It happens to the best and the brightest. They start to take on a hubris that says, “Who needs my business courses? I can do this myself!” Suddenly, they are facing failing grades and wondering what in the world happened. Resist the temptation to be a school skipper and start your business career on the right foot.

Do you need to attend all your business courses to pass? This is a common question that arises at some point. Maybe your professor reads directly from the textbook during every single lecture, which is literally just the exact same thing you’ve already done at home. Or perhaps your courses contain 100 students and the professors never seem to notice you, let alone know your name. Maybe the droning voice of your teacher is boring beyond belief or you continuously butt heads with a professor who doesn’t seem to like you. Whatever the case may be, the temptation to sleep in or get work done at home often becomes overwhelming. But can you skip out on business courses and still pass?

Top Reasons To Avoid Skipping Your Business Courses:
1. You might miss an impromptu quiz or group assignment. Business teachers love these!
2. Some teachers have a disdain for students they feel aren’t taking their education very seriously and grade accordingly, even if you pass all the tests and complete all the assignments.
3. You miss out on the opportunity to earn class participation points. Not only will these come in handy, but they could really save your butt should you struggle on one of the exams or projects.
4. Part of the whole “college experience” is learning how to stay organized, juggle responsibilities, adhere to a strict schedule, and focus.
5. Even if you feel like you’re gleaning nothing from the lectures, your brain is actually processing the information. Class lectures reinforce what you’ve read, making it more likely you’ll remember the material. (And that equates to less studying, which is always good!)

Reasons Where Skipping Business Courses May Be Warranted:
• A death in the family
• A serious illness

How To Do Damage Control When You Need To Miss Class:
Be sure to speak to your professor if you know you’ll be missing several classes in a row and explain your situation. Find out if you will be missing any handouts or important announcements. Be sure to get the class notes from a friend in class and email any assignments that are due. Most importantly, don’t get too comfortable skipping out of business school. Before you know it, your grades will suffer and it will be too late to salvage your good academic standing.