Why do students at highly ranked and expensive universities skip classes?

While it's usually a good idea to attend your classes (and often required) and it's a waste of money if you don't, some really don't need to be attended. I took an interesting-sounding course that turned out to be deadly dull, so I didn't go. I turned in the paper and took the final (he gave the same final every semester, and they were all on file in the library for students to reference while studying). I got an A. Did the same thing with another course. At least I learned something about it while studying for the paper and final, but never got enough out of the course to justify attending. And if you can do that without cheating or failing due to attendance policies, go for it.

Because their parents are footing the bills, not them! It's a common occurrence with undergraduate students.Trust me, these kids aren't passing those classes they skip. They'll eventually learn when mom and dad refuse to pay and the only jobs they can find are minimum wage.

The kids who are paying for it themselves aren't skipping classes. The ones who are treating this expensive college like High School Part II, they're getting a free ride from mommy and daddy and aren't taking this seriously.

You won't always get behind in a class by skipping it. Sometimes the lectures really are somewhat superfluous. I had 2 classes like that when I was in college. In each case, I realized about a month into the class that I was learning everything from the homework assignments and textbook and wasn't really getting anything out of the lectures, so I just stopped going except to turn in homework and for the exams. I got an A in each one. It was mostly a case of the professor just not being a very effective teacher.

they are stupid..often they go out the night before or sleep in, cant be bothered to get up especially for early lectures. they think they can catch up on their own or copy notes from others...who are they kidding their the ones who are losing out and spending extra time borrowing and copying up notes. it annoys me to but again its their loss....they always miss out on something. so many of my friends have not known about deadlines and importnant information due to sheer laziness not to mention great conversations and coffee breaks!!

Often times, they think they can study the material on their own and do just as well.

They're stupid

There may be several answers: They do not care They are spoiled They think that they know it all. it is endemic in our society. They do not realize the consequences. They are goalless. They like to procrastinate and think that they can catch up../