Weekends.  Usually, you can use them to work, hang out with friends, or catch up on homework you've gotten behind on because you just HAD to see the new episode of American Idol.  But since when are there weekend classes?

There are times when the only available classes are on the weekends.  This is rare, but it does occur, especially in specialty classes, like scientific diving, or in classes that have too many students trying to obtain a spot, like physics labs.  If it's a regular class, this could mean you have extra time during the week to do other homework.

However, if it's a specialty class, or a seminar that only occurs on that weekend, it could mean you don't have your weekends free.  So how do you deal with it?

First, you need to prioritize what's important for you that week.  I had a full weekend of diving the weekend before a paper was due, which meant I knew I was going to be too tired to get the paper done on the weekend before the Monday it was due.  I worked on it over the week to finish it, and I did get it mostly done by Friday.

Second, you need to know if you can get the assignment done quickly or if you need a long time.  If it's a report, and you have consistent weekend classes, do the research during the week to avoid crunch time the weekend before.  If you know it won't take you that long to finish, you can do it after your weekend classes, or finish it before you hang out with your friends on Friday night.

Third, double check that you have everything under control.  Some things sneak up on you.  Remember the paper I mentioned earlier?  It turned out it was due on Wednesday, not Monday.  It was better than having the opposite occur, but it was still annoying.  But some due dates do sneak up on you.  I had an application due one day, but I mixed up which application was due, so I was scrambling that weekend, in the evenings after diving, to try and finish up the application.  It wasn't pleasant.

Not to say that weekend classes aren't fun.  Some seminars are a blast, such as trips to local museums and zoos, or bike rides around areas, or learning how to cook a different type of cuisine.  And I like taking scientific diving, even though it kills most of my weekends.  Taking weekend classes and seminars can be some of the most rewarding experiences ever.  But you do have to make sure you can keep up with your classes.