Missing college for cruise? Does it happen?

[luvavacation]

Somehow, I forgot my daughter would be off to college when Thanksgiving, 2009 rolls around. When we last cruised, while onboard, I booked us for a Thanksgiving cruise, and college seemed like a really long way away. Oops, I was wrong.

My daughter's college schedule would have her miss the Friday, Monday, and Tuesday before Thanksgiving for the cruise (the other days are Thanksgiving break). This is my first experience with college for my child, and I just don't know how colleges handle time off. Is it ok to take days off when you are in college?

It was so long ago for me, and I have come to realize the rules that applied when I went to college don't apply anymore, so I was hoping someone with newer experience would let me know how days off work. I still have time to change the trip and keep my discount, and I don't want to hurt my daughter's college studies, but oh I have been looking forward to not spending Thanksgiving at home!

 

[nvcruiser]

Just make sure she talks to her professors well in advance. Find out if she'll be missing anything monumental. Be sure to be a good student the whole semester and they are far more likely to not care. I am missing a week of school in September and have found that as long as I'm up front with my teachers, they're pretty cool with me.

 

[DisneyCP08]

It usually depends on when her classes are. For me depending on how many days I have a class per week (say my history class meets M,W,and F); then I can miss up to 9 days. I don't know if that makes sense. But at my school the teachers are usually pretty flexible with the week before and the week of thanksgiving, because they know alot of the students are flying home. As long as she gives them a heads up and takes any test ahead of time, she should be fine. Hope this helped, I think I confused myself.

Katie

 

[kcashner]

I've had teaching positions at 3 universities, and am the mom of a high school senior who took a course at her soon-to-be college last semester.

First, you don't have her class schedule yet. That will influence things--for instance, we just did my daughter's tentative schedule for the fall, and it appears that she will have no Friday classes. All of her classes meet either M/W or T/TR. The schedule may influence how many classes your DD would miss.

Whether is is acceptable to miss classes will depend totally on the class. DD took one class last semester where they were told on the first day that they would do a lot of work in class and NO misses would be allowed. On one day, about half the class was out--the instructor gave a very easy pop quiz so that everyone who wasn't there got a zero and everyone who was there got a perfect score (or nearly perfect). Other instructors/professors don't care at all whether you're in class or not as long as you take the tests and turn the work in on time. Most do not allow make up tests, but a few do. They do tend to be more flexible around Thanksgiving as some kids can't go home if they don't have the whole week free.

Reality--when is she out of school for the semester? It would be better not to miss class, and many profs have stuff due right before the days off (or give tests). We are on the December 11 cruise as she'll be out on the 9th. Great rates, Christmas decorations up, etc. She could talk to her profs, but she's at a point where being in class is more important than a family vacation. You can move the cruise and keep your re-booking while on board benefits if that can work for the rest of the family. Unfortunately, by the time she's in a position to talk to the profs, it is too late for you to move the cruise without penalty.

 

[mmouse37]

You got some great advice already and I would like to share what my two DD's did when they had to miss some college.

First, my older DD was invited to spend a week in Scotland at the last minute all expenses paid. She spoke with her professors and they were Ok with it as long as she made up work when she got back....she had a fabulous time and even ran into Prince William in their hotel!!!

My younger DD, just this past September, was invited to work London Fashion Week as an intern (she had done a semester in London last january and worked London FW and they invited her back to intern again). She was thrilled to be invited back but it was during the school term. She also spoke with her professors and it was Ok with them as well (she is a Fashion major and they all thought it fantastic that she would be getting "hands-on" experience). She worked her butt off in London and again when she got back to make up work but it was well worth it in the end. She made some fantastic contacts and gained a ton real world experience.

So, it can be done with no ill effects, but much has to do with the type of student your DD is and the repore she has with her professors.

