Missing Class In College

Weather in the 60's and 70's this week brought everyone out to lounge in the grass. [Farrand Field]

So as most of you have probably heard and are anticipating greatly, attendance is generally not taken in college. You can decide that that 8 a.m. lecture is just not worth your time and turn right back over once you turn your alarm off.
However, the likelihood that you will be on acedemic probation after a semester's worth of late nights: Really, really high.
This past weekend I missed 2 days of classes (I have Tuesdays and Thursdays off this semester) to visit my mom in Connecticut. Missing classes in college requires serious pre-planning- before I left I emailed all of my professors and T.A.'s, and for the most part I could make up my homework and assignments pretty easily. One quiz that would occur while I was gone was a no-go though- even though I gave advanced notice, my T.A. wouldn't let me take the quiz early. I was pretty frustrated with it, but I think that's a sacrifice you have to make for leaving school when classes are still going on.
Lesson learned: save your travel for when classes aren't in session, and go when you have the chance. That way if you do need to miss a few days, you haven't already missed half of your classes. If you aren't on your professor's bad side (especially in small classes, like first-year writing) they are much more willing to be flexible in when/how you turn in your work.