Missing class for WDW- what would u do?

[Mouse-n-Mini]

I will be missing 3 days of college classes this October when my family and I go to WDW. I am not sure what I should do...1. miss the 3 days and play it off when I get back as though I was sick and couldn't come to school. or 2. tell my teachers before I leave that I will be missing the 3 days, and ask if I could have my homework early (and hope that they aren't angry that I am missing their class for the mouse!). Any and all input is appreciated!

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

I would go ahead and tell them in advance, just so you will be sure to have what you need. Just tell them it is a family event and that it's the only time frame that could be worked out and it couldn't be avoided. I am sure they will understand.

 

[cobbler]

I will be missing classes too. I am very upfront with my teachers, tell them I am going on vacation, I would like to have my homework so I can have it ready for them when I return. I will be missing 2 classes.

 

[Martha7]

You can always call it a "family reunion", which makes it sound like your parents would be upset if you missed it. Technically, it is a family reunion, after all...

 

[GrumpyBa*D]

not sure where you are going, but most of the classes i had, they wouldn't even know if i wasn't there. you'll know for the most part what you will be missing based on your syllabus.... just grab the notes from someone in class... shouldn't be too bad.. the way my schedule was and the days you go i wouldn't have missed the same class more than once

 

[Kimberly815]

I guess it depends on your professors. I had a very, very, very, small number of students in my major (Meteorology) at my College. I graduated with 11 in my major, and that was concidered a very large group!! And I had the same professor for about 4 of my 7 classes every semester, and those classes only averaged 10 students each. There was no hiding, and no getting away with anything!! I would always let him know what was really going on, but I never bothered my professors for electives with any details like that. I just played it off like I was sick.
Hope this helps!!
No worries, and enjoy WDW!!

 

[cleo]

I'd tell the truth. That way you don't have anything hanging over your head while you're gone and you don't have to lie when you get back. By the time you're in college no one is looking over your shoulder. It's up to you to decide if you'll be there or not, and it's up to you to make up the work (if they let you) or take the diminished grade (if they don't).

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

Thank you all for the quick and honest replies! You DIS-ers are the best!

 

[CarolA]

Is this your first year?

I say that because as a general rule missing three days of college can be ROUGH! Plus if you are attending a large state supported institution like I did, your profs will not be motivated to anything to assist you, but will leave it up to you.

 

[CarolB]

Thank you all for the quick and honest replies! You DIS-ers are the best!

I work at a university and am the parent of a college student (who missed some classes to go to Disney this summer)....honesty is best. I would tell them the first or second week of class that you have a family committment and you will be out. Most profs don't have attendance policies, but some do. Also, if there is a test scheduled or paper due, you will need to make arrangements. In most cases, if you are missing 3 days, you will miss 2 days of some classes and only 1 day of others....i.e., most classes will meet MWF or T TH or MW, etc...so you won't miss 3 days of the same one...unless your school is different. At college it's all independent, on your own work....and, you want your profs to know who you are, so that if you have issues/concerns you can talk with them. This is a good way to get to know them and it shows you are a planner and concerned to be away. Obviously, some profs will say...hey, too bad, you miss what you miss, that's your choice. Others will work with you. Good luck!

 

[married@wdw]

As a PT college prof, I'd say tell your profs up-front on the first day of class and be as honest as possible with out saying "I'm going to Disney World." They don't need to know where you are going -- a simple "I'll be travelling for a family event" should suffice. You may have papers due on those dates, or worse, presentations infront of the class, which will need to be rearranged.

Some profs have rules about missing class, too, though, so it could affect your grade. I only let my students have one "unexcused" absence and I would consider a vacation as unexcused (because you knew you had class before you planned it).

Good luck and I'm sure everything will be fine and you'll have a great time in WDW!

