One of the challenges that college students face is developing the discipline to go to class. Every college student has heard people tell them why it’s so important to go to class, but students often rationalize excuses for not attending. Some common excuses include:

• I had a headache
• My alarm didn’t go off
• The bus was late
• I had to go home
• My car wouldn’t start
• I got stuck in traffic
• I had a doctor’s appointment
• My friend needed my help
• I didn’t feel well
• I didn’t get enough sleep
• We’re not doing anything in that class today
• My friend is not going so why should I?

Many college students believe it’s easy to stay caught up if they get notes off of other people. Students will also try to convince themselves that they will just study more before exams. Contrary to popular belief about college, almost all teachers take attendance for their classes.

Most teachers will give you a limited number of absences to accommodate legitimate excuses (i.e. school related activities, sickness, etc.). Once you have used up your limit on your excuses, you will lose points for attendance no matter what your reason was for missing. Often poor attendance can affect your grade by at least one letter grade. One letter grade is the difference between a C and a D or passing and failing. Some professors will automatically fail you if you miss a certain number of classes.

The one-up rule is a way to develop discipline in just about anything you do. Here’s how it works on class attendance.

1. When you miss a class for the first time, you have to then attend two classes in a row. This applies to all of your courses. Thus missing Sociology would mean that you have to attend every course at least two classes in a row.
2. When you miss a class the second time, you then have to attend all of your courses three times in a row.
3. When you miss a class the third time, you then have to attend four classes in a row.
4. The one-up rule continues on in the same fashion over and over again. Eventually you will be at a point where you can miss no more classes for the rest of the semester.
5. It is important that you follow the rule.
6. Constantly document the number of days you went to class without skipping any.
7. Don’t make excuses.
8. Save your absences until the end. It will feel a lot better knowing that you do not have to worry about whether or not you will receive a lower grade due to absences.

Make the one-up rule a game to try to compete with your friends to see who goes to the most classes in a row. Use a friendly bet so that you have something to motivate yourself.

If you follow this process, you will find yourself developing good habits and the discipline to go to class. If this works for attending class, you can apply this for getting your homework done on time. You can also apply this approach for other activities such as getting the right amount of sleep, working out, managing your weight, etc..