excuses to get out of an assignment

49 Best Excuses For Not Doing Homework

No, you can’t use ‘I’d a fever’ as the best excuse for not doing homework. 

Because someone already has the same reason. And it’s too regular. 

Then you may ask, what to say when the teacher asks ‘Where’s your homework?’ 

( Note: This is just for entertainment purposes. Please don’t make a habit of relying on these excuses every day. Better if you do your homework on time.) 

Good Excuses For Not Doing Homework

Have these good reasons to convince your teacher why you came to school without the homework. 

1. “Someone told me that the date of submission is extended.” 

5. “There’s some fixing work going on at my home, especially in my room.” 

10. “There was a rumor that you were on leave today.”   

14. “I forgot my bag here so I’m not able to complete it at home.”

Funny Reasons For Not Doing Homework

Indeed, there is a risk of you appearing dumb in front of your class. 

3. “After I completed my homework, my sibling ripped my assignment apart.” 

7. “Our cousin used my homework to make a paper plane and they just flew it.”

8. “My family wants me to go to a boarding school, so I’m just getting ready for it.”  

10. “My mom and dad fought and the entire day went on just to settle things down.” 

13. “My internet went off while you’ve given the assignments to us.” 

16. “My dad took my bag for some reason and today I have to come with a spare bag.”

Believable Excuses For Not Doing Homework

Whatever reason you are about to give for not completing your assignment, your teacher will judge it logically. 

2. “I’ve saved my assignment, but I don’t know where it is now. The file is lost on the PC.” 

3. “I forgot to save my homework and all the work was just gone.” 

7. “After school, we had to go to some event and I lost my bag somewhere there.” 

12. “I was stuck in the giant toy car the whole day and not able to do homework later.”

14. “I was helping other kids in school to complete assignments, but I forgot mine.” 

15. “My notebook fell into our swimming pool and I couldn’t save it in time.”

16. “It’s not my dog, but my cat peed on my notebook. I couldn’t bring my notebook today, but I will tomorrow.”

We all agree that we have the entire day to do it, but the best time to do homework is ‘the last hour’ before submission. 

This list covers last-minute excuses to get you another chance. 

Hope this frees you from any punishments or embarrassment at school. 

But, promise us, that you will do your homework on time from now on. We don’t want you to use these excuses anymore, too.

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Good Excuses For Not Doing Homework [Complete Guide]

When the pile of homework seems insurmountable, having valid Excuses for Not Doing Homework can be a lifesaver. In this straightforward guide, we provide practical and genuine reasons for students who find themselves unable to complete their assignments.

Table of Contents

30 Stunning Excuses for not doing homework

In the world of academics, when homework piles up and time runs short, having “Stunning Excuses for Not Doing Homework” can be a game-changer. In this concise guide, we present innovative and genuine reasons that students can employ when faced with the daunting task of unfinished assignments.

1. I WAS SICK

It’s a classic excuse, and being genuinely ill can indeed hinder homework completion. When using this excuse, it’s crucial to convey your sincerity to your teacher.

If you’re not genuinely sick , consider the ethical aspect. Faking illness is not recommended, and it’s essential to maintain trust with your teachers. Instead, try to manage your time better to avoid last-minute homework crises.

2. MY COMPUTER CRASHED

When you explain this to your teacher, be honest about the issue and express your frustration. They may offer an extension or suggest alternative ways to complete the assignment .

3. MY INTERNET DIED

Ensure that your teacher understands the necessity of internet access for the specific assignment. In the meantime, you can try to complete any offline portions of your homework.

Always have a backup plan for internet access, such as using a mobile data connection or a nearby library, to prevent this excuse from becoming a recurring issue.

4. I BROKE MY ARM

Remember that honesty is essential. Faking an injury is not recommended, as it can lead to serious consequences and damage your credibility with teachers.

5. THERE WAS A DEATH IN THE FAMILY

However, consider the ethical implications of using this excuse falsely. Faking a family death is highly inappropriate and can have severe consequences.

Be prepared to provide some documentation or information about the situation, but remember that you’re not obliged to share more than you’re comfortable with.

6. MY BAG GOT STOLEN

Provide details about what was in your bag and explain the urgency of the situation. Teachers are generally sympathetic to theft-related issues.

7. I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT

When informing your teacher, be honest about the impact of the accident on your ability to complete homework. Mention any physical or emotional distress you’re experiencing.

Only use this excuse when it’s valid, and prioritize your recovery over homework.

8. I HAD TO WORK

Many students have part-time jobs to support themselves or their families. If work commitments prevent you from completing homework, discuss your situation with your teacher in advance.

Explain the importance of your job for your financial stability and your commitment to your studies. Most teachers will be accommodating if they know your circumstances.

9. I GOT STUCK BABYSITTING MY YOUNGER SIBLINGS

Highlight your commitment to your family while also emphasizing your commitment to your education .

Try to create a schedule that balances your babysitting responsibilities and homework time to avoid last-minute issues.

10. PRACTICE RAN LATER THAN USUAL

Extracurricular activities like sports or band practice can extend beyond their expected duration. Inform your teacher about your commitment to these activities and the unexpected delay in returning home .

Express your dedication to both academics and extracurriculars. Teachers often appreciate students who are involved in school activities.

11. I HAD A FAMILY EMERGENCY

Be honest and considerate of your family’s privacy while explaining the circumstances to your teacher.

12. MY PET REQUIRED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION

Pets are like family to many people, and their health issues can be concerning. If your pet needs urgent care , let your teacher know and explain the situation.

Be sure to provide any necessary documentation from the veterinarian or proof of the emergency vet visit . Ensure your pet’s well-being and then address your homework responsibilities.

13. I’M FACING TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH A SPECIFIC SOFTWARE

14. i had a mental health crisis.

Mental health is as crucial as physical health . If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, inform your teacher honestly and express your need for time to address your well-being.

15. I WAS VOLUNTEERING FOR A CHARITY EVENT

Volunteering for a worthy cause is commendable. If your volunteer work unexpectedly extended into your homework time, explain your commitment to community service and ask for an extension.

Highlight the valuable skills and experiences gained through volunteering. Balance your volunteering commitments with your academic responsibilities by planning your schedule effectively.

16. MY NOTES WERE STOLEN

17. i’m experiencing family conflict.

Family conflicts can be emotionally draining. If you find yourself in the midst of such a situation, communicate with your teacher about the emotional strain it’s causing.

18. MY NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERIENCED A NATURAL DISASTER

Share your concern for your community’s safety and well-being. Prepare an emergency kit and have backup plans for studying during power outages.

19. I’M DEALING WITH A SERIOUS MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS

20. i’m experiencing technical difficulties with my school’s online platform.

Technical issues with your school’s online platform can be frustrating. If these problems prevent you from accessing or submitting homework, report them to your teacher.

21. I’M TRAVELING FOR A FAMILY EVENT

Express your commitment to your family while recognizing your academic responsibilities. Plan your travel and homework schedule carefully to avoid last-minute conflicts.

22. I LOST MY WORK DUE TO A FILE CORRUPTION

23. i’m facing a language barrier.

If you’re learning a new language and struggling to understand the homework, reach out to your teacher for assistance.

24. MY CALCULATORS OR SUPPLIES WERE STOLEN

Request an extension to acquire replacement supplies or borrow from a classmate. Keep your school supplies secure and consider labeling them to prevent theft.

25. I’M EXPERIENCING A POWER OUTAGE

26. i’m struggling with a personal crisis.

Personal crises, such as a breakup or a challenging family situation, can be emotionally taxing. Communicate with your teacher about the crisis and its impact on your ability to focus on homework.

17. I’M EXPERIENCING A HOUSING INSTABILITY

Emphasize your commitment to resolving housing instability and your dedication to your education. Connect with housing support services in your community to address the instability more effectively.

28. I’M STRUGGLING WITH TIME MANAGEMENT

Sometimes, students struggle with time management and find themselves unable to complete homework due to procrastination or over commitment to other activities.

Acknowledge the issue and ask your teacher for guidance on improving time management skills. Consider seeking assistance from a teacher or counselor to develop effective time management strategies.

29. I’M FACING TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

Lack of reliable transportation can be a barrier to completing homework, especially if you rely on public transportation. Notify your teacher about transportation challenges and their impact on your ability to access resources or attend school.

30. I’M STRUGGLING WITH MOTIVATION

Sometimes, students experience a lack of motivation , making it challenging to complete homework. Be honest with your teacher about your motivation struggles and ask for strategies to stay on track.

Express your desire to overcome this issue and succeed academically. Seek inspiration from classmates, teachers, or online resources to boost motivation and focus on your studies.

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50 Best Excuses for Missing your Homework

We all have drained our brains thinking for the perfect lie that could save us from our teachers. While school days are said to be one of the most memorable days of our lives, homework is one thing that we all used to run away from and would do anything to be away from it. Nervousness tickles up the spine when the teacher starts calling out names, asking for homework, slowly coming up to your name.

And you did not do it!

That is a moment when your brain is thinking hard for a solution, eyes staring blankly at your friends to get help, mouth mindlessly chewing nails and legs just wishing they could let you run out of the room. Alas, none of the things usually work out and it is left up to you to save yourself. And by the time you could make up the perfect justification, your teacher asks, “What about your homework? Have you done it dear?”

“No, ma’am. I mean yes, but actually…”

Well, there is always hope. It can be a good help if you try out these excuses for not doing your homework. There are always some cards that play the perfect role to help you out.

1. “I was ill for days!”

The king of all the excuses, illness can help you out surely. Now, it is important to keep in mind that your illness should sound practical as if it really happened to you. Do not tell of an ill situation that is hard to believe. I have heard that students sometimes even say that they caught rabies, and get blasted later. Viral infection, swelling, digestion issues and fever can work well.

2. “My cat scratched the papers and tore it off!”

Well, let’s not always blame the dogs for killing away your homework. This time, let your cat save you!

3. “I was busy volunteering for a social event”

Or even a community club, pets help, orphanage etc can be used to make up a perfect excuse. Teaming up with a social cause shows you as a responsible person towards your surroundings, and your teacher may like it and give you a day to cover up your work.

4. “Did not the homework was to be submitted today”

Well, this sounds as quite a common excuse, but definitely worth a try.

5. “Parents’ anniversary yesterday”

Yes, and that’s why you were busy all day round decorating up the house, fetching orders, planning the surprises which did not leave you any time for homework.

6. “Fall sick when asked about homework”

When your teacher is coming to you for homework, just bring out the actor inside you and pretend to be really sick, all of a sudden. You can act as if you have a really bad stomach, dizziness or feeling like throwing up as they happen suddenly. Rush to the medical room and you can be saved from a scolding.

7. “Lost it while house cleaning”

Let’s say the papers just got here and there while your room was being cleaned, and you could never find it again. It will be hard to believe one for your teacher though, but surely a fun thing to say as well.

8. “Vacuum cleaner ate it up”

Let the vacuum cleaner suck up your homework! And if the teacher asks that you could have still pulled it out, cleaned the paper and presented it to her, plainly say that it had too much chunk which was immediately cleaned.

9. “Mom gave a punishment for fighting”

And then think of a punishment which will keep you away from your room. Anything which is exhausting and time taking after which you were very tired and straight went off to sleep. For example, say you were asked to mow the lawn, clean the car, check and fix all the electric sockets etc. Surely this excuse can save you well because your teacher to knows that no one can cheat mom!

10. “Slipped out of my bag while I was crossing the bridge”

And below the bridge, there is the river, where it got dumped. But beware; do not think of saying the lie if there is no river in your way. You won’t be able to slip out of your teacher’s hands later!

11. “I did all of the work, but my computer crashed”

This excuse usually works well, because you did your homework but the system crashed. Play it well and you teacher will believe you.