 

[dhiggs45]

I would tell the professors ahead of time and do the best you can to work with them. But, as a 'professional student' (college & law school = 7 years) I would definitely recommend taking the trip. You won't remember missing a few classes in a few years, and it probably won't make a big difference in your academic career, but family vacations like this will give you memories that will last a lifetime. Just by asking this question you sound like a very responsible student who does the homework and attends classes regularly. Go to the World & have a great time !!!


denise

 

[escape]

Honesty is the best policy. I teach at a local college and if a student shows me enough respect by telling me in advance of an upcoming absence then I'll do whatever I can to help the student make up any missed work ... under most circumstances. However, if a student waits until the next week to report an illness or absence for another reason, depending on the situation, I might ask for a doctor's note or a note from another authorized source before excusing the absence.

You wouldn't have to give complete details...a planned family event out of town. In addition, do everything possible to do some work ahead of time or take a test before instead of after the trip.

Good luck!

 

[cosmicdaisy]

I agree with letting your professor know up front. Maybe after class your first or second class. When I went to college most all of my professors did have attendance policies, and most followed the school's policy of no more than three absenses a semester. Some professors are easier to work with than others.

I am going back to school now and my last semester I had a wonderful professor who recognized his students as adults (which I was at mostly 10 years older than most of my classmates ) I missed two classes, he allowed for four. But I technically only missed one because I knew I would miss one particular class and he allowed me to attend on a different day with a different class. Due to holidays and such, it was usual to have some classes ahead or behind other classes.

I am going in October to WDW for an entire week and will be missing 2 classes out of my course load. I am currently hoping I don't get a professor like the pp who only allows for one But I am not too worried about it. I learned that professors are usually not as scary as my high school teachers made them out to be

 

[eeyore81]

I'm missing days of lawschool for our trip in October. If you are only missing 3 days I don't think it is a big deal. Many students miss more than 3 classes in a semester. Just try not to miss any other days other than your Disney vacation and you should be fine. I don't know if it really matters if you tell your professors before you leave. I always go by the saying.. "its easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission"

 

[Pinnie]

It depends on the class and professor. I supervise student teachers for a major university and there is a zero tolerance policy for absences other that illness. If you plan a vacation, plan on doing your student teaching another time.

My son attended a Big 10 University and he got grief for having to serve JURY DUTY!

pinnie

 

[twojo21]

i would definetly tell teachers now & try to get any materials/details in advance of what you will be missing & if it can be made up before or after your trip. i have missed school for trips too & telling the teachers & finding out as much info in advance has always been helpful.

 

[branv]

I agree with honesty. Now granted, I am an adult student, so my teachers might have been easier on me (since we're the same age ), but I was honest about our trip to WDW in 2004. They didn't do anything extra to help me, as a college student it was my responsibility to get notes, turn things in early, etc. But they didn't give me a hard time. However, just FYI...when you get your syllabus, check to see if you have any tests those days. A handful of teachers might work with you to take it early, but most, in my experience, will NOT let you take tests early or late. For instance: one time a 14 year old girl was in our class taking early college classes. The night before the final, her father died. We knew he was sick and in the hospital, but it wasn't exactly expected. Her mother called one of my study group (we'd kind of taken her under our wing), and that person went to inform the teacher. The teacher's response: "well, she has a 'B' in the class, but I'm not allowed to let her take the final any later then a day from now. If she misses it, all I can do is give her in incomplete for the class so she doesn't have a failing grade."

It sounded so harsh to me, but that was just school policy. So just be aware...some schools, and many teachers take tests VERY seriously. If the trip is important to you, you might be better off dropping the class during drop period if you find out a test is on one of those days.

 

[JVL1018]

My husband just graduated college(at the age of 38 LOL) and we went to WDW every fall for years so he missed school everyone of those times.
It was never ever a big deal. It's not like high school.
He had the syllabus, so if there was something like a test he would request to take it early or as soon as he got back, other than that he'd just ask another student for the notes and that was it.
Sometimes he told the professor(in the cases where he missed a test or had to hand a paper in early) most times there was no need.

 

[scoutsmom99]

I missed about 4 days total in September of my Senior year and the way it worked out I only missed 1 day out of each class and I did tell my professors about it ahead of time. I thought one was going to be a jerk about it becuase he did have an attendance policy, but he was really great about it ! I found that my professors were all accomodating with giving me the handouts/articles ahead of time and offering to meet with me when I got back if I had any questions (and I went to a large university (Univeristy of Minnesota Twin Cities)). Enjoy your trip