Survive a Field Trip When You’re in College

Field trips in elementary, middle and high school rock, quite simply. You don't have to sit in class, you get a packed lunch — or even get to eat out in some cases — and don't have homework. Basically, you get to spend the day talking with your friends and getting to see kids from other classes whom you normally don't get to socialize with at school. In college, field trips are usually never like that. With the occasional exception of art students visiting a museum, or voluntary or extra credit field trips that let you tour a place on your own time, college field trips destroy your schedule, and sometimes even your weekends. If you masterminded your schedule so that you didn't have class on Friday, how awful is it to have to go on a field trip all day on a Friday? And if your field trip is a day trip, you can say goodbye to happy hour, power hour, and nap time, too. Even if you'd normally be in class during your field trip, it's not like skipping a class in high school: it's actually more trouble than it's worth. You're going to fall behind and have to do extra work chasing down the professor and making up your work — especially if there was a quiz — just because of that stupid field trip.

To make your day-long (let's hope it's not any longer) field trip less annoying, you've got to pack the right bag and make some preparations. Get with your professor ahead of time so that he or she knows you'll be leaving because of another class, and bring the reading or lecture notes — if they're already online — with you on the bus. Also let your friends know your miserable luck, and have them keep you updated on plans so that you can meet up with them as soon as your bus gets back to school.

Your survival bag should of course include some schoolwork so that you can catch up as much as you can, as well as things to keep you happy. Bring snacks, your iPod, a magazine, and even an eyemask or small pillow so that you can sleep away the bus ride.