12. “Baby sister pooped on it”

Eww, but it can definitely help you! And no one is going to think further about the assignment once they listen to this perfect lie.

13. “Got a lift while coming and forgot assignment in it”

Now you don’t know where the sweet guy who helped you went, neither you have any number to contact him.

14. “Dog peed on it”

Yes, finally the dog comes in to save you! And a further number of excuses that you can make up that involve your dog. Just like the lie where your younger sibling pooped on your precious homework, your teacher won’t think of it further.

15. “Had an alien visiting our block last night”

Anything bizarre can be cooked up once you say the word ‘Aliens’. You can say they sucked up all the ink of the entire block for their UFO’s fuel, or even that a tornado hit up when they were taking off the land. Aliens are always fun to talk about.

16. “Ran out of toilet paper”

Homework is important of course, but hygiene comes first!

17. “Someone pulled it out of my bag”

Pretend to be really worried, because you clearly remember keeping it in your backpack right this morning. But when you opened the bag in the class, poof! It has vanished. Your teacher will find it hard to believe because it is a lame excuse, but if you play it well, it can work as it points out that someone from class might have stolen it.

18. “Dad took it to work accidentally”

And while you were having breakfast, your dad was packing his bag for the office, searching for his files and papers and by mistake took off your homework with him too. But make sure your teacher does not end up calling your father to send in the homework.

19. “I was hypnotized”

Sounds fake. Totally. But it is possible anyway. Say your cousins were at your place last night and they tried up hypnotizing each other. Initially, it wasn’t happening, but when they tried the trick on you, it happened! And they made you clean all the chores of the house, bla bla bla. Make sure to tell that you were hypnotized all the time and got into senses right before school time.

20. “Butler tossed it into the bin”

Your butler cleaned up the room while you were getting ready. He thought it was some waste papers and threw them off. Plainly say that you were so furious that you asked dad to fire him right away.

21. “Gone into paper shredder”

Your cousin got a new paper shredder and wanted to test it. Before you could act in the situation, he picked up the assignment sheets lying near him and put into the machine. And you were crying your heart out when homework got chopped off finely.

22. “I felt my room was haunted”

And bring in all the conjuring effects that can trickle down a shiver of fear down the spine. Like the aliens, anything can be cooked up if you talk about paranormal activities. Lights got dimmed, bulbs burst off later, cold wind blew in through the wind, creepy sounds etc can all be a part of your story which made you really scared. So scared that you hid under the sheets and just slept off.

23. “Grandmother posted it away”

Say that your grandmom lost her glasses and had a very urgent letter to be delivered. By mistake, she picked up your homework and put it in the envelope. And all the while this happened, you were sleeping thus could not do anything.

24. “Burnt it to make some light”

Due to the heavy rain, there was low voltage and the fuse blew off. There was no light to see the fuse and fix it, thus you had to burn all the papers you could get your hands on, including your assignment. What a sacrifice it sounds! And when the power came back finally, there was not enough paper left in the house to start again.

25. “I forgot to bring my notebook”

The most common excuse, after all. Teachers have heard it a zillion times and find it lame. But it does happen that students forget their work due to a rush. But make sure that you do not use the lie each time you skip your homework because it does not make any sense that you forgot your homework every time.

26. “I was helping mom to host the guests last night”

This trick can definitely play well to save you from a punishment. After all, playing a good and responsible kid is never a bad idea!

27. “There was a power cut at our house the entire night”

And thus you could not see anything around you. A little silly it sounds, but if you play this excuse well, it can help you out for sure.

28. “I gave it for copying but did not get it back!”

Willing to play with your teacher’s mind? Then do try out this excuse. But be prepared for the fact that you may be scolded a little for letting others copy your work. But I’m sure it will be better than being blasted for not doing it at all!

29. “My maid packed food in it for a homeless guy”

Make sure to state right in the beginning that your maid can’t read. ‘Sharing is caring’ can indeed help you out and be a good excuse for skipping homework.

30. “Pen got no ink in the middle of work”

This excuse will be more sensible if you have done your homework, but not completed it. Add on some extra lines that the nearby stationery was closed too or anything else. Though a little hard to believe, it might work out too.

31. “I got robbed on the way to school!”

Why not add some drama to your lie! Make up a good story of how happy you were when you started from home as all your answers were correct but you got robbed in the way, and the bad guys took out everything from your bag and vanished. If possible, shed off a tear too, and the teacher will surely believe you and give you another chance to work on it. But hey, this excuse may not work every time as it is easy to catch out such fictitious excuses.

32. “My little brother made a boat and sailed it!”

Little kids can be a great saviour when it comes to making excuses. Plainly tell your teacher that your baby brother made a boat out of your assignment and sailed it in the bathtub.

33. “Tore it off because all my answers were wrong”

Play out a frustrated kid while telling this excuse, and say how dedicated you were to your work all night. But when you cross-checked the answers, you got angry with yourself so much that you just blew off the paper. Quite an unbelievable excuse though, but if you play it smartly, your teacher will surely believe in it.

34. “Kept it near the window and it blew away!”

Keep it simple, practical and real. Who can stop nature anyway?

35. “I just showed it to you!”

Sounds fun and adventurous, but do not dare to try if your teacher is sheer smart.

36. “Sister scribbled on it, so I had to erase it which took the entire night”

Again, let your family be your saviour!

37. “Did not know about submitting it today”

Though it is another common lie that goes around a lot, it can give you an extra day.

38. “Shifting house, thus misplaced it”

Tell your teacher that you are shifting your house to a new place, thus everyone was busy packing up the whole stuff. And now you have no idea where your stationery is packed!

39. “Drunk friend puked on my homework!”

And you could not do anything but to help him get to the washroom. And it was a stinking gross sight by the time you returned, thus you had to throw away your homework. This excuse can work well if you play it smartly.

40. “Could not understand the concept”

This shows that you tried doing your homework, but came across problems while doing it. You can make it even better by asking some doubts from your teacher to make it clear to your teacher that you indeed tried doing the homework.

41. “I was absent on that day homework was given”

And you don’t know anything about it. In fact, this is the most common lie that every student has given quite a times in their school times. And the teachers have got bored of hearing this lie. But you can still try it out.

42. “Forgot to save my work”

You were staying up all night, working hard on your assignment and then straight away went to sleep. And you went crazy in the morning when you realized that you had turned off your computer without saving your work!

43. “Neighbors were disturbing, thus I could not focus”

Well, it won’t be wrong to blame your neighbours little for not doing homework. Say the music was too loud or they were drunk and kept disturbing us at our home or anything else.

44. “Was busy doing other subject’s homework”

Teachers go a little crazy hearing this one, and they start lecturing the kids. But it happens often that students are already burying their heads in one subject so much that they can’t complete other subjects’ work.

45. “Was busy in a police investigation in the vicinity”

Let’s say that a crime scene popped out in your neighbourhood and you were called upon for a general investigation. The tiring questions made you really exhausted and you jumped into bed after it.

46. “Work got stuck due to printing error”

You were about to print your work, but let the printer take all your pains. Say it ran out of ink, bolts were loose or anything else. After all, technical errors can ooze up anytime.

47. “Had a fight with brother and he tore off my hard work!”

Oh, poor you! You did a good job at solving all the problems, sitting up all night. But he quarrelled with you right when you woke up in the morning and tore off your homework to bits just to annoy you. And every person knows that fights between siblings are a messy thing to tackle, so such things happen often!

48. “Had a bad toothache”

A toothache is a thing which can shiver a person even in his sleep. Your teacher may have gone through the sour experience as well, so such an excuse can keep you safe easily.

49. “Was grounded to my bedroom and homework was kept in the study”

An annoying lie which the teacher may not believe, but it can explain to him clearly that you need more time to complete your work.

50. “I confess…”

Sometimes, telling the truth is the best excuse to explain why you did not do your work. If no other way seems to work out, speak out the truth, blaming yourself a little that you felt lazy and did such an irresponsible thing. Tell your teacher that you would not repeat such a mistake and require some extra time to finish your work. Sometimes, truth wins overall.

Well, keep a thing in mind that the more bring such excuses into use, the lesser teachers will believe in you. do not make a regular habit of skipping homework. Make use of the above suggested fun excuses when it is actually required.

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Daniel Wong

11 Excuses for Not Doing Homework (And How to Stop Making Them)

July 5, 2022 By Daniel Wong 6 Comments

If you’re like many students, you’d rather take a nap, talk to your friends online, or play video games.

As you already know, finding reasons not to do your homework will prevent you from succeeding in school .

I’m sure you want to do well in school, and homework is definitely a part of that process.

In this article, I’ll go over 11 of the most common excuses for not doing homework and offer solutions to ensure that you stay engaged in school.

But first, make sure to download your free quick action guide…

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Excuse #1: You lack the required knowledge

Let your parents and teacher know if you’re taking a class and feel as if you lack the necessary skills or knowledge to complete the homework.

Ask your teacher for extra guidance so you don’t fall too far behind. See if your parents can find the time to help you, or you can look for a tutor.

Your teachers are there to help you develop the skills you need to do well in their classes.

You’re not alone in feeling that you lack the necessary skills, so don’t be too embarrassed to ask for assistance. You might even find some great study buddies who feel the same way.

Excuse #2: You lack confidence

Many students compare themselves to their peers, which can lead to a lack of confidence. When that happens, it’s easy to make excuses for not doing the homework.

But here’s what you need to know…

Everyone lacks confidence about something.

You might be good at math but need extra help with English. Perhaps you excel at geography but find biology confusing.

Give yourself a break.

If you lack confidence in your ability to learn a particular subject, get the support you need. Your teachers, parents, and even friends will help you out and give you a needed morale boost.

Excuse #3: Your home life is too hectic

The excuses for submitting assignments late are numerous, but one that I hear often is that it’s too busy or noisy at home to focus.

Finding a quiet space and using earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones can help reduce distractions. This will make it easier for you to finish your homework.

If that doesn’t work, try finding an alternative location to do your work, like the library or a friend’s house.

You can also talk to your parents about it. They might not even be aware of all the interruptions that are preventing you from completing your schoolwork.

Excuse #4: You don’t know where to start

Feeling anxious and overwhelmed are often the main reasons that cause students to not know where to start on their homework.

If you ever feel this way, here’s what I suggest you do:

• Take a deep breath.
• Create a space where you can get organised.
• Make a list of all your assignments and deadlines.
• Work on one assignment at a time.
• Start with an easy assignment to get a quick win, or tackle the most challenging assignment to get it out of the way.

Excuse #5: You have poor study habits

Many students develop bad study habits over their years in school.

Not everyone learns the same way or at the same pace. As such, every student will have different study habits. If what you’re doing isn’t working, try a different approach.

If you’re trying to do your homework as soon as you get home from school but can’t focus, try having a snack and taking a power nap before getting to work instead.

If you’re staying up too late studying, set a rule for yourself that you’ll start doing your homework within one hour of getting home.

Establish a routine where you do your work at roughly the same time each day. Developing routines like this will improve your study habits , which will make you a more effective student.

Excuse #6: School isn’t important to you

A common misconception is that school isn’t important, that what you learn won’t be relevant once you leave school.

This isn’t completely true.

Of course, the education system can be improved. But the knowledge you acquire in school will help you to understand and appreciate the world better.

And the process of becoming a more effective student will lead you to develop traits like self-discipline and responsibility. These are the types of traits you’ll need in order to find success at any stage of life!

Excuse #7: You’re overloaded with after-school activities

I know it can be tough to balance schoolwork and extracurricular activities.

Maybe you’re on a sports team or you spend several hours each week volunteering.

Finding the right balance to ensure you have enough time for homework can be challenging.