MJ

 

[MassDisLovers]

We are going Presidents week next year which is my school vacation (Im a teacher) and our younger daughter's. Our older daughter is in college and just could not bear the thought of us on the Magic and her at school. She barely survived us going to WDW this February! She's a good student, and will talk with her professors at the beginning of the semester. As previous posters have said, most college classes are either T/Th or M/W/F, so at most she should miss 2 of each.
There's a lot to be said for time together as a family, and sometimes someone has to miss school to make that happen, especially as kids get older and are on all different schedules. I say it will work out fine as long as she is upfront about it and makes up the work. Since a lot of colleges run via computer these days, I'm hoping that my daughter will be able to check what is posted while on the ship and at least know what's gong on in classes even if she doesn't actually do the work. Consider yourself lucky that your college age child still wants to vacation with you and ENJOY!

 

[tvguy]

I think college would be easier to miss a few days of than High School and lower. So much of college is based on work outside of class.

 

[luvavacation]

Thanks for the information! I know we will be cutting it close from when final payment is due and when classes start, but if there is any thought that missing classes would be detrimental to my daughter's college studies, we will have to switch.

There is no way we would go without her (a friend suggested that). Both of my children have stated that they will still be traveling with us even when they are married and have families of their own . It's funny, they may "hate" you when you don't agree with them, or cramp their style, but deep down, they do value our family vacations. For that I am grateful.

 

[meagan9848]

Up until last semester I was a college student. Was. Oh that feels good

I have on occasion missed classes for vacation and it has not been a big deal. Professors are generally accommodating. This will be her first semester right? Classes that are really hard to miss are labs and (depending on what she's studying) production type classes. When I had classes that were 4 hours long I was typically allowed only one miss during the entire semester. Generally in your first semester you're taking a freshman seminar, comp 101, perhaps a math class and a course in your major. Your daughter's schedule will certainly differ from mine, but if you can work it so that she doesn't have class every day I can't imagine it being a problem. I also have never known anyone to have the SAME classes on Monday and Tuesday, meaning she will probably miss each of her classes once. Maybe that helps.

 

[Narnian_Princess]

In 2 years, I've only had 2 professors give me any sort of trouble about taking a few days to a week off. Usually, the only penalty was to be counted absent. If I got the work done either ahead of time or before a new, few-days-longer deadline, they normally had no problems.

Now, NEXT year's going to be interesting. I'm taking a 14-night cruise RIGHT in the middle of the term. I've never had to ask for so much time... I'll just have to hope that my professors that term are understanding!

 

[meagan9848]

In 2 years, I've only had 2 professors give me any sort of trouble about taking a few days to a week off. Usually, the only penalty was to be counted absent. If I got the work done either ahead of time or before a new, few-days-longer deadline, they normally had no problems.

Now, NEXT year's going to be interesting. I'm taking a 14-night cruise RIGHT in the middle of the term. I've never had to ask for so much time... I'll just have to hope that my professors that term are understanding!

My friend is taking a semester off for this. ...if you're talking about the WB repo

 

[Narnian_Princess]

My friend is taking a semester off for this. ...if you're talking about the WB repo

Almost! I'm doing the EB.

I'd totally take the semester off if it was an option! But I need that full-time school to keep my health insurance with my parents (I don't have a FT job yet). But I am thinking of taking the term off; if I get into the school I want to transfer to, they'll have 2 terms per semester. I could take double-load one term to get in my full-time hours, then take the next term completely off or have one class only.

 

[minniemoms]

3 years ago we did a cruise and were taking our whole family but DD who was in college. WE decided she couldn't miss school so she wasn't going with all of us. About 5 months out, I felt so guilty not taking her, and all of us talking about it to her on the phone 3 states away at college, I felt so bad. l called DCL, and luckily they let me add her to one or our rooms. She explained to her professors, and they gave her assignments ahead of time. She was well ahead of schedule, and she did just fine. We took my parents on that trip too. So it is one, that we will always cherish. My parents are both too old to go on any more trips, and my children talk about how wonderful it was too all be there together. I wouldn't worry about missing college. I think in college they don't care. If you miss too much, you fail, you lose. So if she gets ahead of her schedule, and works real hard she should be ok.
I am so glad she made the decision it was ok to miss a week

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

When I took my 7 nighter in 2007, my hospitality professor told me "With your CM discount, I would be very dissapointed if you didn't go!!"

