30 Things To Do In Between Classes In College

How do you pass the time in between your classes in college? Here are 30 things to do in between your college classes.

Whether you have a 15-minute or a 3-hour break in between your classes in college, there are plenty of things you can do to make the most of that time.

In today’s blog post, we are discussing 30 things to do in between classes in college.

This list includes a variety of productive and non-productive things (or what I like to think of as fun things) you can do to pass the time in between your classes. Let’s get started!

Table Of Contents

How do you pass the time in between your classes in college? Here are 30 things to do in between your college classes.
30 things to do in between classes in college
How much time do you have between classes in college?
What do college students do after class?
Concluding thoughts on things to do in between classes in college
Thanks for reading about what to do in between college classes.

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30 things to do in between classes in college

1. Go for a walk around campus

Most likely, by default, you will be spending your breaks on campus taking a walk from one class to another. But, if it is a nice day outside and you have some extra time to kill in between classes, why not take a longer walk?

You may be surprised by the hidden gems you can find around your college campus like artwork and secret study locations.

Taking a walk around around campus can also help you get your steps in for the day and help you get through the midday slump as well.

2. Go to the gym and knock out a workout

This one may be best if you have an hour or more break in between your college classes since you’ll need to have time to freshen up before your next class.

At the gym, you can power walk on a treadmill, cruise on an elliptical, take a group exercise class like cycling, yoga, or even Zumba, or do strength training.

If you’re working out by yourself, you can also catch up on YouTube videos or your current Netflix obsession while working out.

Just be sure to pack some good deodorant and some dry shampoo and use them before your next class.

3. Work on homework

While homework is pretty boring and one of the most mundane things you can do in between your college classes, doing homework can be a great way to be productive in between your college classes.

Whether you are able to get through two math homework problems or even write the introduction to your English literature paper, it is more progress made on your homework than if you were to spend your break mindlessly scrolling through social media (but that’s ok too).

4. Apply to jobs or internships

If you are nearing the end of your college career or a sophomore or junior in college looking to get their foot in the door for their future career, a great, productive way to use your time in between classes is to apply to jobs or internships.

You can use the time to browse job listings, spruce up your resume, write a cover letter, or send out emails recruiters or to people you need a recommendation letter from.

5. Attend club meetings or informational meetings

If you’re a social butterfly or simply love spending time with people who share common interests with you, then attending a club or an informational meeting is a great way to spend the time in between classes.

During these meetings, you can make new connections and friends on campus, network with industry leaders, and learn about new opportunities being offered from your university or around the community.

6. Grab a snack or a meal

Who else gets hungry after class?

In between classes is the perfect time to grab a quick protein bar from the vending machine or get a bite to eat at the on-campus dining hall.

7. Catch up with a friend

In college, you have to find a way to balance your schoolwork with your social life among the many other time commitments you may have.

One way to make time for friends in college is in between your college classes.

You can simply sit outside class with a friend and chat, go to a nearby coffee shop and catch up, or go to gym together to chat and get fit together.

When I was in college, I loved spending my time in between classes studying with my sorority sisters or having coffee dates with my sorority littles.

8. Visit your professors during their office hours

Got a question about a new assignment, need clarification on a math problem worked in class, or want to understand why you got a 70 on that last test?

You can spend your time productively in between your college classes by visiting your professors during their office hours.

Not only are you being proactive with your studies, but you are also building a professional relationship with your professors.

Getting to know your professors could result in them offering to write you a letter of recommendation for a future job or graduate school or the opportunity to become an undergraduate teaching assistant or research assistant for them because they have gotten to know you and your work ethic.

Alternatively, if you don’t have enough time to visit your professor during their office hours, but have a question you need answered, consider using the small amount of time to send them an email.

You may also like: How To Send Your Professor A Professional Email

9. Buy ingredients for dinner later that night

Did you find a brand new, exciting recipe on Pinterest and want to try it? Why not pick up those ingredients during the time in between your college classes? This can be a great way to make the time you could be spending scrolling through your phone waiting for your next class to start productive.

10. Work on a side hustle

College is a great time to start a side hustle. Whether it is learning how to flip clothing or thrift store finds on Poshmark, Mercari, or Ebay, opening up an Etsy store, or starting a blog–working on a side hustle is a great way to pass the time between classes in college.

11. Plan out the next few days

To thrive in college you need a good planning system. If you have 15-30 minutes before your next class, why not plan out the next few days in your planner, on Google calendar, or in your bullet journal?