When too many afterschool activities get in the way of completing your assignments on time, it’s time to review your schedule. Decide how you can prioritise the activities that are the most important.

You may need to put some activities on hold until you’re consistently staying on top of your schoolwork.

Speak with your coach, teachers, or parents about the ideas they have to help you manage your schedule more effectively.

Excuse #8: Studying is boring for you

If you find that doing your homework is uninteresting, it may be time for you to change your point of view.

I always encourage students to cultivate a growth mindset . This is a mindset where you focus more on the learning process instead of on getting good grades.

Rather than seeing a particular subject as boring, develop a sense of wonder. Decide that you’re going to be intellectually curious, and you’ll discover that we live in a fascinating world.

And while you’re on that journey, remember that the students who succeed in school find ways to get the work done even when they find the subject boring.

For example, if you don’t like math, consider that it isn’t just about numbers – it’s a way of thinking.

Reframing how you think about a subject will enable you to see it as more interesting. In turn, you’ll become a better student over time.

Excuse #9: Your teachers assign too much homework

Sometimes, it may seem like your teachers assign more homework than you can keep up with. You might even believe that what you’re required to do is unreasonable.

If you find yourself in this situation, take a moment to think about everything else you’re doing.

Are you managing your time well?

Are you struggling with a particular class?

Do you use memory techniques to enable you to learn faster ?

Instead of allowing homework to overwhelm you, try talking to your teacher, tutor, or parents to figure out the best way forward for you.

Excuse #10: You already have so much overdue homework

Procrastinating on your homework can lead to a significant pile-up of assignments. This will affect your confidence in being able to complete them.

What’s more, once you get a set of new assignments, you probably won’t know how to do them because you didn’t do the previous assignments.

This creates a vicious cycle where you tell yourself that there’s no point in completing your newly assigned homework because you still have the old ones to do.

When this happens, the likelihood of completing any of the work decreases.

If you’re in this situation, set a reasonable goal of keeping up with all the newly assigned homework while completing, say, one overdue assignment a day, or one overdue assignment every two days.

Excuse #11: You don’t believe you can get good grades

If you hate school, there’s a chance that it’s because you feel the pressure to be a straight-A student .

Here’s the good news: You don’t need to be perfect. After all, there’s no such thing as a perfect student.

But you do have to put in the effort and get the work done. The rest will then fall into place.

If you’re doing your best, you’re doing great! Celebrate your progress and keep moving forward.

Take it one step at a time, and don’t worry too much about what grades you’re getting at the moment.

In closing…

There are many possible reasons for you not to finish your homework.

No matter what those reasons are, it’s important to know that the people around you want to help you succeed.

From teachers to parents to coaches, you have a support network to provide solutions to almost any obstacle you face.

Identify the excuses listed in this article that are relevant to your situation, and apply the suggested solutions.

If you do that, you’ll become a better and happier student who makes far fewer excuses related to homework!

July 7, 2022 at 12:13 pm

Thank you so much for this article. These were the problems I was struggling with. Now that i know the solutions to it ,I’m sure I’ll do better than before.

July 7, 2022 at 1:05 pm

You’re very welcome.

July 7, 2022 at 6:20 pm

I pray that may Almighty God grant you long life, more knowledge, sound health, rest of mind, wealth and happiness, so that you can witness your good impact in this World 🌍. GOD has made you a useful tool for every students and parents that is actually seeking success.

July 7, 2022 at 7:42 pm

Thank you, God bless you too!

July 27, 2022 at 9:29 pm

Thank you so much for this. I have found a couple of solutions for excuses I’ve made in the past. I needed this.

July 27, 2022 at 9:42 pm

You’re welcome.

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9 Excuses To Get Out of Class (That Actually Work)

Need a good excuse to get out of class? You wake up with the hangover from hell, have nothing to wear, didn’t do the homework or just can’t muster up the energy to get out of bed. You pray that you’ve accrued enough good karma that you’ll get a last-minute email from your professor saying class has been canceled or better yet, a PSA that Mondays have been permanently revoked from life. When neither happens, you desperately need to think on your toes to come up with valid excuses for missing class. Instead of fibbing about vague family member emergencies or your dog feasting on your term paper, here are nine excuses to keep in your arsenal to ensure you won’t get caught in a lie.

But you will want to get caught in our new Zodiac line-art tees :

Check out 9  best excuses for missing class.

1. bad apple.

Tell your professor you got food poisoning. You puke all over your bathroom for 24 hours and you come in bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the next day, even though you just wrote an Adderall-induced essay in one sitting. You can really only use this one once, so don’t make it a habit.

2. Disorder in the Court

Let your professor know that you’re scheduled for jury duty. They can’t argue with the law. Tread lightly, however, if your prof is the type to ask for proof.

3. Take Care of Business

Simply tell your professor that you’ve been in the bathroom all morning. No one wants to hear the details on your diarrhea, so they likely won’t pry any further. This is a believable excuse for those who don’t mind putting your BMs on blast.

Claim that you accidentally ate some peanuts and you’re having an allergic reaction. No one’s going to make you come to class if you’re breaking out in hives. The best part—you don’t need a doctor’s note.

5. Accidents Happen

Whether it was a fender bender or a four-car pile up, accidents are a great excuse to get an extension. A good possible excuse is always saying you have car troubles, I mean, don’t we all?

6. Lie Through Your Teeth

You just got your wisdom teeth out, a good medical reason, you look like Alvin the chipmunk and are on way too many painkillers to drive to school, so you have to spend the day chillin’ on the couch eating ice cream. Hey, only half of that is actually a lie .

7. The Key to Getting Out of Class

Tell your teacher that you locked your keys in your car and by the time Triple-A comes to the rescue, class will be over. That’s a believable excuse, right?

 8. Grand Theft Auto

Tell your professor your car got stolen and you have no way of getting to school. Say that you have to file a police report, even though the only cars getting jacked are the pixelated ones on your TV.

9. Lice It Up

If you tell your teacher you contracted lice over the weekend, they’ll actually be thankful you didn’t come to class. The email is quick and easy: “That’s the last time I’m buying a beanie from a thrift store…”

Here are 9 terrible excuses for skipping class.

Written by Kimberly Hurd

Now that we no longer live with our parents, no one forces us to go to class. No supervision can lead to bad things. We have the freedom to make our own decisions, but sometimes we get too carried away. For those days when we really want to use up an absence, we must at least come up with a good reason. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.

If you must skip class today, here are some excuses that definitely won’t let you off the hook.

1.“my alarm never went off.”.

Shockingly, very few students actually enjoy going to their 8 a.m. classes. Don’t think of yourself as the lucky one who can complain about sleeping through your alarm. No matter how late you party in Midtown , you still have class the next morning. “For missing an exam, the worst excuse has to be “I overslept.” The exam started at 4:05 p.m,” Interim Director of Communications at the University of Florida, Steve Orlando said. Even if you truly did sleep through an exam , nine out of 10 times, your professor refuses to give you credit.

2. “I drank too much last night.”

Never use this excuse on your professor. You may actually get points deducted for this one . Even if you think “oh yeah, they’ll understand,” they won’t. Although college students love partying, remember that in order to actually be a college student, you have to go to class.

3. “I’m not feeling well.”

Avoid playing the sick card until you actually need to. By calling out of class sick, what happens when you actually come down with a stomach virus ? Sicknesses come up too often so don’t jinx it by faking one.

4. “I’m going home for the weekend.”

For those attending a school that requires you to live away from home, we all want to take impromptu trips to see our parents . According to professors , you can’t prioritize family over schoolwork.

5. “What day is it?”

We all lose track of time every now and then. This actually causes students to miss classes. “I think the worst excuse I ever heard for missing class was ‘I forgot what day it was,’ Orlando said. You may think you only have one class today until you remember you only have one class on Wednesdays and today is Tuesday. Make sure you keep a planner or a calendar so you don’t become guilty of this confusion.

6. “I’m taking a mental health day.”

Students should be allowed to take mental health days. The schoolwork, stress and social life catches up to us quickly. However, your professor likely won’t accept the fact that you have a lot to deal with . The “I need a day to myself” could be interpreted as “I don’t want to go to class.” Your professors went through years of college, so he or she will tell you to handle it and show up.  If you really need the time to clear your head, try coming up with a better excuse.

7. “My dog died.”

For those who actually lost a pet while away at school, my condolences. Unfortunately, this excuse gets used far too often to seem believable. Even though as students we still deal with grief and loss, we may not be present for it. The sun comes up and the world still spins. Class still goes on and your assignments are still due.

8. “I can’t find my laptop.”

If you can’t find the laptop that costs you over $1,000, you have bigger problems than just missing class . In an electronic age, most of our assignments get submitted via Canvas or email. Luckily, even if you lost your computer you probably still keep your cell phone on you. Each assignment gets submitted by a tap on a screen. Even more typically, you never get away with the “I had no wifi excuse.” A professor’s response typically consists of telling you to start your work in advance. If worse comes to worst, your professor hopefully allows you to hand in a hard copy—don’t expect to get a pass with an incomplete.

9. “I got lost.”

For freshmen experiencing their first few weeks on campus , it gets very overwhelming. Google maps only helps so much when searching for exact classroom numbers. If you don’t leave your dorm room with plenty of time, you suffer the chance of easily getting lost . Walking in late to class embarrasses the hell out of you on your first day of school. Professors likely believe those that are old enough to attend college should be responsible enough to find their lecture hall.

Look cute while finding good excuses for missing class.

Your dog didn’t eat your homework. Keep reading for better excuses for missing an assignment.

Written by Amanda DeLuise, junior, journalism, New York University

It’s 4 a.m., your paper is due at 5 p.m. and a blank Word document illuminates the screen of your laptop. You’ve successfully done nothing but Facebook-stalk your ex and the 200 people you went to high school with but haven’t talked to in years. Most of us would be inclined to write an epic paper of B.S.—after all, procrastination is what college is all about. But some more creative, and less motivated, individuals start brainstorming excuses.

Here’s how that slacker sitting next to you got an A.

1. cut the details and just sound sorry..

Katy Gronsbell, a junior film major at Temple University, e-mailed her professor on her way home from partying to say she wouldn’t be able to take the next day’s quiz (due to an imminent hangover). “The e-mail said something to the effect that I was really sorry and dutifully understood if she had to deduct points because I was missing it,” she said. The apology seemed so genuine the professor offered a make-up quiz at Gronsbell’s convenience. Pro tip: Acknowledge that you deserve punishment.

2. You’ve got “The Swine.”

Josh Cabrido, a New York University sophomore journalism major, apologetically e-mailed his editor that he had swine flu and was buried in school work. His editor thanked him for not sharing the wealth and scratched the assignment altogether.

3. Your crazy college life interfered with your academics.

Traffic court for running a red light, broken arm from a drunken fall, took your sick roomie to the hospital—all can get you out of homework. Stephanie Barletta, a freshman at the University of South Carolina, even got out of a quiz after setting a fire alarm off while cooking.

4. You always participate in class (even if you’re just spouting B.S.).

Katie Alesi, a St. Joseph’s University sophomore, forgot a research essay, but raised her hand to share her “answer” with the class anyway. “When I didn’t hand the hard copy in, [the professor] came up to me at the end of class and asked if I e-mailed it,” explained Alesi. “I said I did.  He said he never got it, but clearly I had done it because of the answer I gave in class.” Pro tip: The follow-through is key on this one. E-mail a similar answer to your professor as soon as you get home.

5. The ever-elusive techno-glitch.

It almost always works: “I e-mailed you. Didn’t you get it?” Professors will think your assignment went to spam or disappeared into cyberspace . For a really risky move, send an e-mail without an attachment, with a bad file attached or with the words jumbled. Take the confusion time to do the assignment and get it in late.

