Morning vs. Night Classes: Which is For You?
College life is all about making decisions, from choosing a major to deciding between morning or night classes. Both have their perks, and it often comes down to your personal schedule, study habits, and lifestyle. I talked to some experienced students in order to get different perspectives on the topic. If you’re stuck trying to decide which is better, they might be able to help.
Michelle Teske is a junior Acting major and Music minor with experience in both class times. She is a part of the Musical Theater program and will be playing Olivia in Arcadia’s production of The Twelfth Night. “Personally I prefer morning classes because my rehearsals already take up 3-4 nights out of my week and I like nights off to do homework, but I can’t get out of it always because of required theater classes only offered at nights,” explained Teske. I wanted to know if she usually builds her schedule around time or class preference. “I try and maximize the classes based on AUCS I need to graduate and the required classes for my major.” Since classes and extracurriculars can get super busy, I asked how much classes affect her social life and such. “A lot! I schedule hangouts with friends around my classes, but I also factor in potential rehearsals when choosing my schedule so I can know how much time is being allotted to which activity. My jobs on campus are usually pretty flexible with my schedule and when I take shifts so a lot of my scheduling is random 1-2 hour breaks in between classes that I fill with work, lunch, studying, or hanging with friends.”
Benjamin Lashbrook is a third year History major and a Cultural Anthropology minor. He is also a Resident Assistant, an Admissions Ambassador, and is involved in many other campus groups.“I prefer night classes because I focus best,” said Lashbrook. In the mornings, I’m often tired in class and that affects my focus.” I then asked whether class or time is the main factor for making his schedule. “I do build my schedule around class preference because I like classes that meet once a week so I can divide more work between my days rather than having work everyday for most classes that meet more often.” With different jobs and meetings throughout the week it can be hard to catch up. “A lot of my friends hang out during the night and get dinner together, so having later classes I sometimes don’t get those opportunities.”
Ven Mubarak is a junior Creative Writing major with a minor in Theater Arts. “I prefer night classes because I personally am a night owl,” Mubarak said. I am not a morning person in any way, shape, or form, and I do not like getting up early to do work. It’s easier for me to stay up later and sleep in than the opposite. I am generally a lot more productive at night!” I was interested in their preference for class versus time to see the difference from other students. “I build my classes and work schedule around my preferences as much as I can. Yes, there are times I have no choice but to take an early morning class or shift, but I try to choose times I know I will be more productive.” They also have some thoughts on the hectic schedule many students face. “I’ve found that there is some difficulty that comes with having night classes because many clubs and extracurriculars hold their meetings late in the day. This semester has been a bit of a struggle for me when it comes to seeing where my availability stands compared to everyone else’s. Despite this, I have found ways to make it work, whether it’s attending meetings on my free evenings, or even just hanging out with my friends before my later classes or even after – since we’re all night owls.”
With different perspectives on morning and night classes, it may now be easier to decide which one is for you. Then again, I’m not even sure which I prefer. I’ve taken 8:30 a.m. classes and even some that end at 10 p.m. However, 8:30 is probably too early for me; I try to pick afternoon classes and prefer longer classes that meet one to two times a week. Since I have a lot of on-campus and off-campus jobs/activities, it’s important for me to have enough time in the mornings and evenings to complete all my work. Whichever time you choose, whether it’s morning or night or both, make sure you at least have some interest in the class. It can be hard to want to take AUC classes, but there are so many options that blend many concepts together.
