Figuring out whether you should drop a class may be one of the most difficult decisions you have to make at college. You need to be sure you won’t regret your decision, especially if you drop the class too late to receive your money back. Having said that, there are certain indications that dropping a class is the best course of action.

1. Other People Recommend It

The most important person to talk to before you drop a class is your student advisor or registrar. It’s critical that you’re clear about the process and know what the consequences of dropping the class will be. In addition, though, you should talk to students who have already taken the class, your professor, and the department head. They can tell you if the class will become even more difficult and if you’re likely to continue struggling.

2. It Will Lower Your GPA

The last thing you want is to allow a single class to bring down your GPA. If the class is a requirement for your major, it could be better to take it at a later date — when you’re more prepared or you have more room in your schedule. If the class is an elective that you thought you were going to enjoy, learn from the experience. There may still be time to switch to something completely different.

3. You’ll Definitely Fail

There’s no point continuing with the class if you’re sure you’ll fail. For some classes, the final exam counts for your entire grade, in which case you may be able to work to improve your understanding of the material. However, if the class uses a continuous assessment model and something happened early that ruined your chances of passing — such as you missed the due date for a crucial assignment, you submitted the wrong work, or you forgot to set your alarm and overslept on the day of the test — the only solution may be to drop the class.

4. You Received Incorrect Information

Perhaps you thought the class was required for your major or maybe you missed the section in the course outline that specified a prerequisite that you don’t have. The class could even have changed from previous semesters and you read old information. In any case, it may be better to take the class later or drop it entirely.

5. Your Attendance Is Almost Nonexistent

You may skip a class because you dislike it or because you struggle to fit it into your schedule. In the latter scenario, you may have two classes back to back located on different parts of campus, or the class may clash with the schedule for your part-time job or another commitment. It’s best to come to the conclusion early that you can’t possibly attend the class, so it would be best to drp it.

6. The Class Is Simply a Nightmare

There may be a chance that you’d pass the class (perhaps even with a decent grade) if you stuck with it, but it’s ruining your life at the moment. It doesn’t matter if this is due to the materials, the professor, your workload, or something else: if a class is negatively affecting your mental health, it’s not worth continuing.

There’s also a possibility that the class is not the problem: it’s your study space. This is likely the case if you feel that several of your classes are unmanageable or that you’re falling behind in general. Instead of dropping classes, find a better place to study than your dorm room. A great solution is to move into Durham College off-campus housing. At Foundry Simcoe, you can have your own room in a five-bedroom townhouse or in a three-bedroom suite. Apply now before all the units are sold out.

Students love to sleep, but going to bed on time is often difficult — and getting up in the morning is even more of a challenge. Nonetheless, becoming a morning person at university can improve your life. Not only will you arrive to class on time (without needing to rush), you can also use your morning productively, which will make it feel like you have more time. This may sound like a dream, but anyone can become a morning person — here’s how.

1. Get Up When Your Alarm Goes Off

Instead of hitting the snooze button, get out of bed as soon as your alarm goes off. You may need to train yourself to do this. One method is to set your alarm to become louder every time you hit snooze; another is to set an alarm sound that you can’t stand.

If you use your phone as an alarm clock, avoid looking at any notifications — that will only keep you in bed that much longer. It can help to leave your phone across the room, making the only option to get out of bed. Just don’t allow yourself to climb back in.

2. Prepare Yourself for the Day

If you’re slow to wake up, it can help to spend a few minutes adjusting your mindset for the day. Think about what you want to achieve (such as how you’ll progress toward your goals) and check your calendar to see what you have on your schedule for the day. Perhaps think about how you’ll manage to complete everything on your to-do list, including how it will feel to check off that final item — which is much more likely to happen if you’re productive early in the day. Finally, you may like to meditate or reflect on the positive things in your life.

Turn all this into a regular morning ritual. Soon, you’ll find yourself adapting to this reflective morning routine.

3. Talk to Someone

A solution for morning irritability is to socialize. Call a friend or family member or strike up a conversation with a roommate. You may feel like this takes an unreasonable amount of effort at first, but it will soon lead to you feeling happier at the start of every day.