Here are 9 out-of-the-box excuses for when you need to go big to go home.  

1. you’ve been acquired by the cia.

If you grew up anywhere but under some rock, you’ve seen a special agent flick, and you know that when a new assignment presents itself, there’s no time to delay. Whether it’s the infiltration of the American election system, a guy with a twirly mustache plotting to explode the Earth’s core, or deposing a democratically elected Latin American leader *cough cough,* a CIA call to action must be obeyed. Now, you might think that leveraging a secret government operation to get out of a physics test is more far-fetched than the plot of Diamonds Are Forever (wait, there are multiple villains who all got plastic surgery to look identical?) However, according to NPR’s interview with a CIA recruiter, the CIA sometimes recruits high school kids, meaning it’s absolutely possible that you could be juggling college and espionage careers simultaneously . Is almost dozing off while listening to some professor drone on about some 19th-century treaty more important than averting a global catastrophe ? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

2. You Might Be About to Die of Laughter, Literally

Breaking into maniacal laughter during a lecture is generally considered rude. But if your professor attempts to reprimand you for such behavior, inform them directly that you could actually be on the brink of a tragic death, and need to be excused from class immediately if your precious young life full of opportunity and promise is to be saved. In the 1950s, researchers discovered a disease common to the Fore people of the highlands of Papua New Guinea in which the afflicted would drop dead soon after breaking into sudden, uncontrollable laughter. If you have a reason to believe sitting through another dull lecture on cell formation and the like will be the literal cause of death , sit near the front of the class and start your compulsive deathly laughter. Go all out for this one–rolling on the ground, banging desks, holding your stomach are all great strategies. Then inform your professor of the severity of your diagnosis and walk out of class–problem solved.

3. Run Out of Class Like You’re Running Into Area 51

Sometimes, lectures are so tedious that any exit strategy is worth a try. Take a page out of Close Encounters and let your professor know the Third Kind is sadly preventing your continued presence in class. Carnegie Mellon senior Lisa Kailai Han lays it out, “You’ve been seeing a weird floating object hovering above your house for the last few days. No neighbors and no one else can see it except for you and your family. You just received a Snapchat from your very tech-savvy mom in which she screamed ‘HELP’ followed by sounds of a struggle, and then a weird orange tentacle waved and turned off the video.” I mean, how could anyone verify if this was true? The multiverse is infinite, and in some parallel universe, there are aliens who are only visible to students, and whose sole purpose in life is to torment them to the point of being forced to leave class . Not your fault at all!

4. The Four Walls of a Classroom Are Inherently Oppressive

We’ve all heard professors sing the praises of so-called hands-on learning , right? Let’s say a prof forces you to endure a stultifying lecture on light waves for a physics class. Calmly inform them of the plenty of photons outside just waiting for your enthusiastic independent study. After all, teachers love students who take initiative in their own education! Bonus points if you also hand them a copy of Michel Foucault’s Discipline and Punish and explain to them that you refuse to be the tool of an oppressive education system that seeks to limit your movements and contain you in this prison-like box under the pretense of learning . Granted, this excuse might be best suited to certain fields of study, particularly the social sciences, biology, psychology, but with a few tweaks, it can be tailored to work for almost anyone. “I’m doing a sociological historical senior thesis, and finding this information about the murder of a prominent cultural figure would be the perfect subject matter,” Columbia philosophy major Trevor Tatenda said. “It would put me on a fast track to investigative journalism and I have a lead that needs to be followed up on in a timely manner. As such, I am unable to attend this astronomy class.”

5. There’s a Phobia for That!

Here’s one to fit any situation under the sun… going to class might make you feel irrational terror , and there’s certainly nothing you can do about that. If your professor questions the validity of this excuse, kindly refer them to any number of official phobias classified in the DSM-5. Maybe you’re a humanities major trapped in a math class required to graduate, and it’s giving you paralyzing Arithmophobia. Maybe the opposite is true, and you’re suffering from Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (the fear of long words, and yes, it is the longest word in the dictionary. How’s that for irony?) If you’re called out for texting during class, explain that you are sadly afflicted with Nomophobia, the fear of being without your phone . Alternatively, bring a tub of peanut butter to class, eat it out straight out of the bottle, and then inform your professor that this experience is triggering your unfortunate Arachibutyrophobia, the fear of peanut butter sticking to the top of your mouth. The possibilities here are endless.

6. “Class” Is Not In the Cards Today

Feeling a little out of whack today? Not in the “actually doing work” mood? Have a bad feeling that leaving your room might turn out worse than expected? If being in the wrong chakral energy space or having a pesky planet in retrograde won’t cut it as an excuse, pull out the tarot deck for some added official validation. Once the cards are well-shuffled, lay out three side by side to signify past, present, and future. The important part here is the farthest right, the one that will determine your fated path, should you decide to make the trek to class. If it’s the Tower, Death, Wheel of Fortune reversed, or basically anything from the swords suit, it is imperative that you stay far away from anything even remotely productive. History is littered with frightening stories of people who suffered the worst for ignoring these obvious omens of foreboding. You wouldn’t want to tempt fate.

7. Someone in the World Has Died

Let’s say the unthinkable has happened and you have already used up the four deaths of your grandparents as excuses, as well as some aunts, some uncles, a second cousin, and a parakeet. Things may be looking dim, but don’t give up.  Remember there are only six degrees of separation, give or take a few, between you and whatever poor soul just tragically passed today. If you really want to hammer this one in, purchase a DNA testing kit from 23andme and make a list of your actual distant relatives. How could your professor be so insensitive as to force your attendance in class when great aunt Petrushka twice removed living in Lithuania is in serious medical distress?

8. When In Doubt, Go Gross

Newsflash: Just saying “I’m sick” has been around since the Bubonic Plague, and nobody is buying it anymore. If you’re going to make this line stick, it will have to get some spicing up. When designing a believable sickness, err on the gory, nauseating side, and a dd in as much bodily fluid in your description as possible . The idea is if your professor doesn’t want to see what it looks like, you’ve got a free ticket to another two hours in bed. Juicy details include open scabs, oozing puss, bloody vomit, basically the cart of dead people in Monty Python’s Holy Grail. If you’re a philosophy major like Columbia senior Danny Cohen, you have a little more leeway with intangible ailments and soul sicknesses. “‘I have to tend to my ‘patently nonexistent wounds’ is pretty out,” he suggests. 

9. Zoom Away Fast!

Considering the current state of emergency , classes have become Zoom-facilitated, staticky nightmares. While this means you won’t get your spotlight moment to march solemnly to the front of the class and present your excuse with all the dramatic flair it deserves, the circumstances may be just ripe for those artful class ditchers among us. We suggest putting time and effort into crafting a life-size cardboard cutout or handmade voodoo doll of yourself for repeated uses. If you’re confident in your artistic abilities, sketch the face like a self-portrait, and if not, make a trip to Kinko’s and make a few enlarged prints of your most recently posted selfie. Anytime you’re just not feeling the whole “Zoom class” thing, slide your life-size dummy into place where you were just sitting, and go back to watching Netflix. Just make sure your homemade doppelganger doesn’t sub in for you so often that the professor thinks they’re the one enrolled in class, and you’re a cardboard impostor.

*Updated October 30, 2014 by Amanda DeLuise to include “Your Dog Didn’t Eat Your Homework.” ** Updated on July 12, 2019 by Kimberly Hurd to include “9 Terrible Excuses for Skipping Class.”  ***Updated on March 9, 2020 by Cybele Mayes-Osterman to include “9 Out-of-the-Box Excuses.”

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About Madison Rutherford

Madison is a senior at San Francisco State University, pursuing a degree in Journalism. College has been her favorite adventure so far. Much like the prolific musician Asher Roth, she’s wondering if she really has to graduate, or if she can just stay here for the rest of her life.

30 Good Excuses To Get Out Of Something (That Are Believable)

Disclosure: this page may contain affiliate links to select partners. We receive a commission should you choose to make a purchase after clicking on them. Read our affiliate disclosure.

Do you need a good excuse to get out of something? You’re in the right place.

For the purpose of this article, we’ll assume that you want to reject someone close to you, like a friend asking you to go out or a loved one asking you to spend time with them.

However, if you carefully follow the steps below, you’ll be able to get out of anything. Plus, you can be honest, avoid hurting anyone, and feel guilt-free about it.

You can even use some of these excuses in your professional life and with acquaintances, not just friends and family. Keep reading to learn how to tailor them based on your specific circumstances.

But let’s start with the list of excuses you can use to get out of something you just don’t want to do.

30 Excuses To Get Out Of Going Somewhere Or Doing Something

• “Sorry, I’m not feeling so well.”
• “Sorry, I have a lot of work to do right now.”
• “I wish I could, but my family came to visit unexpectedly.”
• “I’m sorry, but I totally forgot that it’s my cousin’s birthday today.”
• “I’m sorry, but I already made plans with my family that I totally forgot about!”
• “My partner is having a crisis, and I really need to be there for them right now.”
• “Sorry, but I’m running behind on work, and I might get fired if I don’t do all this on time.”
• “To be honest, I’m exhausted these days, and I don’t think I can bring myself to go out.”
• “Sorry, my friend just asked me for help with something, could we see each other some other time?”
• “I wish I could, but I can’t find anyone to take care of my pet, so I’ll have to reschedule.”
• “Sorry, my loved one is having an emergency and I really have to be there for them right now.”
• “Oh god, I totally forgot about our plans, I’m so sorry! I hope we can reschedule.”
• “I have an early day tomorrow, so I’ve got to get to bed. Maybe we can do this next week instead.”
• “My house is a mess, and I really need to get my life in order before making any more plans. Sorry about that; I hope you understand.”
• “I hurt my ankle while hiking, so I’ll be in bed for a few days. I’ll let you know when I’m back on my feet and we’ll get together then!”
• “My car broke down, and so did I. I’m really not in the mood to go out right now, sorry.”
• “I wish I could, but I’m currently broke. Please be patient while I get my life in order.”
• “You wouldn’t believe the day I had; I can’t bring myself to see anyone right now. Let’s talk a few days from now.”
• “Last night was crazy, and I don’t have the energy to get out of bed today, hope you understand. Sorry for the late response.”
• “Something came up at work, and with the traffic, there’s no way I can make it, sorry about that, let’s reschedule.”
• “I have to be honest with you, I really don’t feel like it today, hope you can understand, I’m going through some things and will get back to you as soon as I’m on my feet again.”
• “I have a deadline, and it can’t wait. Let’s talk once I clear my schedule.”
• “I have a lot of meetings today, and by the time they’re all done, I’ll be exhausted. So let’s do this another time.”
• “I caught something, and I might be contagious, so let’s stay safe and see each other once I’m feeling well again.”
• “I lost my wallet with my ID, so going anywhere is really hard for me right now, but let’s talk again when I sort this thing out.”
• “My roommate/partner and I got into a huge fight, so give me some time to sort all this out, and we’ll talk later.”
• “To be honest, I’d rather just stay home and get cozy, life hasn’t been easy on me lately.”
• “I ran into my ex today and it floored me emotionally, so I really need some alone time right now, hope you understand.”
• “I have to go to the doctor’s to get some test results, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”
• “I’m waiting for the delivery guy, ordered something really important and can’t miss the chance to get it as soon as possible, let’s rain check please.”

How To Use These Excuses

1. be ready for follow-up questions..

Whichever excuse you use, be prepared for questions.

“I’m having a personal issue that I need to urgently tend to,” would probably be enough for a boss or a coworker not to ask you more about it. But if it’s a loved one, they may want to know the details. This is why some of the examples on the list include specifics to help you navigate follow-up questions.