If you’re looking for a good planner, try the Lilly Pulitzer Jumbo Planners. Or if you want to get into bullet journaling, I highly recommend this dotted journal to get started.

12. Learn a new skill

Have you ever wanted to learn how to knit? What about design websites? Or get more comfortable using Excel?

With platforms like SkillShare, YouTube, and podcasts, it is possible to practically learn anything your heart desires at your own pace.

You can even list the skills you learn and become proficient in on your resume or monetize these skills to create yourself a small side hustle.

13. Catch up on TV shows or YouTube videos

As a busy college student, it can be hard to find the time to keep up with your favorite shows or YouTube videos. Why not kill time between classes by catching up on a TV show or your favorite YouTuber’s videos?

I personally love rewatching episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and Criminal Minds. And for YouTubers, my all-time favorite is college vlogger, Abby Asselin.

14. Read a book for pleasure

Reading textbooks all day long can make anyone’s head hurt. If you’re a book worm or enjoy the occasional good read, why not take the time between classes to read a few pages of a “normal” book.

Reading a book for pleasure can help you take your mind off the stressors of college and take you into a different world even if it is just for a few minutes.

You may also like: 17 Ways College Students Can Practice Self-Care

15. Clean your apartment bedroom or dorm room

One of the hardest parts about being a college student is keeping your apartment bedroom or dorm room clean.

I remember in college, if I had an upcoming project, paper, or test, I would literally pause my efforts to keep my room clean until the test date or the due date of the assignment had passed.

It was not the best strategy, but I guess the grades I got made up for it…

However, wouldn’t it be nice to walk into your apartment bedroom or dorm room after class with everything organized and your bed already made?

So if you can spare even 5-minutes before class to tidy up a bit around your dorm room or apartment bedroom, it will pay off in the end. You can even do your cleaning while watching a video or listening to a podcast or music.

16. Take a nap

Every college student needs a good power nap every once in awhile. Even if you have 20-minutes before your next class, you can get a good nap in and feel refreshed without needing an extra cup of coffee (maybe).

17. Meal prep

Meal prepping can be a game changer for college students.

Not only can meal prepping help you save money and time, but it can also help you eat healthier and save you from having to go to the dining hall on campus.

What I like to do is meal prep taco bowls with rice (I use this rice cooker), ground beef, canned black beans, tomatoes, corn, and shredded cheese. It is super easy and you can make a ton of taco bowls at once in under an hour in the kitchen.

Then I just pop a taco bowl in the microwave for about 2-minutes when I’m hungry and grab some tortilla chips for impromptu nachos.

18. Update your resume

If you are looking for a productive way to pass the time between your classes that will benefit you long-term, why not update your resume?

Since you have been in college, there are probably opportunities you have pursued, classes you have taken, or projects you have completed that would look great on a resume.

Even taking 5-minutes to add in a new skill or rephrase some bullet points of previous work experiences can help you become more hire-worthy when it is time for you to job hunt.

19. Catch up on social media

This is the classic way to kill time between classes in college.

Whether you are scrolling through Facebook to catch up with friends and family, checking on your favorite instagram influencers, or watching the 100th Tik Tok of the day, catching up on social media can be a great, mindless way to pass the time between classes in college.

However, I wouldn’t recommend doing this if you have a large break between classes.

Instead, I would limit yourself to 15-minutes at max and then choose something a little more productive to do, like working on an assignment, catching up on reading for class, or even cleaning up around your apartment or dorm room.

20. Color

If you need something relaxing to pass time between your classes that isn’t reading or watching videos on YouTube or Netflix, coloring is a great alternative.

There are plenty are unique and fun coloring books for adults you can buy online, like this one or this one. And for just a few bucks, you can have enough to color for the whole semester.

21. Study for an admissions test

If you dream of advancing your education by going to graduate school, law school, medical school, etc. then you need to make time to study for the admissions exam (GRE/GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.).

What better time to study for these tests than in between your classes in college?

Studying for these tests while in school will keep you more motivated and driven.

When I was applying to graduate school, I was studying for the GRE while working full-time and it was not fun. I had little to no motivation and it wasn’t until a month before the test when I actually buckled down and studied.

If I would have studied in college during my class breaks, I think I would have been more focused and driven to study and prepare for the GRE.

22. Journal

Journaling can be a great way to reflect on your day-to-day life, cope with everyday stressors, and take a break from college.

