One option for building a class schedule is using blocks of time when you can schedule several classes in a row, back-to-back, without any breaks. If you’re a commuter student or if you must carry a heavy workload to afford going to school, you might prefer block scheduling, which allows you to cut travel time by attending school one or two days a week. Block scheduling might also provide more flexibility if you have to schedule a job or family commitments.

Scheduling classes in blocks, however, can also have significant drawbacks. When all your classes are scheduled in a block of time, you run several risks. If you become ill on a class day, you could fall behind in all your classes. You might also become fatigued from sitting in class after class. When one class immediately follows another, it will be difficult for you to have a last-minute study period immediately before a test because you will be attending another class and are likely to have no more than a 15-minute break in between. Finally, remember that if you take back-to-back classes, you might have several exams scheduled for the same day. Scheduling classes in blocks might work better if you have the option of attending lectures at alternative times in case you are absent, if you alternate classes with free periods, and if you seek out instructors who are flexible with due dates for assignments.

If your classes are offered at more than one time of day or more than one day a week, you will find it easier to design a schedule that works best for you. Often, however, you will be forced to take a class at an inconvenient time because that’s the only time the class is offered. Remember that any schedule you develop will have pros and cons, but with advance planning, you can make the most of your in-class and out-of-class time.