As others have said, it really depends on the class and professor. I think if you're up front with them, have an otherwise good attendance rating, and are doing well in the class, then generally most professors would be fine with it.

Heck, some classes, I've seen students come in for the first class and the final, and still pass. That personally annoys me... if I have to drag my behind to class every week even though I've worked all day long... so do you! [/rant]

 

[Alice_on_WONDERland]

We took a 4 day cruise just last week - wow was it great! - and I took a week of classes off. My personal opinion on being a college student is that you have to take a break occasionally or you'll lose your mind!

Before I left, I gave my profs a heads up that I would be gone, and made arrangements to turn work in before I left. My only piece of advice is: don't ask for an extension on work that will be due while she's gone, make sure to turn it in before she leaves. That will make a good impression on the profs.

Most institutions of higher learning understand that students "have a life" outside of the classroom. Learning takes place in real life, just as it does in the classroom.

 

[frdeb1999]

Our dd went with us in Dec and it all worked out fine. She made sure that all instructors where aware of the situation well in advance. She recieved her work and made up any exams she would have missed prior. Most colleges are very willing to work with you as long as you are up front with them.

 

[Tinkmom]

I will be the voice of dissent. I am amazed at the number of posts about professors who didn't care. That is NOT the situation at my daughter's school. Or, to be more clear, while there may be some classes that you could miss once with no problem, missing two in a row, or missing certain dates (mid-term exam date for example) that some professors tell students up front that they cannot make up unless they have a documented good reason (serious illness, death in the immediate family, etc.) would be a major hit to their grade.

It really depends on where your daughter attends college, the types of classes she is taking (higher-level course professors tend to be more sticklers on attendance) and the timing of the days off. Hopefully she will have understanding profs and the dates will not be ones on which major tests or reviews or other "can't miss" events are scheduled.

Good luck!!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Heck, I went to a small liberal arts college and they didn't care if you came to class or not.

Attitude was that if you turn in any assignments and show up for exams, it's your money that you're wasting so it was your decision. They were quick to point out that we were all adults and were now responsible for our own decisions. They let you know immediately that they were not your babysitters, parents or HS teachers. Best attitude in the world and for this generation with helicopter parents (not anyone here on the Dis) probably one that is definitely needed!!

I hope you have a wonderful cruise OP and that your DD is able to join you! I know I will be cruising with my DD as long as she is willing to come and I can afford it.

 

[lbgraves]

Heck, I went to a small liberal arts college and they didn't care if you came to class or not.

Attitude was that if you turn in any assignments and show up for exams, it's your money that you're wasting so it was your decision. They were quick to point out that we were all adults and were now responsible for our own decisions. They let you know immediately that they were not your babysitters, parents or HS teachers. Best attitude in the world and for this generation with helecopter parents (not anyone here on the Dis) probably one that is definitely needed!!

I had the same experience with college as you. I never skipped a class until college and only did it after the professor talked to be after class a couple weeks into it that he realized that the math class was lower than I needed and as long as I turned in the homework and took the tests that was fine with him. I used that 2 hours to study for my language class. I was working 40 hours waiting tables and taking 21 credit hours so that 6 hours a week of extra study really made a difference to me. Over the three years straight I went to school I know that I missed some classes from illness or just needing sleep or extra study time for another class but it all balanced out.

 

[landshark]

Heck, I went to a small liberal arts college and they didn't care if you came to class or not.

Attitude was that if you turn in any assignments and show up for exams, it's your money that you're wasting so it was your decision. They were quick to point out that we were all adults and were now responsible for our own decisions. They let you know immediately that they were not your babysitters, parents or HS teachers. Best attitude in the world and for this generation with helecopter parents (not anyone here on the Dis) probably one that is definitely needed!!

I went to a state school and that's pretty much exactly how my professors were. There were some exceptions that would only allow up to 2-3 missed classes before it affected your grade, but this shouldn't be an issue.

The only problem she might have is that professors like to assign big projects due before breaks. Regardless, just make sure she lets them know in advance and maybe even work out if she could take tests/turn assignments in early if they're due on a day she'll miss.