What to Do If You Miss Class in College

In contrast to high school, missing a class in college can often feel like no big deal. Its rare for college professors to take attendance, and if youre only one student out of hundreds in a large lecture hall, you might feel like no one noticed your absence. So what -- if anything -- do you need to do if you miss class in college? Contact Your Professor Consider emailing or calling the professor.  You dont always have to let your professor know if you missed class, but you should at least think carefully about whether or not you need to say something. If you missed one relatively uneventful lecture in a class with hundreds of people, you might not need to say something. But if you missed a small seminar class, definitely touch base with your professor. A quick message apologizing for missing class because you had the flu, for instance, should work. Similarly, if you missed a major exam or a deadline for turning in an assignment, youll need to touch base with your professor as soon as possible. Note: If you do miss class, dont mention why if your reason was ridiculous (I was still recovering from my fraternity party this weekend!) and dont ask if you missed anything important. Of course,  you missed important things, and implying otherwise will just insult your professor. Talk to Classmates Check in with your classmates about what material you missed.  Dont assume you know what happened in class, regardless of how previous class sessions have gone. For all you know, your professor mentioned that the midterm has been moved up by a week, and your friends wont remember to tell you this key detail until (and unless) you ask. Perhaps people were assigned small study groups and you need to know which one you now belong to. Perhaps a comment was made about some material that will be covered on an upcoming exam. Perhaps the professor announced a change in office hours or when the final exam will take place. Knowing what content was scheduled to be covered in class is not the same as knowing what actually happened. Keep Your Professor in the Loop Let your professor know if you expect to miss class again sometime soon.  If, for example, you have a family emergency to deal with, let your professor know whats going on. You dont need to go into too much detail, but you can (and should) mention the reason for your absence. Letting your professor know that a family member passed away and that youll be gone the rest of the week to travel home for the funeral is a smart and respectful message to send along. If youre in a small class or lecture, your professor might plan their class activities differently knowing that one (or more) students will be absent on a certain day. Additionally, if you have something going on that requires more than an absence or two, youll want to let your professor (and dean of students) know in case you start to fall behind on your coursework. Letting your professor know why youre missing class so much can help you work together to find a solution; leaving a professor out of the loop about your class abse nces will only further complicate your situation. If you do miss class, just be smart about communicating when necessary and setting yourself up for a successful rest of the semester as much as possible.