Opinion: You Should Love 8 a.m. Classes

New York City, NY — by Molly Koch

This story was originally published on New York University’s Washington Square News.

One of the most dreaded weeks of the semester has officially passed us: spring course registration. Maybe you were lucky and got all your top choices. Maybe you’re still scrambling to find courses that fit your schedule while waiting to get off waitlists. Classes at 8 a.m. were probably at the bottom of your list. I’m here to tell you that you should move them higher.

8 a.m. classes may be the only options open for students who had their registration date late on Friday, Nov. 18, and many will tell you to avoid them at all costs. But they’re not the worst choice. These classes are more beneficial for you than you might think.

Mornings are what make going to college in New York City special. Normally, the city is busy, but the morning streets are peaceful and relatively empty. Fewer people wander the sidewalks at 7 a.m., which will make your walk to class relaxing. Not to mention, if you’re lucky, you could even catch the sunrise in between buildings on your walk. 

CAS junior Inkeri Lipasti believes that 8 a.m. classes are underrated because most people don’t realize how nice the commute can be.

“My commute to campus is always on foot and crossing the streets is just much more calm when there’s little to no traffic,” Lipasti said. “Even Washington Square Park is filled with quiet tranquility at 7:30 when I pass it, just a few joggers here and there.”

Students with 8 a.m. classes are more likely to finish their final class of the day early. That gives you more time during the day for activities besides academics, such as clubs, athletics and relaxation. If you take back-to-back classes, you could be completely done for the day after 10:45 a.m. What’s a better feeling than that?

Read the rest of the story at Washington Square News.