Even if you only have 5-minutes before your next class, try pulling out a piece of paper or a notebook and writing down your:

Feelings
Doing a brain dump
Listing out 5 things you are grateful for
Listing out 5 things you’re look forward to doing soon

You’d be surprised how clearer you mind will feel after this exercise.

You can also save this piece of paper or notebook entry to reflect on in the future and to see how far you have come.

23. Volunteer

If you have a lot of time to spare before your next class, why not spend that time helping around your community?

Whether it is mentoring kids at a local elementary school, spending time with dogs and cats at an animal shelter, or feeding those in need, you can find plenty of volunteer opportunities that can fit your college class schedule.

If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, try talking to a professor or seeing if there are bulletin board postings around campus with upcoming volunteer opportunities. You can also ask classmates or users on Reddit if your college or the city your college is located in has a subreddit.

24. Catch up on your water goal for the day

Staying hydrated is so important. But if you are finding it difficult to hit your daily water goal, try using your break between classes to drink some water.

Now don’t drink TOO much water or you may regret it later during the middle of your next class, but perhaps while you are scrolling through social media or watching a YouTube video before the next class, try taking a few sips of water here and there.

25. Organize your college binder or bookbag

When the workload in college gets busy, it can be difficult to keep your college binder or book bag organized. Even setting aside 5-minutes before your next class to sit down and organize can make all the difference in your sanity.

26. Listen to a podcast

Unlike watching a show or movie on Netflix or catching up on YouTube videos, podcasts can be easily consumed while walking to your next class, working out at the gym, or doing chores around your college apartment or dorm.

Podcasts can also be a great way to soak up more knowledge or be entertained without having to focus your attention on a screen.

I personally love listening to podcasts about blogging, like The Blogger Genius Podcast. But I also love The Gen Z Girl Podcast hosted by Abby Asselin who’s advice and personal experiences she shares are totally relatable to today’s college girl.

27. Do laundry or the dishes

Laundry and dishes seem to be never-ending chores.

If you are finding your dirty dishes are pilling up in the sink or your bedroom looks like a clothing tornado ran through it, then perhaps doing the laundry or the dishes would be the best productive thing to do before your next class.

Similar to #15 on the list, you can easily do laundry or the dishes while watching YouTube or Netflix or listening to a podcast, music, or an audiobook.

This will help pass the time a lot quicker and allow you to multitask with something that’s more enjoyable and something that is less enjoyable.

28. Backup your phone and computer files

The worst thing that could happen to any college student is losing all their data and files on their phone or computer.

Memories and assignments, all the sudden gone.

To prevent this tragedy from happening, take some time before your next class to backup your files to an external hard drive or a cloud service like DropBox.

I personally use DropBox because it automatically syncs my computer files and I can have access to them on my phone, my computer, or literally any computer in the world.

29. Change into comfier clothes

Wearing cute clothes in college can be fun in the day-time, but for a late night class… you may not want to even bother with it if you plan on going right to bed after class.

The solution?

Use the break before your late night class to change into comfier clothes. This could mean changing into a pair of leggings and a t-shirt or my personal favorite, Nike shorts and an oversized t-shit.

30. Grab a cup of coffee

Some college classes are total snoozers. Or if you take classes in the early afternoon, right when the afternoon slump hits, grabbing a coffee in between your next class may not be a bad idea.

You can visit your local Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, or (even better) a family-owned coffee shop for a caffeine pick-me-up before your next class.

During my undergrad days, I loved picking up an iced coffee with vanilla and cream. It was always what I needed to wake me up after my 9 AMs.

How much time do you have between classes in college?

It’s hard to pin point how much time you have between classes in college because you get to choose your own course schedule.

At minimum, you will get about a 15-minute break if you choose to do back-to-back classes, but you could have an 8-hour break if you, for example, chose to take a 9 AM class then a 5 PM class on the same day.

What do college students do after class?

When a college student’s classes are done for the day, there are lots of things they can do with their time after class such as:

Attend club meetings or participate in extracurricular activities like intramural sports
Go to the gym
Study or work on class assignments
Eat
Work
Hang out with friends or classmates
Visit their professors during their office hours
Attending tutoring sessions
Etc.

Concluding thoughts on things to do in between classes in college

With all the time you have in between classes this raises the question–what do you do in between classes in college?

In this blog post, we went over 30 things you can do in between your classes in college.

Some of the things on the list were productive, some entertaining, and some could help you further your career prospects or long-term educational goals. I hope you enjoyed this blog post and found some new ways to pass the time in college.