You need to be prepared for follow-up questions, so decide how honest you want to be. For instance, saying, “I had a one-night stand, and I’m at the hospital waiting for the results because I might have an STD,” could be rephrased into, “I have to go to the doctor’s to get some test results, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

However, if you say this, the person will probably have follow-up questions, so you could even say, “I’m down with a cold.”

When something is a health issue, you could make it general, and people likely won’t ask you more about it.

However, be careful with using health issues if they’re not real. If you’re feeling sick every Sunday night, the person is going to realize that the issue is not about your health at all.

“I’m going through something personal that I don’t want to talk about,” is a good excuse if it’s true. So consider staying in the “honest zone” when coming up with your excuses.

2. Choose a general excuse or a specific one.

Depending on how honest you want it to be, pick a general excuse or a specific one. “I don’t want to go out” can be rephrased into, “I just want to be by myself today, sorry for the late response, hope you have fun, and we’ll do it another time.”

A good excuse to not hang out might be: “I’ve just been under a lot of stress lately, and it’s getting to me, so I don’t feel like it. I’m sorry. Let me get back to you when I’m on my feet again.” The only question is, how honest do you want to be with this person?

A generic excuse, like the first one on the list above, will work a charm. However, they’re often like literally saying the words “generic excuse” to the person after they ask you to do something. So, if you frequently use generic excuses (especially if fake), the person is going to give up on asking you to do things. Therefore, consider being as honest as you can be and get specific with your loved ones, but rephrase if necessary.

3. Use details with loved ones.

“I don’t feel like getting out of bed and going out,” could be changed by saying, “To be honest, I’d rather just stay home and get cozy, life hasn’t been easy on me lately.” Or, “I just popped open a bag of chips, and there’s this show on Netflix… I know… Don’t hate me, but I just can’t, the bed is hugging me.”

So, consider using details and being honest with your loved ones. “I ran into my ex today and it tore me up emotionally, so I really need some alone time right now, hope you understand,” is a very good excuse if it’s a real one.

The problem with being specific without being honest about it is that you’d need to remember your lie and back it up later. There will also be follow-up questions, so it’s best to stay in the “honest zone.”

4. Stay in the “honest zone.”

You could be honest by being entirely vague by saying something like “You wouldn’t believe the day I had; I can’t bring myself to see anyone right now. Let’s talk a few days from now.”

Stay in the “honest zone” by making your problem general. Is it a personal issue, your professional life, your love life, family problems, or your social life that is standing in your way? “I’m not feeling well,” could be anything in the world if you’re having a health issue that you don’t want to talk about.

Similarly, “I’m busy with work,” is a valid excuse for wanting to rest after a hard day instead of going out with your friends.

However, don’t hesitate to share something about what’s going on with you with the person you’re talking to. You could rephrase what you need to say by carefully picking the words and actually saying the truth… Just put some thought into it if you have enough time. Pick an excuse that best fits your situation from the list, or come up with one that describes what you really want to say.

5. Make a long story short.

How much do you want to share with this person? If you use a general excuse too often, your family or friends are likely to give up on asking you to do things, so consider making a long story short.

Maybe you don’t want to tell them that you are practically destitute, but you could say, “I wish I could, but I’m currently broke, so please be patient until I get my life in order, and we’ll hang out later.”

Open up, but close the doors to further discussions by saying that you don’t want to talk about it. Turn a long story about how you got into gambling and now are in debt into a story about how you’re currently broke.

Why are you broke? “Bad luck.” You don’t have to share things that you don’t want to, just keep your excuse close to what it really is so that you can remember it, back it up, and stick to it if needed.

6. Rephrase what you need to say.

Think about your long story and how you can keep it short. Then think about how to rephrase it. Maybe you don’t want them to know that you’ll be spending the night with your ex, but you could tell them that your love life is still too much of a mess and you need to deal with that.

When they ask about the details, tell them that letting go is a process and that you need to be alone for a while. Even though you’ll be with your ex. Keep that last part to yourself, just don’t go too far away from the “honest zone,” even if it means sticking to something general instead.

7. Make it clear and end the discussion.

There are some things that people are just not going to talk about anymore when you bring them up. If you said, “I had a one-night stand, and I’m at the hospital waiting to see if I have an STD,” it would likely elicit very few follow-up questions.

Make it clear by being bold or by using a generic excuse from the list. Consider even just saying, “I’m sorry, I just really don’t want to do it right now. I’m overwhelmed with my own things; give me some time please.”

If you don’t want to be asked about it, end the discussion by making it clear that you don’t want to talk about it further. People can take a hint.

Just avoid being too honest in your professional life and with people other than your loved ones.

8. Simply be honest about it.

“I had a long day, and I really don’t feel like going anywhere,” is a good enough excuse already. Consider simply being honest about why you can’t hang out with them, and it might be enough to do the trick.

Hey, don’t forget that you just need to stay in the zone. You don’t have to be entirely honest about it. But if the person asking is your loved one, keep in mind that you most definitely can if you want to.

9. Consider a fake excuse.

On the other hand, you could simply choose a fake excuse from the list, and it will be effective as long as you stick to your story. However, it’s much better to come up with your own excuse based on the examples listed above. If you tailor it, you can be at least a bit honest about it, and that will help your loved one understand you better. As a result, they will continue to ask you to do things.

In other areas of your life, such as your job, using generic excuses is usually good enough as long as there’s truth to it and you don’t overdo it.

10. Make sure to express the wish to reschedule.

Whether you choose to be honest about it or not, if you do want to be asked again, make sure to reschedule. As soon as you use the excuse, emphasize that you do want to do something another time, it is just this specific date that doesn’t work for you. This will ensure that your friends and family ask you again.

How To Be Honest While Using Excuses

1. pick an excuse that best fits your situation..

Stay honest by picking an excuse from the list that best describes your real reasoning and tailoring it to your situation. Reveal something about the actual reason you don’t want to go instead of just using generic excuses.

2. Consider something general.

On the other hand, if you don’t want all the follow-ups and explaining, consider something general, like being sick. It’s okay to use these excuses as long as you don’t overdo it or downright lie about it entirely. Feeling blue is kind of like being sick, so don’t forget that you can just be in the “honest zone” when not wishing to share too much about what you’re going through.

3. Consider how honest and specific you want to be.

How honest and specific do you want to be? Is the person going to accept your response if you’re entirely honest with them? What if you rephrase it? While you can be as honest as you want to be, it’s not a guarantee that an honest excuse will be accepted as a good one.

So, consider what the person would accept as a valid excuse. Then you can phrase your excuse accordingly.

4. Reschedule only if you want to.

As already mentioned, if you don’t want them to give up on asking you to do things, make sure to point out that you want to reschedule. On the flip side, if you don’t want them asking you to do things, just use the generic excuse. This can even be considered being honest when it’s a repeated and obvious hint that you don’t want to hang out with that person anymore.

5. Stay honest while not getting into it.

You can be honest about the real reason you can’t make it, just make it a short story instead of a long one as we mentioned in one of the earlier steps. However, consider opening up to the person entirely if they are someone you trust and care for. It is not recommended to use fake or generic excuses with people close to you that should know the truth.

As for acquaintances and coworkers, generic excuses pretty much cover everything you would really need to say. Just be sure that you’re not making it up entirely in case you need to validate your story, and make sure that you can stick to it.

As already mentioned, “I’m going through something personal that I need to tend to immediately,” should be enough for most people. Just don’t overdo it.

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• Creatively Dodging Commitments, One Excuse at a Time! /
• Excuses For Not Doing Homework /

Excuses For Not Doing Homework

As a student, I understand the importance of completing homework assignments. But sometimes, it can be difficult to find the motivation or time to get your work done. I’m sure many of us have been in a situation where we’ve had to come up with excuses for not doing our homework.

Although it’s never ideal to make excuses, sometimes it’s necessary. Here are some of the most common excuses for not doing homework:

• I didn’t understand the assignment.

This is a common excuse, especially if you’re in a class where the material is new or unfamiliar. If this is the case, don’t be afraid to ask your teacher for clarification. They’ll be more than happy to help you understand the assignment better.

• I had a family emergency.

If you have a family emergency, this is a valid excuse for not doing your homework. Your teacher will likely understand and be willing to work with you to make up the work.

• I was sick.

If you’re sick, it’s understandable that you may not be able to complete your homework. Your teacher should be understanding of this.

• I had too much work.

Sometimes, teachers assign too much work and it can be overwhelming. If this is the case, talk to your teacher about it and see if they can reduce the workload.

• I had a test the next day.

If you had a test the next day, it’s understandable that you may not have had time to complete your homework. Your teacher should be understanding of this.

• I had to work.

If you have a job, your teacher should understand that you may not have had time to complete your homework.

• I had a project due.

If you had a project due, your teacher should understand that you may not have had time to complete your homework.

Professor Reveals: 21+ Excuses for Skipping Class in College

I think you’ll agree with me when I say:

Sometimes going to class is the last thing you’ll want to do.

But, what excuse will you come up with for skipping class?

Well in my post on how to tell your professor you’re skipping class I told you that the best approach is to tell the truth!

But while writing that post I thought – you know what:

I bet my readers would be super interested in all the excuses that I’ve heard over my 8 years teaching in universities!

So I brainstormed what I think are that 21 most common excuses for skipping class in college that I’ve heard. Here they are!

(P.S. you can go to that other post to get some sample emails that show how to let your prof know you’re skipping class).

>>>RELATED POST: MY 31 BEST ASSIGNMENT EXTENSION EXCUSES I’VE EVER HEARD

21. The Trains or Busses were Cancelled

Okay I have a story about this one:

One of my students (who missed about 5 classes in a row) emailed me one day letting me know he missed that day’s class because the train drivers were on strike.

The problem was, he didn’t realize we lived in the same building. And that we always took the same train to class.

And that I took the train that day.

And I didn’t see any picket lines anywhere. Hmmm…

Maybe if you choose this excuse, you might want to make sure you send them a photo of some picketing transport workers?

20. My Kid was Sick

Okay this one actually sounds legit.

Kids are sick. All the time.

In fact, most of the time for this excuse I just think “thank god you didn’t bring the kid to the class.”

Unfortunately if you don’t have a kid you can’t use this excuse. Maybe you had to babysit your sick kid brother?

A similar one to this is “There’s a bug going around the whole family”. This one’s super common, too. Or, as I teach education studies, a lot of my students say: “The kids at my workplace made me sick.”

I get that one. It’s definitely legit. Most teachers spend their first year teaching in bed dealing with all the snotty illnesses they’ve been exposed to.

19. I was Sick

Such a lazy excuse.

But I guess it’s one that is also believable.

Personally, I just roll my eyes and don’t care. But many other teachers get super annoyed when a student skips class.

So how can you make this one more believable?

Well, here’s a few pointers for when you’re sick:

• Don’t send me a picture of your snotty nose. No, thank you!
• Feel free to send me a doctor’s certificate .
• Tell me in advance! If you’re sick, you didn’t really get sick this morning , did you? I mean seriously, just drop me an email 3 days earlier saying you’re suuuper sick and that you’re probably not going to make it into class this week.
• Promise you’ll do the weekly readings from your bed. It’ll show you’re still engaged and interested.

18. I’m a Carer

I have a lot of sympathy for this one. I was really surprised just how many carers there are out there in the world when I became a teacher.

But you know what? At all university’s I’ve worked at, we all knew who the carers were in our courses well in advance.

That’s because carers generally make it known to their personal tutor, the head of the department or other teachers about their situation. We get advanced warning so we can be flexible for the carers and do our best to help them out.

So I wouldn’t lie about this one. Plus, it’s kind of a low thing to say “I’m caring for my disabled mother” … when really, your mother’s perfectly fine.

