According to a recent study, students who enroll in morning classes tend to get better grades than their classmates in afternoon classes.
Serge Onyper and Pamela Thacer, psychology professors at St. Lawrence University, determined students with later class times sleep for longer periods in the morning, but they also have more freedom at night to engage in behaviors that are harmful to their academic careers.
“Those who elect earlier classes may be more motivated to find ways to offset the early start time by making healthier choices about their daily living,” Thacer said.
According to a Southeastern Louisiana University press release, the study included 253 college students who were asked to complete questionaires on their sleeping patterns, class schedules, substance use and moods. They were also asked to complete different tasks to assess their level of comprehension based on their sleeping patterns and daily habits.
“The effects of later class times might include more sleep,” Thacer said. “But this might be offset by lower quality sleep, which in turn might affect students’ ability to engage intellectually with their coursework.”
The transition from high school to college grants students the freedom to make their own schedule, and most students take advantage of being able to sleep in.
According to the Assessment and Institutional Research office at Nicholls, there is a greater amount of students enrolled in afternoon classes than morning classes. The information provided by the AIR office varies throughout the week, since some classes are only taught on certain days, but there is an average of 651 students enrolled in early classes that start at 7:30 a.m. while enrollment for later classes at 11:50 a.m. or noon is about 1,781 students.
Amy Hebert, coordinator of the Academic Advising Center at Nicholls, said she advises her students to schedule classes at times when they are most productive.
“It’s about finding your most productive time and best times to do class work,” Hebert said. “Students have to remember that the grade you earn in a class is a direct result of the effort you put into it.”
Hebert said she encourages her students to treat their classes like a job they would find after graduation.
“Avoiding early classes is not the best way to prepare for a real work situation,” she said. “Students will eventually get a job that will require them to be at work early in the morning, so it’s a good idea to get used to it now.”
Heather White, nursing senior from Houma, said she is accustomed to waking up early for her nursing classes, and it has helped to prepare her for her career.
“I don’t think my early classes have affected my grades in a bad way, even though I think I would like afternoon classes better,” she said. “Scheduling later classes is not practical for my lifestyle or career, so I just got used to waking up early.”