My mother scheduled my doctor appointment on Aug 26th which will be my second day of one of my lecture college classes (Anthropology).
So now I am freaking out because I can't miss school and get bad grades, I have a lot riding on me to get good grades and apply to this nursing program in December. But now I don't know what to do because what if I miss something really important and it would be on a test? I can't get bad grades already.
So I'm planning on reading the chapter twice, and then take notes and outline the whole chapter so I won't fall behind my other classmates.
I have Orgo that same day but I definitely will be making that class because there will never be a option to miss that class, I don't care if I have to walk in a snow storm to get there.
Sorry guys for my minin rant. I just don't know how to handle the situation because this will be my first year at college and no one understands that I can't miss a class or two like I did in HS.
You will be fine. I will preface the entire rest of my post by saying this advice is based off of my personal experience taking pre-reqs at a good liberal arts school and a CC:
If you are a good student, you really can miss a class or two. Most 100 level college classes are ridiculously easy and straightforward.
Definitely get the notes from a classmate, definitely download the powerpoint (every class I've taken, the professor uses a powerpoint during lecture and it's always been available online), maybe skim the reading (most professors only test off of lecture material, so the book is really just a good place to go if you need clarification. If you diligently took notes on every assigned reading you'd never stop doing homework).
Others have already handled the separate but relevant matter of attendance requirements.
Best of luck.
P.S. While being diligent about schoolwork is not only great, but also required, you will reach your breaking point real quick if you don't take a deep breath and calm down. College is not as hard as it seems, at least the pre-req part isn't. For me, the expectations of professors/coursework have actually been significantly easier than high school. So, in the words of my mother, "keep it cool, keep it calm, sister!"
attendance requirement. I know many of my daughter's professors had one. That being said, make sure you email the prof and tell them you won't be there and why. Just don't not show up.
Once my daughters were 18 they scheduled their own stuff.
Nothing will happen if you miss a class in college. Some of the courses I took in college, I probably skipped more classes than I attended. If it's a lecture hall with 300 students in it no one will notice that you're not there.
Honestly? Not much probably. Let the professor know ahead of time, and ask a classmate for the missed notes the next class period. The issue with cutting class is it can become a habit very easily, but since you have a reasonable reason, that is unlikely to happen (you're not missing because you're tired, hungover, or got behind on schoolwork). Some professors do take attendance, have pop quizzes, etc., but it is unlikely that there will be anything like that the second day of class. As lots of posters have mentioned, most students miss at least one class and do fine. Some classes are more forgiving than others (Summer/shortened semesters are less forgiving than standard MWF classes; missing a class that has tests based entirely on lectures that are not posted online would be more upsetting than missing a class where the professor posts the PPs).
I would also try to start scheduling appointments from now on. I understand your mother is difficult/controlling, but whats to stop her from doing this again? What if you had a test or presentation? It is difficult if you are still dependent on her, but I think it would be a good idea to respectfully push for a little more freedom. If you can't schedule yourself, perhaps try to require a general time frame (e.x. only early mornings/late evenings, only weekends, etc.).
If you can get the professors email before, send them an email. At my school if you miss t h e first week they will drop you if you don't speak up beforehand
Ok, OP, I'm going to take a different turn in the road here. Let's say you do what Mommy Dearest wants, and you go to your Well Child Visit (I mean, wth?) without incident. The sky doesn't fall on your college career and your grades don't tumble into the abyss.
BUT.
Now Mommy Dearest plans a get-together for family, RIGHT when you have mid-terms, or study sessions scheduled, or some other thing of importance to do. Will Devil Mommy have a tantrum, dictate that you cancel those plans, because "family comes first"? Maybe. But will you do it?
Finals are approaching, you are cramming with your classmates. Mommy wants you to skip all that so you can do .....whatever....she wants you to do. How's that going to go?
Time to have a chat with Mommy. If it's ok for you to miss this class (because you KNOW it's ok, because you ASKED your professor), then tell her you were able to do it this time but in the future you'll just take that responsibility off her plate. Tell her that you appreciate her taking the time to do schedule this for you....but.....from now on, YOU will handle your schedule.
I have two bachelor's degrees. There were a few courses I took that would have required an earthquake to make me miss (statistics, for example), and then there were plenty of others that I showed up only for the first class, the midterm and the final, and I'll note that I graduated with a 3.9 GPA. Very quickly you will learn which classes are worth your time and which might not be.
First, missing one class isn't that bad. Does your school have a policy about missing classes the first week of school? The community college I attended for prerequisites had a mandatory,automatic drop from the course if you miss the first time the course meets. Double check your school's policy.
Also, there's a certain amount of days that can be missed per course. Check that policy.
How old are you? If you're over 18 then it's time to start acting like an adult. Your mom shouldn't be scheduling appointments for you. Call and try to reschedule for a time that's good for you. I know appointments can be hard to obtain though so you might be stuck with this one.
You really should start standing up for yourself. You don't have to be rude, but be respectful. You are setting up yourself to having YOUR life controlled by your mother. She will only have as much or as little power as you allow. Right now, it's scheduling your appointments as she sees fit, next thing you know it'll be no studying because she wants you to do this or that, or who you can and can't be around.
Tell her that you appreciate her taking the time to do schedule this for you....but.....from now on, YOU will handle your schedule.
Lulu Belle, RN, EMT-B
229 Posts
You will be fine. I will preface the entire rest of my post by saying this advice is based off of my personal experience taking pre-reqs at a good liberal arts school and a CC:
If you are a good student, you really can miss a class or two. Most 100 level college classes are ridiculously easy and straightforward.
Definitely get the notes from a classmate, definitely download the powerpoint (every class I've taken, the professor uses a powerpoint during lecture and it's always been available online), maybe skim the reading (most professors only test off of lecture material, so the book is really just a good place to go if you need clarification. If you diligently took notes on every assigned reading you'd never stop doing homework).
Others have already handled the separate but relevant matter of attendance requirements.
Best of luck.
P.S. While being diligent about schoolwork is not only great, but also required, you will reach your breaking point real quick if you don't take a deep breath and calm down. College is not as hard as it seems, at least the pre-req part isn't. For me, the expectations of professors/coursework have actually been significantly easier than high school. So, in the words of my mother, "keep it cool, keep it calm, sister!"