4. Start Moving

It’s impossible to stay sleepy when you exercise. Find an exercise routine that works for you to energize yourself in the morning. You could use an app for a workout to do in your room, head to a nearby gym, jog in the park, or even join a fitness class. In fact, exercising with others can keep you motivated and accountable. If there are no organized classes in your area, create something yourself with a group of friends.

5. Go to Sleep on Time

Unless you’ve slept enough, it’s impossible to feel anything but exhausted in the morning. If you’re struggling to fall asleep, try putting away all screens a couple hours before bedtime. If this is impossible due to your study schedule, at least enable a blue light filter on your devices.

6. If All Else Fails, There’s Coffee

If you need an extra boost of energy in the morning, turn to coffee. Just thinking about how it will taste and smell may be enough to incentivize you to get out of bed. Plus, you’ll feel instantly awake and ready to take on the day.

One more thing that can help you become a morning person at university is having your own room. No one will disturb you at night, which will mean you gain a better night’s sleep.

To have your own room, though, you’ll likely need to move out of your dorm and look for student apartments. Oshawa students have Foundry Simcoe. You’ll share an apartment with just two or four other people and have a private bedroom that comes with a comfortable double bed. Apply now to secure your spot in time for next semester.

Although many of your classes are necessary for your degree, you’ll likely have at least a few electives, which allow you to choose classes in almost any subject. By picking some unique classes, you’ll create a less-demanding schedule, learn skills that none of your other classes cover, and give yourself something to look forward to when your core classes are tough. Whereas some electives may be just as difficult as your required courses, all the ones on this list are particularly fun and engaging.

1. Sign Language

Many universities offer introductory sign language, but few students take advantage of the opportunity — most likely because they underestimate the usefulness of this elective. Being able to communicate in sign well enough to hold a simple conversation will be invaluable for a wide range of jobs and industries.

2. Improv

Although most people are unlikely to use their improv skills in a career setting, it’s hard to find a better class if you’re looking to gain confidence. Improv is more relaxed than public speaking and you’ll be with other students who have no acting experience, many of whom may also feel anxious. Best of all, you’ll be on stage in a group rather than alone.

3. Intro to Psychology

There’s no need to be a psychology student to take an introductory psychology class. If you intend to work in a field that involves interacting with people, you’ll find it useful to learn about the science behind behaviour, personality, and thought processes. You may even feel inspired to take a more specialized psych elective later.

4. World Music

Understand music on another level by learning about genres, instruments, and traditions around the world. The great thing about this elective is anyone can do well, not just talented musicians.

5. Creative Writing

A creative writing elective is ideal for anyone who has an idea for a novel or screenplay but can’t seem to get it down on paper. You’ll learn how to tell stories, create realistic characters and dialogues, and structure your text correctly. Plus, improving your writing skills will help you succeed in all the other courses that involve any kind of writing. Another benefit to this elective is you’ll learn to take criticism: your classmates will read your work and provide feedback, helping you to continuously improve.

6. Pottery

Another way to experiment with creativity is through an elective like pottery. Even if you feel like you lack artistic skills, give it a go — you may surprise yourself when you engage with a completely new medium. Best of all, you’ll have something tangible at the end of the course.

7. Personal Finance

Students who are studying a creative major can add some variety to their class schedules by taking an elective like personal finance. This can be beneficial whatever you intend to do after you graduate, as you’ll have a better knowledge of how to save, manage debt, and use credit cards responsibly. It’s a particularly good option if you want to start your own business or even if you just have student debt.

8. Dance

If you’re struggling to stay active due to a heavy course load, consider taking an elective to keep fit. Your university may even offer more than one dance elective, allowing you to find a style you enjoy. You might even continue practicing after the course is over. As well as teaching you dance moves, the classes will cover aspects of dance such as history and culture.

9. Art History

A more academic elective than the above is art history. This elective is the perfect way to gain a deeper appreciation for all kinds of art or take your study of history in a new direction. It may even include a field trip to a nearby art museum.

Another way to bring fun into your life at university is by living in off-campus student housing. Oshawa students at Ontario Tech and Durham College can join a community of students living at Foundry Simcoe. You can choose between a suite and a townhouse, both of which are fully-furnished and equipped with everything you need. Contact us to schedule a tour.