Lauren Phillips does not wait until the last minute to leave for class.

“I leave my room about 10 minutes before class to make sure I’m early,” said Phillips said.

With the return of midterm grades, some Quincy University students are looking for ways to get back on track before the fall semester ends. Others say they are simply tired of showing up. One of the simplest fixes does not involve extra studying at all but rather getting to class, and getting there on time.

Midterm grades give students a clear picture of where they stand halfway through the semester. For some, that means a push to raise a grade before finals.

Attendance and punctuality are one of the most basic steps toward a successful college career. But how long does it actually take to get to class, and what is the most efficient way to get there?

For Phillips, the answer is planning ahead.

“I always make it on time,” Phillips said. “I walk through the little hallway, walk on up the stairs to class.”

Phillips said she leaves her room five to 10 minutes before class to make sure she arrives early. From there, she walks through a short hallway and up the stairs to her classroom.

QU Media reporter Jasmine Hopkins timed how long a typical trip takes. The walk started in the Willer parking lot, a central point among the university’s residence halls, and ended at Francis Hall. The walk took 3 minutes, 53 seconds.

That is a short trip, but it leaves little time for students who wait until the last minute to leave. Students who plan their route and when they leave ahead of class are more likely to be in their seats when class starts.

Getting to the right building is only part of the trip. Once inside, students face the choice of taking the stairs or the elevator.

Bryce Edwards chooses the stairs.

“I take the stairs when I go to class ’cause it’s more time-efficient, so I get there on time,” Edwards said.

During busy periods between classes, though, either option can slow students down. Crowded stairwells and elevators stopping at several floors to let riders off can add time to the trip.

Those estimates also cover only the main campus. Students with classes at North Campus face a longer commute. The university offers shuttle rides to North Campus for students who need them.

Showing up on time is not the only habit that can help. Sitting in the front row and turning in assignments on time are other steps that go hand in hand with punctuality and can help students improve their grades over the second half of the semester.

With the first half of the fall semester complete, students have time to make adjustments before final grades come out. For many students like Lauren Phillips, that work starts with being in class on time.