8 a.m. Class When to Worry

8 a.m. Class When to Worry There is often a stigma for incoming college Freshmen that they will have all 8:00 classes. Is that good? Is that bad? Well, the truth is that it completely depends on the person, their major, and how quick they are to sign up for classes. I, a current freshman, have never had an 8:00 a.m. class, but I have had quite a few at 9:00, while I know sophomores and juniors who have 8:00 classes five days a week. First off, whether to fear an 8:00 class depends on each individual student. If you are someone who gets to bed early, wakes up excited about the day, and tends to have a get up and go attitude, I encourage you to take 8:00 classes. Morning classes are an incredible motivator to get the day started and actually lead to healthier choices throughout the day, too. Second, considering your major is an important factor in determining whether you will have to take early morning classes or not. If you are in a very large major, such as Engineering or General Studies, the odds of you always getting the classes and times you want are quite slim. If you are in a smaller major, say Speech and Hearing Sciences, your chances increase. Last but not least, how quickly an individual signs up for classes is often a big determinant in whether they have to take early classes or not. At the University of Illinois, there are ways to get access to early class registration, and thus, nearly always getting the classes and times most desired. Being a student-athlete or a James Scholar (more to come in my next blog post) gets early access and let me tell you, it really is fantastic. All in all, do not fear an early morning class. Embrace it. Early classes force you to be more productive throughout the day, and there will always be time for a power nap somewhere in your schedule. Rachel Class of 2020 I am studying Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Social Sciences and Literacy in the College of Education. Although I now reside in Champaign, I am originally from Vernon Hills, a Northwest suburb of Chicago.