleep may also have students with 8 a.m. classes testing fate. They may find themselves more likely to race against the clock, rolling out of bed later and foregoing their morning routine to get more sleep while still making it to class on time. The rush to get to class on time is not a good way to start the day, as it can often leave students feeling unprepared for the day ahead. For those who are a little more self-disciplined, this may pose no problem. However, those used to a few extra hours during the rest of the week, only to wake up early a few days a week, may have trouble finding and sticking to a schedule.
On the other hand, an early class does have some benefits. If a student is able to get up with time to spare, they may often find communal bathrooms to be emptier than normal—giving them more space and privacy for their routines. An earlier class allows the student more time later in the day for homework, studying or socializing with friends. Oftentimes, this socializing occurs in the evening once the majority of classes are done for the day, giving those with early classes a social advantage over those with night classes. In contrast to night classes, which are oftentimes several hours, early classes are broken up across two or three days, so students have to focus for shorter periods of time. Plus, the pure joy of being able to get some extra rest when an early class is canceled is unparalleled.
Similar to early classes, longer classes which start at 5 p.m. have their own set of challenges and benefits. Most obviously, these classes require a longer attention span and aren’t spread across several days. Those may pose several problems, as it can be easier to lose track of time when it comes to assignments for these once a week classes compared to ones which occur more frequently. In addition, missing a class equates to missing an entire week’s worth of work, resulting in more work to catch up on later. The timing of these courses takes place during what many would consider dinner time and therefore require students to either eat earlier in the day or later at night. For those who frequent the Marketplace, this may be inconvenient as students may not get out of class until after it has closed. Evening socializing also has to be put off until after class, which may mean missing out on important club meetings or hanging out with friends. For commuters, these longer night classes tend to keep students on campus until later at night, so they don’t arrive home at the hour they may on other days of the week.
While these three-hour classes may seem grueling, they do have some benefits. Unlike early classes, most students will have long been awake by the time a night class rolls around, so there is less scrambling to get ready right before class starts. If a student’s schedule isn’t overly busy before the night class, they may also have some extra time in their schedule to catch up on homework before the class starts. Unlike most other classes, these later classes tend to meet once a week, which may be a benefit for those with busier schedules. In comparison with early classes, students with night classes may feel more prepared to do classwork or take exams because they are less likely to be tired or disorganized from an early-morning rush. Although it is a longer class, many professors will offer students a break or will end up covering a wide range of material during class time, which may stave off boredom and daydreaming.
Overall, while both types of classes do have their pros and cons, this author would have to argue that 8 a.m. classes are objectively better than night classes. Many of the disadvantages to early classes can be solved by waking up earlier or establishing a sleep schedule to suit the student’s needs. In contrast, there are fewer solutions to the dilemmas posed by night classes, such as Marketplace hours and club meeting times. Plus, early morning classes are an excuse for students to start their day in a timely manner, and when a student is awake anyway they may be more likely to get homework done during free time. Therefore, when it comes to the choice between an early morning or a night class, this author would recommend an earlier one.