17. I didn’t Realize I was in your Class

This actually happens.

Just think about that. People actually don’t realize they enrolled themselves in a several-thousand dollar course.

And yet I get this email the first week of every single semester.

This excuse usually turns up only because I send out an email to every student who didn’t turn up the first week to say “Hey, where were you!?”

Fortunately this excuse only ever turns up in the first week of semester so you have the rest of the semester to make up for it and hopefully get a top mark at the end of the semester still.

16. The Police Caught me for Speeding

I like this one because it’s so believable.

I mean really, who’s going to claim they were caught for speeding unless they actually were .

One main thing about the most believable excuses is this: they’re not the first thing you’re going to willingly admit to.

Another good part about this excuse is that it’s something you actually would send off at the last minute. Usually last minute excuses make me thing “Well could you have told me this two days ago?” But if you just got that speeding fine, well that makes sense

But here’s the thing about this excuse: if you were caught for speeding, you probably have the ticket. So take a photo of it and send it through as proof!

Also, why didn’t you just turn up 20 minutes late? I mean, how long does it take the cop to write the speeding ticket? Or did you lose your license on the spot?

Nonetheless, it’s definitely an excuse for missing class that I’ve gotten a fair few times.

15. I was Studying for Another Course

Ha! I get this one sooo much!

Students often say “Oh sorry, I didn’t make it to your class this week because I was busy studying for another class.”

And what I think is: “Is their class more important than mine?”

The students’ excuse usually is that there’s an exam coming up in a day or two and they want to dedicate all their time to studying.

The problem with this is that exam period is at the pointy end of the semester. Usually that’s when I’m providing really important information and tips on my exams that are coming up a week later!

Plus, your teacher is likely to come back with: so, you didn’t study all semester so now you’re cramming. Is that right?

Well, that’s what it looks like…

14. I took on an Extra Shift at Work

Unusually common, this one garners a little sympathy from me.

I usually think “Yep, you’re a university student. You need the money now .”

I was there. Broke, living off 2-minute noodles, and desperate for more shifts from work.

Many of my colleagues are less forgiving. They often complain in the faculty lounge about how students put work, social lives, etc. ahead of university.

I usually recommend to students who make this point that they do something to avoid this clash in the future. I’ll recommend they either switch to a different seminar group or ask their boss about moving shifts.

I mean, this isn’t sustainable all semester.

Either university or work is going to have to budge in the long run.

Related: A List of Homework Excuses

13. There was a Death in the Family

Against popular belief, we ask for evidence of this one.

Because this is probably the #1 most common excuse for missing classes and asking for extensions .

There’s a story that’s been going around my faculty lounge for the past few years that one student has had her grandmother die 4 times now. We’re considering starting a tally…

So what should you do?

Well, actually show some evidence. A really simple piece of evidence is to send through the funeral proceedings leaflet, newspaper announcement of a death, or something similar.

I know this is a really sensitive topic, but it’s also one of the least believable ones.

12. I was Hungover

Yes, I’ve had this excuse. Several times.

I’ve also skipped classes for being hungover (as a student, not a teacher).

But your teacher isn’t going to be impressed. Maybe phrase it as “I woke up with a huge headache.”

The reality is, there’s nothing I can really do about you missing class. (And frankly, you’re an adult, I don’t care).

But if you’ve in a course where there’s points for in-class participation, you’re going to lose points for missing this class.

And if your class is always going to be on at 9am the day after your favorite night at the local club, maybe consider taking the class another semester.

11. “It isn’t Compulsory to Attend”

Well, points for honesty.

I’ll often have students come to me and tell me that it’s stated in my course handbook that missing 2 classes per semester will be overlooked.

And it’s true, I did bury that line somewhere in my course handbook. Good spotting.

But really you’re taking a liberty by taking that as permission to skip class for no reason.

At the end of the day, it’s your loss. All my classes are intentionally linked to the assessment tasks. And you’re an adult. So go get drunk and skip class.

10. I Slept In

I have almost slept in for classes so many times. I’m in my 30s and it’s still just as hard to wake up to attend class now that I’m the teacher as it was when I was the student.

So points for honesty. But I’ll still dock marks for in-class participation.

Maybe buy about 25 alarms and place them all around your dorm vis-à-vis Lorelai Gilmore. (If you don’t get the reference, look it up on YouTube).

9. I had Computer Troubles

This one’s specifically for my online students .

I teach mostly online classes nowadays (Yes, because I don’t like waking up. See Point 10). And students who miss live classes invariably say they had computer troubles.

Sure, this happens a lot.

On the one hand I can partly believe it because if you’re coming up with a lie, surely you can come up with a better one than that!

But at the same time, my B-S meter definitely starts going off.

I remember I had one student send me a photograph of her cracked computer screen. I still thought it was probably B-S. Like, how many photos of cracked computer screens are there out there on the internet?

I think it’s more believable if your excuse is really, really specific. Like: what part of the computer died? What was the problem? Did you go to the university IT services to ask for help?

8. I had a Medical Appointment

This is fair enough. Particularly because I’ve spent most of my academic life teaching at universities in the UK. And the free healthcare is amazing. But when you’ve got a specialist appointment, you get mail from the hospital saying “Come in at this time on this date.” You don’t really have a choice.

But again, if you have a medical appointment, this is one that you can tell your professor in advance. So tell me a week beforehand and I’ll understand for sure.

7. It was Snowing

Being someone who’s spent about 40% of his adult life in Canada, I find this excuse hilarious. Hilarious!

But in Britain, the nation comes to a standstill for 3mm of snow.

Once, when working at a university in England, I went to work and it was a ghost town. Not even the other staff members were around.

There was well less than a centimetre of snow on the ground.

And get this…

The security guard came around and told me I had to go home because the campus was closed for safety reasons.

On my walk back to the train station, the snow had melted so much you couldn’t even tell that it snowed for 5 minutes that morning.

Get your act together, England. Be more like Canada.

6. My other Class was Cancelled

WOW this one is common.

They’re points like:

“We thought your class was cancelled because Jan’s was!”

I am incredulous at this excuse. Like, are you freaking serious?? Did you hear me cancel my class at any point ever?

But the reality is, on weeks when one or more other classes get cancelled, a lot of students just decide to give themselves the week off.

If you’re reading this, you’re a university student and you probably already know this (unless you go to a university with particularly diligent students).

More honest students just come out with it: “I didn’t come because you were my only class for the day.”

It doesn’t look good. I don’t think there’s a more obvious way of saying you don’t give a damn about my class.

At least I’ll still get paid.

5. It’s the Last Week of Semester

Ghost town. Absolute ghost town.

I made the mistake one semester of setting the assignment due date of Monday in Week 12. Classes didn’t end until Friday Week 12. I had a whole lesson planned on the importance of pausing to reflect on what was learned.

No one turned up. Not a soul.

Kind of ironic, given the topic of my lesson that week.

Needless to say, now I set all assessments to be due after the last day of semester.

4. It’s St. Patrick’s Day or 4/20

The first university I ever worked at was a Catholic University. It had many, many Irish Catholic students.

You wouldn’t believe how many conservative Catholics let it all go on St. Patrick’s Day.

I’m not joking: I still got students turning up to class. But they were DRUNK. My class was literally a scheduled stop on a pub crawl!

I dismissed them and told them to go to the pub.

Maybe they should have just told me they weren’t going to attend class.

3. Our Other Teacher Held us Back

The faculty politics of when to let your students go is brutal.

I can’t stand the teachers who hold their students back until the very last second of the hour. And for some reason it’s all the immovable, stubborn 50-something male professors who do this!

On the other hand, I’ve had professors storm into my class 5 minutes before the end of my hour kicking me out of my own classroom because I should give them time to set up their computer!

Usually this excuse is a recurring offense. It’ll be the same problem every week. Usually because the admin staff scheduled classes at different ends of campus, meaning a pack of students end up running across campus together 10 minutes late for class.

If your previous teacher held you back, I recommend turning up late and being honest about why you were late.

I don’t recommend skipping the class altogether.

If you’re honest, your teacher will likely let you in, then let loose at your other professor next time they cross paths in the hallways of the faculty lounge.

2. My Timetable Showed the Class was Cancelled

This is another one that happens all the time!

Since timetables were moved online, admin staff have had the power to change your timetable week-by-week. They think that this is great because it enables flexibility and agility in room allocation.

Unfortunately it just confuses the hell out of everyone.

So we can complain about admin screwing up our timetables all the time.

But if you’re trying to use this excuse when it’s not true or accurate, you’ll be caught out. I mean, if it’s cancelled off your timetable, why wasn’t it cancelled off mine?

1. I’m taking a Vacation

At least twice per semester I get a student coming up to me saying they’ve booked a vacation in the middle of the semester.

Usually this excuse is provided early in the semester and I’ve got a good clear amount of warning. And I’m usually pretty flexible about this.

But most teachers aren’t.

In fact, at every university I’ve worked for there have been official policies that clearly state that planned vacations are not acceptable excuses for missing classes or asking for extensions.

But hey, what do I care … I’ll give you the resources and tell you good luck quickly writing your essay on the beach!

Don’t Forget: I’ve Got Email Templates for You!

So, those are my 21 most commonly heard excuses for skipping class in college.

I provide solid advice in this post on how to email your professor to let them know you won’t be in class. Check it out for some easy email templates to use and a little advice on what to write in the email.

I’d also love to hear the best excuses for skipping class that you’ve heard in the comments below!

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Self-Actualization Examples (Maslow's Hierarchy)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Forest Schools Philosophy & Curriculum, Explained!
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori's 4 Planes of Development, Explained!
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori vs Reggio Emilia vs Steiner-Waldorf vs Froebel

1 thought on “Professor Reveals: 21+ Excuses for Skipping Class in College”

I’ve told my senior students, during the last day of class, that I’m sorry none of their family members will be able to attend their graduation and I won’t get to meet them. To their quizzical looks I respond, “How can they attend when they’ve all died over the course of the semester?”

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Best Excuses To Get Out Of Class: A Comprehensive Guide

Skipping class is a temptation that every student faces at some point, but finding a convincing excuse can be a daunting task. Whether you’re feeling under the weather, overwhelmed with assignments, or simply need a mental health day, having a well-crafted excuse can make all the difference.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Some of the best excuses to get out of class include family emergencies, medical appointments, transportation issues, and personal or family illnesses.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore a wide range of excuses that can help you navigate those situations when you need to miss class. From legitimate reasons to creative (but ethical) explanations, we’ll cover it all.

Additionally, we’ll provide tips on how to present your excuse convincingly and maintain a good relationship with your professors.

Legitimate Excuses for Missing Class

Let’s face it, no one enjoys skipping classes, but sometimes life throws curveballs that make it unavoidable. While some students might be tempted to fabricate excuses, it’s always better to be honest and provide a legitimate reason for your absence.

Here are some valid excuses that most professors will understand and accept.

Medical Appointments and Illnesses

If you’re feeling under the weather or have a scheduled medical appointment, your health should always come first. According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics , approximately 15% of college students miss class due to illness or injury each year.

When it comes to your well-being, don’t hesitate to prioritize your needs. Most professors are understanding and will appreciate your honesty.

Family Emergencies

Family comes first, and sometimes unexpected situations arise that require your immediate attention. Whether it’s a sudden illness, accident, or personal crisis, these events can’t be ignored. While you might not want to share too many personal details, a simple explanation that you had a family emergency is usually sufficient.

Professors are human too, and they understand that life can be unpredictable.

Transportation Issues

If you commute to campus, transportation issues can be a legitimate reason for missing class. From flat tires to unexpected traffic jams or public transportation delays, these situations are often out of your control.

