Excuses to miss the first week of class

This is my first Spring semester at my school after transferring and I just realized that classes start in mid to late January instead of February! I thought that it would start in February like all my past schools but sadly no.

So my father has booked his flight to come the first week of school for my birthday week. He has also bought us tickets for Disneyland on the first day of school and will leave the day before my birthday because that was the only time he could get off from work. I only have classes on Tuesday and Thursday so I will only be missing 2 days. I would like a whole day to miss for my birthday but if anyone could help me think of a legitimate reason to not show up the first week of class or even the first day without getting dropped from classes, my stress levels would go down tremendously.

Do you really think your professors will care? Why would you get “dropped?” It’s your dime your wasting. You are an adult. The responsibility is on you. If you don’t go to class, it’s your problem.

“…help me think of a legitimate reason to not show up the first week of class…”
I can think of many legit reasons to show up,

Before anyone books a visit, the wise thing is to check schedules. Plus, you would have needed to know when you’re expected back on campus.

He can possibly change the Disneyland tickets. And since he leaves before your birthday, you could go to class on that day.

Dont start the semester already behind.

If you have to request help in finding a legitimate reason for doing anything, I think you already have your answer.

You’re an adult now. You need to go to class.

As a new transfer student, this sounds like a particularly bad way to start. I would guess that if your dad knew that his visit was putting you at this kind of disadvantage, he’d work on a change.

I think it would be important to attend the first week of class in case you find that you want to transfer out of one of them before the deadline to switch out of classes. Since it is a new school I would make it a priority to get there and get familiar with your surroundings (transition) instead of missing the first week.

The first day of class is often when the prof discusses the syllabus, grading, course expectations, etc. Do you really want to miss this? Unless you are going to a very small school or taking very small classes, no one will notice or care that you aren’t there, but you are only hurting yourself. You will start out behind all of your classmates. I think you need to explain to your dad that his trip needs to be rearranged.

Perhaps there is still time to transfer to a school that starts in February.