Why Missing Lectures is Hurting Your Grades

You’re in a gigantic lecture hall with 500 other students. The professor doesn’t take attendance. No one would know if you were gone, and you can get the notes online, or from a friend anyway, right? So you start skipping class, doing the reading, submitting the homework online, but your grades still seem to be slipping. Or, you miss a lecture, plan to ask a friend, and that friend also missed class. No way to get the notes now.

What do you do? Why is attending your lectures so important when the actual graded work takes place online? Need Help??

The simple reason: Hearing the information, as well as reading it, solidifies it in your mind. When you only read the material presented in a lecture, you’re missing out on half of the learning. Research has shown that even passive listening (when you’re paying attention, but not really) is beneficial for learning.

So how do you make up for the time you’ve already lost? Here are three ways to get back on track. In the meantime, get back in class.

1. E-mail your professor.

It seems like the most painful option — being honest. But professors hear as many exaggerations of the truth as they can handle most days. A little honesty, admitting that skipping class was a mistake and you regret it, will be a refreshing change of pace. Chances are, your professor will be more than willing to sit down with you and talk about some of the classes you missed and fill in the gaps in your reading. The best thing you can do is come to your meeting with your professor prepared. Read the material from the lectures you missed and have questions ready.

2. Make friends with your TAs.

If your buddy missed the lecture too, the next best thing you can do is ask your TAs for some of their time during their office hours. Just like with your professor, these helpers will more than likely be happy to help. Come prepared, and expect that they’ll be able to give you a few more minutes than your professor could spare. Developing a relationship with your TAs can help in the long run as well, since they can give good advice on which classes to take next and which professors are most helpful.

3. Enlist the help of a tutor.

This is never a bad idea, and there are a wealth of resources both on-campus and off that can help you succeed, even if you’ve skipped one too many lectures. On-campus tutoring centers are full of students who have already succeeded at the classes you’re looking for help with, so head there as soon as possible. Seeking outside help is also a good idea, as an online tutor, like those from SolutionInn, can help you develop a better understanding of your reading material and answer questions in a more substantial way.