It’s always a good idea to leave early and plan for potential hiccups, but sometimes things just don’t go as planned. Most professors will be understanding if you communicate the issue promptly.

Mandatory Court Appearances or Legal Obligations

Legal obligations, such as court appearances or jury duty, are legitimate and unavoidable reasons for missing class. These situations are typically out of your control, and most professors will understand the gravity of the situation.

Just be sure to provide documentation or proof of your legal obligation if requested.

Remember, honesty is always the best policy when it comes to excusing an absence. While some situations might be embarrassing or personal, most professors will appreciate your transparency and respect your privacy. And who knows?

They might even share a funny anecdote or two about their own college days! 😉

Creative (but Ethical) Excuses

Skipping class is never advisable, but sometimes life throws curveballs that make it unavoidable. In such cases, it’s important to come up with a legitimate excuse that won’t land you in hot water. Here are some creative (but ethical) excuses that might just get you out of class without raising any red flags:

Personal or Family Matters

Family comes first, and sometimes personal matters require our immediate attention. Perhaps a close relative fell ill, and you need to be there for them. Or maybe a family emergency arose that you couldn’t ignore.

Whatever the case may be, these types of excuses are usually accepted without question, as long as you don’t abuse them too frequently . According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics , personal or family reasons account for nearly 30% of student absences.

Religious or Cultural Obligations

Religious and cultural celebrations are an important part of many people’s lives, and they often require time off from school or work. Whether it’s a major holiday like Eid or Diwali, or a cultural event like a wedding or funeral, these obligations are typically respected by educational institutions.

Just be sure to give your professor advance notice and provide any necessary documentation.

Extracurricular Activities or Competitions

If you’re involved in extracurricular activities like sports, debate teams, or academic competitions, you may need to miss class for events or tournaments. These types of excuses are generally accepted, as long as you can provide proof of your participation and maintain good academic standing.

According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics , around 57% of high school students participate in extracurricular activities, which can sometimes conflict with class schedules.

Job Interviews or Career-Related Events

As you approach the end of your academic journey, job interviews and career-related events may start to take precedence. While it’s important to prioritize your studies, these opportunities can be crucial for your future success.

If you have a legitimate job interview or career fair to attend, most professors will understand and allow you to miss class. Just be sure to provide documentation and make up any missed work.

Remember, while these excuses are generally accepted, it’s important to use them sparingly and avoid taking advantage of your professor’s trust . Honesty and open communication are key to maintaining a positive relationship with your instructors and ensuring that you don’t fall behind in your studies.

How to Present Your Excuse Convincingly

Getting out of class can be a tricky business, but with the right approach, you can make a convincing case for your absence. Whether it’s a legitimate reason or a carefully crafted excuse, presenting it the right way can be the difference between success and failure.

Here are some tips to help you present your excuse convincingly:

Provide Documentation (if applicable)

If your excuse involves a medical condition, appointment, or other verifiable circumstance, it’s always a good idea to provide documentation. According to a survey by Inside Higher Ed , over 60% of students reported struggling with mental health issues during the pandemic.

If you have a doctor’s note or other official document, it can lend credibility to your excuse and make it harder for your professor to dismiss.

Communicate with Your Professor in Advance

Whenever possible, communicate with your professor in advance about your upcoming absence. This shows respect for their time and course policies. According to Faculty Focus , 89% of professors prefer that students notify them before missing class.

If you can’t give advance notice, be sure to reach out as soon as possible after the missed class.

Offer to Make Up Missed Work

Demonstrating a willingness to make up missed work can go a long way in convincing your professor that you’re committed to the course. According to Inside Higher Ed , 73% of students prefer having the option to make up missed work or attend class online.

Offering to complete any assignments or readings you missed can show your dedication and make your excuse more palatable.

Be Honest and Respectful

Above all, it’s important to be honest and respectful when presenting your excuse. While it may be tempting to embellish or fabricate a reason for missing class, doing so can damage your credibility and relationship with your professor.

Instead, be upfront and sincere, and avoid making excuses that could be seen as disrespectful or flippant . Remember, your professors are human too, and they’re more likely to be understanding if you approach the situation with honesty and maturity.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of having your excuse accepted and maintaining a positive relationship with your professor. Just remember, while a convincing excuse can get you out of class occasionally, regular attendance and participation are still crucial for academic success.

Maintaining a Good Relationship with Your Professors

While it’s true that excuses can occasionally come in handy for skipping class, building a strong rapport with your professors is crucial. After all, they’re the ones who hold the keys to your academic success.

By maintaining a positive relationship, you not only increase your chances of having your excuses accepted when necessary, but you also open doors to valuable mentorship and networking opportunities that can benefit you long after graduation.

Attend Class Regularly

Consistent attendance is the foundation of a good student-professor relationship. It demonstrates your commitment and respect for the course material and your instructor’s time. According to a study by the Inside Higher Ed , students who attended class regularly had a 92% chance of earning a C or better, compared to a mere 64% chance for those who skipped frequently.

Participate and Engage in Class Discussions

Active participation is a surefire way to make a positive impression on your professors. By contributing thoughtful insights and asking insightful questions, you demonstrate your intellectual curiosity and commitment to learning.

Professors often appreciate students who challenge them to think outside the box and push the boundaries of their understanding. 😊 A study by the American Psychological Association found that students who actively participated in class had higher grades and better retention of course material.

Meet Deadlines and Submit Quality Work

Respecting deadlines and submitting high-quality assignments is a non-negotiable aspect of maintaining a positive relationship with your professors. By consistently meeting their expectations, you demonstrate your professionalism and dedication to the course.

Remember, your professors have likely encountered countless excuses for late submissions, so it’s best to avoid them altogether. According to a survey by GradeGuard , 92% of professors reported that late submissions negatively impacted their perception of a student.

Show Appreciation for Their Efforts

Professors pour countless hours into preparing lectures, grading assignments, and providing feedback to their students. A simple gesture of appreciation can go a long way in strengthening your relationship with them.

Consider sending a thank-you note or email at the end of the semester, acknowledging their hard work and the impact they’ve had on your learning experience. According to a study by Inside Higher Ed , students who expressed gratitude to their professors received higher grades on average.

By following these guidelines, you’ll not only increase your chances of having legitimate excuses accepted when necessary, but you’ll also foster a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with your professors.

Remember, they’re not just instructors – they’re mentors, advisors, and potential references who can significantly impact your academic and professional journey. 👏

While missing class should be avoided whenever possible, there may be times when it becomes necessary. By understanding the best excuses to get out of class and presenting them in a professional and respectful manner, you can navigate these situations more effectively.

Remember, honesty and open communication with your professors are key. By maintaining a good relationship and demonstrating your commitment to your studies, you’ll be better positioned to handle occasional absences without jeopardizing your academic success.

Ultimately, finding the right balance between your personal needs and academic responsibilities is crucial. With the insights and strategies provided in this guide, you’ll be better equipped to handle those moments when you need to miss class while minimizing any negative impact on your education.

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• May 1, 2018

Excuses for absences or late work: Students, professors share best (and worst) they've heard

Updated: Jun 15, 2019

By Kiersten Resch | Herald Reporter Mar 1, 2018

As a college student, one of the biggest challenges of getting passing grades is completing all of the work assigned and passing it in on time. There are, of course, always instances when students forget or just don’t feel like doing their homework — so now what?

Excuses. For some students, they’re the reason a late paper or an unexcused absence is accepted. For others, it’s simply an easy way to be lazy.

The different excuses given almost never go unnoticed by the professor. On an average day, even the best liar isn’t able to be excused by a seasoned professor who has seen it all.

Cathy Nicoli, a dance professor in the Performing Arts program recalled many excuses ranging from “I have a crack the size of the Grand Canyon on the sole of my foot," to "I’m having a bad day." Nicoli said she accepts the more objective of the excuses but will not allow the excuses which involve mood or energy because movement can cure many-a-mood.

Renee Soto, professor of creative writing, recalled an especially memorable story she received as an excuse from a student. Soto said the student emailed her during the week and said he must miss a Friday and the following Monday because “a neighbor who was more like an uncle/father, the person who taught the student how to ride a bike, had been doing roof work, and missed the rung on the ladder as he was climbing down. He landed hard on the ground, and was rushed to the hospital where he shortly thereafter died.” This sudden and horrific case immediately struck Soto, and she accepted the student’s absence.

Roughly two months later, “I kid you not," recalled Soto, the student emailed her with the same extraordinary excuse for missing a Friday and the following Monday class. Soto was so “utterly stupefied” that all she could say was “So sorry. See you Wednesday."

Later on, Professor Soto recalls that the student stated the father figure was working on a barn roof, which made the story even more harrowing at the time.

Some professors, on the other hand, do not accept any excuses from students. Margaret Case, professor of English literature, is one of these professors. “I run my classes like professional life," Case said. "What matters is how you plan to make up the work."

Case makes it clear at the beginning of the semester that late work is not accepted. By treating her classes like the professional world, rather than a high school setting where missed work can be skipped, she proves that it is important that the work and commitment is made up so co-workers and clients are not let down.

Twenty-two RWU students participated in a small survey, which asked students if they have given an excuse or never given an excuse regarding assignments before. The overwhelming majority of those surveyed, 90.9 percent, maintained that they have given an excuse while at school.

When asked specifically about the excuses used, most students stated they have given excuses such as “I forgot," “I have a family issue," or “I’m sick." The most popular excuse was problems with Bridges.

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Common Excuses for Not Doing Homework

High school, college, and the university is a transition period in one’s academic and professional journey fraught with doing homework. Not everybody likes sitting down and doing assignments, while others have their best lives in college. If you are among those who continuously seek ways to get away with not doing your homework, our article will give you tips that will make you score the best grades even without attempting the homework. You will find an explanation of some common excuses and tricks that your equals are using, top of the list is hiring someone to do it for you.

Every deadline violation is met with brutal force. In most instances, it can either be a warning, deduction of some percentage points, or assignment of an F (fail). Instructors give homework to assess many things, key among them being time management. The other aspect of assessment is the acquisition of knowledge or knowledge transfer.

Out of the many ways to escape not doing homework, hiring an academic ghostwriter can save your grades and reputation.

Given that assignments are burdensome, most students opt not to do them at all. Some who attempt it lazily end up at the very grade band as those who did not attempt at all, so what is the cure to this.

Best Excuses for not doing your homework on time

While others might struggle to do their homework, some students find it time-consuming, challenging exercise, and others feel that homework should be banned.

After surveying many college students, we present some of the common excuses they use for not completing their assignments.

In the act of helping students express themselves for not doing homework, we address how to do it right and sound genuine. Here are some believable excuses you can give for not attempting an assignment. However, be ready with documentation where necessary:

1. “I forgot my homework or assignment.”

This is now a cliché; many homework tracking apps can remind you of homework. I doubt if any professor or instructor falls for this.

2. “I was unwell.”

As a student, you can be taken ill sometimes. One reason could be due to the stress due to long study hours, working while studying, and having many assignments. Even when valid, some teachers do not trust students unless you produce a doctor’s appointment or a prescription. Thus, this can be preceded by a call home to your parents or guardians for confirmation.

3. “My laptop crashed.”

In the digital age, blended learning and online learning have taken their root pretty well. However, this is a poor excuse in this day and age for not doing homework. A teacher can say that you had enough time to borrow a laptop or repair yours. Saying this only exposes your poor time management skills. Unless the task was to be completed with a computer, you have all the time to complete an assignment.

4. “I was absent when the homework was given.”

Maybe you were sick or had some emergency. If there is documentation to support, you can go on and use this excuse for not doing homework.

5. “I had an overwhelming number of homework and assignments for different classes to complete.”

If you fall under this category, you can be excused, but only with enough evidence. But this should not be the case as we can help you do your homework. You can always pay someone to do your homework .

