An advantage that community colleges typically provide to their applicants is a wide variety of classes such as weekend, late night and early morning classes.
While it is important that all these classes are offered for students with tighter schedules, it is beneficial for students to take morning classes because they tend to be more dedicated to their classes, succeed more and have time in the day for other activities besides school.
When students begin their day with an early class, it allows the rest of the day to be used for other aspects and qualities of life. Whether it be homework, work or simply spending time with friends and family, finishing up classes earlier allows time in the day to get things done.
For those who have to balance work life with school life, it can sometimes be disadvantageous entering a classroom environment after work. After strenuous work in the morning, it can be difficult to pay the amount of attention necessary to succeed in the classroom.
Balancing afternoon and evening classes can be difficult for students who are employed.. Part-time jobs are often based on shift work, and not too many companies are accommodating to mid-shift starts. Typically shifts will start in the morning or at night, so it causes a conflicting time slot for the student if they get out of work after their morning shift and have to head to school immediately.
For a student to learn properly, it is essential for them to have an active mind. According to Inc.com, “The brain is most effective around 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. because it is in acquisition mode. The circadian rhythm, the body’s inner clock, allows the brain to function better at certain times. It has been found that this morning time frame is a peak point in the day for the brain to learn new things.”
People who take morning classes are also prepared to learn and develop better time management skills. If they have a 9:35 a.m. class the next morning, they might think twice about spending a late night out and focus on prepping for class instead.
A morning student, if they want to get proper sleep and good grades, will figure out how to manage the rest of the day after exiting the classroom. It’s easier to work around the few blocks of classes they have in the morning than if their classes were to start at night.
While there isn’t sufficient evidence to prove taking morning classes will raise a student’s GPA, the Washington Post reportedly found in a study that “Students who take morning classes do not typically consume as much alcohol and other substances as those who take later starting classes.”
To succeed in a morning class, there simply isn’t time to spend numerous late nights out abusing substances. Alcohol and other substances can cause problems in learning and retaining memory.
The brain needs proper sleep to transmit short term to long term memory. This means sleep deprivation is a big obstacle to proper learning.
According to the study, “Students who abuse alcohol inherently experience more sleep deprivation than those who don’t because the body has to process the substances during the time it needs to rest. “
Because students who take morning classes need to sleep and wake earlier, they’ll be less likely to consume these substances allowing them to learn more efficiently and coherently.
Students should elect to take more morning classes, if available to them, so that they can be more successful and better dedicated to their collegiate learning experience.
