We are back with the third blog in our series on five things every college freshman should know. Prior blogs talked about doing laundry and making beds. Don’t forget to go read those if they happen to fall under the category of things you don’t know how to do yet. Today we will be talking about the low down on where to sit in those giant lecture halls every college has. 

Lecture halls can be intimidating, especially when they can hold up to 725 students. Sitting in the back can seem like the easiest and most convenient option. It’s close to the exit and doesn’t draw any attention like sitting in the front would. From the back, you can leave class more quickly when it’s over and you’re not put in the spotlight with professors. However, sitting in the back has been proven to lower attendance and grades. Students sitting in the back have lower average attendance rates and drop-off in attendance quicker than students who sit in the front. The fraction of A’s decrease steadily when students sit further from the front. Sitting in the back of a large lecture hall doesn’t work to your advantage, 

There was a study performed by researchers Katherine Perkins and Carl Wieman in January of 2005 addressing the impact of seat location on student performance. The study consisted of 201 students in an algebra-based introductory physics course. Students were randomly assigned seats at the beginning of the semester and those seats were switched halfway through the course. Results showed that students in the back of the class dropped off in attendance more and didn’t show up as regularly. Students who started in the back of the class were found to be six times as likely to receive an F as students who started in the front of the class. Perkins and Wieman then asked students to consider statements about physics and respond. Students sitting in the front of the class demonstrated improved beliefs about the content compared to those who sat in the back of the class. 

This study highlights something called the “t-zone.” The idea of the “t-zone” is like the one you think of when thinking about your face. It’s a zone in the classroom shaped like a T, consisting of the front few rows and the middle few columns. Students sitting in those sections of the classroom are generally the focus of the instructor since it’s where their attention turns most frequently. Those students get called on more often and absences can be more notable. They are held accountable for attending class and, as a result, perform better overall. 

There is a common misconception that students sit in the back because they tend to underachieve and pay less attention. Often, it’s simply because those students don’t want to be called on and don’t want the attention that comes with sitting in the front of the class. It’s not something to be scared of though. Having that connection with the instructor and going to office hours and being involved during class help with content mastery and can raise a student’s grade. Professors will often take notice when students are getting involved and asking for help when they need it. Don’t be afraid to sit in the front and participate in class. Being “cool” isn’t worth not getting the grades you need to earn the degree you’re paying thousands of dollars for.