On the first day of Spring Semester last year, my professor stood in front of the class and said, “You should expect 2-3 hours of homework per class meeting.” 2-3 hours?!? I thought to myself. Honestly, that is absurd. Then she goes, “That, multiplied by 5 classes, well, you do the math. You can figure it out.” Naturally, I did the math. I did the math because I wanted to discover how much time I need to invest into each essential aspect of my life: attendance, homework, sleep, food, and exercise. Have you ever wondered if there are enough minutes in the day? Throughout this process I adopted a way to mathematically calculate my schedule and analyze my time management skills.
Generally, college students take around five classes. The length of the class depends on the course and what day of the week it is. For the purpose of this study, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes are considered to be 50 minutes in length and Tuesday and Thursday classes are 75 minutes.
Disclaimer: This is not Sloane’s schedule.
Sloane has 3 classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 2.
.83-hours (50 minutes) x 3 classes/week x 3 days/week = 7.47 hours
Sloane has 2 classes on Tuesday and Thursday.
1.25 hours (75 minutes) x 2 classes/week x 2 days/week = 5 hours
Of the 168 hours in a week, J is in class for 12.47 hours (7.47 + 5).
Now, if every professor expected Sloane to devote 2.5 hours to homework after every class meeting, then we multiply 2.5 hours by the 5 classes that she is taking each week.
2.5 hours x 3 classes x 3 days/week (MWF) = 22.5 hours
2.5 hours x 2 classes x 2 days/week( TTH) = 10 hours
Of the 168 hours in a week, she is in class for 12.47 hours and she does homework for approximately 32.5 hours.
Plus, Sloane needs her beauty rest! The CDC recommends 7 or more hours per night of sleep for adults (18-60 years).
7 hours of sleep x 7 days a week = 49 hours
1-hour meal x 3 meals a day x 7 days a week = 21 hours
1-hour exercise x 7 days a week = 7 hours
Of the 168 hours in a week, she is in class for 12.47 hours, does homework for approximately 32.5 hours, and spends 77 hours eating, sleeping, and/or exercising.
Of the 168 hours in a week, she is in class for 12.47 hours, does homework for approximately 32.5 hours, and spends 77 hours eating, sleeping, and/or exercising. Sloane is in school, working, and/or taking care of herself for 121.97 hours a week.
There you have it, the mathematics of taking five classes, spending an average of 2.5 hours on homework after every class, staying nutritious, getting 7 hours of sleep each night, and getting up to play for 60 minutes a day. After accomplishing the essentials for the week, there are 46.03 hours left in the week to distribute across the boards. That time is for going to a basketball game, attending chapter, working a job, going on vacation, or any other interests. Balancing responsibilities is a life skill that helps us persevere through the low and high points of our journey. Juggling five classes, a job, a nutritious diet, exercise, sleep, and a social life can feel overwhelming in college.
Hold on tight, it’s a wild ride but definitely worth it!
Jasmina Jusufagić
Edited by Sam Lacey and Alex Rosenberger