6. I was watching the Superbowl finals

Although this sounds absurd, in a world where talent pays more than education, your professor might spare you if you explain yourself well. Just be honest and tell them you were watching a favorite team play and you could not resist the temptation of escaping doing your homework.

Did you know that endless excuses can put you into professors' and instructors' bad books? Are you also aware of the extent to which websites that help you do homework can help?

GradeCrest is a premium essay writing service that can always step in to help you avoid giving excuses for not attending groups or doing your assignments.

Other Silly Excuses for not completing Homework

We call them silly because they are reasons that even you doubt whether a full instructor or a professor will buy.

• “I was participating in extra-curricular activities (sports, debate, or volunteering).”
• “I did not understand the homework. I reached you, but you failed to respond.”
• “The dog ate my homework.”
• “My younger brother poured water on my printed.”
• “I thought I had copied the homework to my portable storage but seems I left it on my desktop.”
• “I sent the homework but did not wait for the ‘submitted’ message.”
• “I had serious food poisoning and had to stay home.”
• “The computer was infected by ransomware, and I couldn’t raise the ransom.”
• “I just did not feel like doing the homework. I was stressed.”
• “I accidentally shredded the printed paper.”
• “I was taking care of my grandparents.”

Planning an Excuse for not Completing Assignments? Consider These Facts!

It could be that you have genuine excuses for not doing homework. However, how you present the excuses could be costing you trust. If your excuses have not been working, here are some strategies.

• Avoid bringing excuses every time . If you cannot complete your homework on time, pay someone to help you. It is best that you have a backup plan.
• Always have supporting documents. If you were sick, try as much as possible to get prescription receipts and appointment letters from the doctor. If your computer broke, a genuine note from the technician could save you.
• Do show that you are genuinely sorry. When explaining why you failed to turn in an assignment or homework, use facial expressions and body language that shows you are sorry. If possible, ask for a second chance or late submission and do your best to submit the homework on time.
• Maintain honesty. Sometimes it is a class you hate or it is that one subject you seem not to crack. All the same, be honest with the professor or instructor. Sometimes having candid conversations around an issue can bring a lasting solution. If you were invited to a party or was out camping with friends, let your teacher know. Explain to them why you prioritized other issues over your assignment or doing your homework.
• Never get caught, so cover-up. If you are going to give excuses for not doing homework, share any messages, photos with friends, or videos with family on social media. It helps you build a case against not doing homework. Your professor is human and might understand.

Irresistible Ways to Get Away without Doing Homework and Score Top Grades

Top of our recommendation on getting away with not doing homework but scoring an A for it is to hire a professional homework helper. You can also give the excuses we have discussed above, submit the wrong file, drop the class, retake the class, ask for late submission, or forget about school altogether.

However, the most subtle and assured way is to hire a professional writer who will work on your papers faster, update you on the progress, and give you reasons to have the best college life.

1. Field the best excuse

As a first resolve for not doing homework, students always rush to give excuses. We have explored some of the best excuses you can give your instructor and escape the homework pot.

While some excuses might work, others will make you look dumb. You need to present your excuses by making them believable persuasively.

As you go the excuses way, remember not to give an excuse that looks like a plain lie. For instance, you cannot say your parents locked your keys inside the house and left while the instructor is your neighbor or a friend to your parents.

Vividly, lame excuses would only land you into more trouble for not attempting your homework. As you deliver the excuse, appeal to the logic, emotions, and ethics. Yes, use rhetorical appeals to convince your professor.

You can even say you were volunteering to feed the homeless when it rained, and you could not get home on time. Sometimes saying that you were visiting your sick relative could also help.

In short, while you brainstorm about reasons for not completing assignments, do not settle for lame excuses – they are a sellout.

2. Apply for Late Submission

So you are in the middle of a party, a weekend getaway, or a serious interview, and you notice that your homework is due in a few hours, what would you do?

The first thing is to try not to panic. The second thing is to compose yourself and assess if you can write a paper or essay fast. If you cannot beat the deadline, you can then write a letter to your professor requesting a late submission.

In most cases, the late submission is better than no submission at all. Even though your grades will be slashed, it is better than having a Fail.

If you have commitments that hinder you from completing an assignment, such as being a nurse or a police officer on duty, you need to express your professor's concerns.

You can tell the professor that even though you had planned to deliver the assignment, you were caught up in some issues and can only send it in late. Once you choose a reason, stick to that one reason to help you get away with not doing your homework on time.

3. Hire a professional Homework Helper

When faced with stringent deadlines, a challenging instructor, and a whole early adult life to explore, doing college homework is the last thing that comes to your mind. But it is a reality you contend with soon as you register for any class.

Hiring a professional ghostwriter to complete your assignments and homework puts you ahead of 80% of the students who struggle to write papers. It is also a proven method of not doing your homework but still scoring the best grades.

A homework helper can also come in handy when the task you are assigned is technical. For instance, when assigned a research, thesis, capstone, or dissertation proposal, the chances are that a professional ghostwriter will do it faster and better than you would. Our website has professional writers who are always ready to do your assignments at a pocket-friendly price.

The best part yet! A professional writer will handle even your last-minute homework and deliver quality papers that will secure you the best grades. Only hire a professional writer from a credible website like GradeCrest.

To determine the legitimacy and reliability of any paper writing service, focus on the ratings, age, interaction, design of the website, content on the website, and the positive reviews. Above all, ask if your confidentiality and privacy is 100% guaranteed.

4. If things look bad, Drop the Class

To get away with not doing homework, you can opt to drop the entire class. However, there is a catch to this – dropping an important class might hurt your transcript and GPA.

If it is a minor class that adds nothing to your papers if push comes to shove, drop it by any means for your peace of mind. Again, you will need to have a sober and convincing reason explaining why you have resolved to drop the class.

5. Let someone take your online class

Paying someone to take your online class can also be a solution to not doing homework. A professional writer or scholar who takes your online class will handle your quiz, essays, research papers, term papers, discussion posts, and responses and ensure that you get away with not doing homework but score the best grade for it.

Instead of entirely deferring or postponing a class, which could have implications, you can pay a professional to handle your online class. That way, you shift the homework burden to your homework doer who does it professionally with a guarantee of better grades.

As someone does your online class, you need to read hard and follow up on what they have written. Revise with their papers and adopt their professional tones to avoid cheating again on online exams.

When someone is doing your online class, including homework, you can invest the free and unlimited time on other important issues.

Parting Shot

Our recommendations here on the best excuses for not doing homework might seem farfetched or trivial, but they can save you a grade/GPA. Sometimes you can find it hard to submit an assignment or do homework on time. Maybe it is because you have this ‘lit’ party that you can’t afford to miss. Other times it is work stuff, and we all know work-study-life balance is tough to achieve and maintain.

Gradecrest.com is your trusted website that helps you do your homework. We handle all types of essays and papers. When you want a research paper, we are best to pay to do your research paper. If it is an essay, we have the best essay writers for hire .

Still, we are the best case study writing website . Never let it escalate to the point where you are giving excuses for not doing homework.

We are an online writing agency the types your essays on time. Besides, the privacy of our clients and the safety of their data are well-enforced. You can safely process payments on our website.

Are you ready to get homework assistance now? Please place an order with us!

Still in doubt on how we can help you, read on how essay writing websites help students and people .

Gradecrest is a professional writing service that provides original model papers. We offer personalized services along with research materials for assistance purposes only. All the materials from our website should be used with proper references. See our Terms of Use Page for proper details.

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Student Tips

Late assignment submission excuses that don’t fail.

June 27, 2023 • 10 min read

Academic success depends on completing assignments on time, but occasionally unexpected obstacles arise in life. Although it's always best to plan ahead and manage your time well, late submission excuses have become a common part of student life. In these situations, we need to be resourceful. In this article, we examine a few original and creative justifications for late assignment submissions. 

But before you do anything, take a deep breath and think about your options. There are some good excuses for turning in an assignment late, and there are some that are just plain bad.

Good Excuses for Late Assignment Submission:

Although it is typically not advisable to give justifications for late assignment submissions because it is crucial to prioritize responsibility and time management, there might be occasions when unavoidable circumstances arise. Here are a few valid justifications for submitting an assignment after the deadline:

• Personal Illness or Injury: If you had a sudden illness or injury that made it difficult for you to finish the assignment on time, that is a good reason to ask for a deadline extension. To prove your claim, offer the necessary proof, such as a medical certificate.
• Family Emergency: It might be necessary to ask for an extension for your assignment if there is a serious family emergency, such as the hospitalization of a close relative or the occurrence of a natural disaster.
• Technical Problems: There may occasionally be technical issues that are beyond your control, such as a computer crash, an internet outage, or a software malfunction. These problems may make it difficult for you to finish and turn in the assignment on time. Inform your professor right away, and if you can, include proof like screenshots or error messages.
• Unforeseen Events: Unexpected situations, like a last-minute work commitment, transportation problems, or a personal crisis, may make it difficult for you to finish an assignment on time. If such circumstances occur, be open and honest with your professor about them.
• Academic Overload: It can occasionally be difficult to meet all the deadlines if you find yourself overwhelmed with numerous assignments and coursework. In these circumstances, proactive communication with your professor is preferable.

Bad Excuses for Late Assignment Submission:

While it's critical to be open and truthful about legitimate justifications for late assignment submissions, it's equally crucial to identify and refrain from offering lame justifications that lack veracity or show a lack of accountability. Examples of justifications that are typically viewed as inappropriate or unconvincing include the following:

• Procrastination: Blaming procrastination or poor time management for the delay will have a negative impact on your ability to prioritize your obligations. Taking responsibility for your actions is always preferable to using procrastination as a justification.
• Social Events or Partying: Saying that you were unable to finish the assignment because you were out having fun or attending social events, parties, or other entertainment-related activities suggests that you value your leisure time more than your academic responsibilities.
• Internet or Power Outage: Although technical difficulties can occasionally happen, using an internet or power outage as a justification without supporting evidence or documentation may be considered a weak defense. It is a good idea to have backup plans, like local power or alternative internet sources.
• Forgetting the Due Date: Forgetting the due date for an assignment is not a good justification because it shows a lack of planning and focus. It's critical to remember due dates and use calendars, reminders, and other organizational tools to stay on top of things.
• Personal Relationship Problems: It may come across as unprofessional and unconvincing to blame a late submission on relationship issues or disagreements with friends, family, or romantic partners. It is best to keep personal matters separate from academic obligations and seek assistance or support if needed.
• Lack of Resources: It may not be acceptable to claim that you were unable to complete the assignment because you lacked the necessary books or materials. Planning ahead and making prompt use of the resources at hand are crucial.

How to Write an Excuse for a Late Assignment:

If you do have a legitimate reason for turning in an assignment late, it's important to write a clear and concise excuse. Here are some tips:

• Be honest. Don't try to lie or make up excuses. Your professor will be able to tell if you're not being truthful.
• Be specific. Explain exactly what happened and why it prevented you from turning in your assignment on time.
• Be apologetic. Express your sincere apologies for turning in your assignment late.
• Be respectful. Address your professor by their title and last name.

How to ask a professor to accept a late assignment by mail:  

You can use the following example of an email to ask your professor to accept a late assignment:

Dear Professor [Name of the Professor],

I'm writing to ask for a delay in the due date for my [course name and number] assignment, [name of assignment]. The assignment was supposed to be turned in on [original due date], but I need it by [new due date].

I apologize for the submission's tardiness. I am aware that this is not an excuse, but a few unforeseen events kept me from finishing the assignment on time.

I had a family emergency that needed to be attended to first. I had to travel to be with my [relationship to family member] because they were in the hospital. This consumed a substantial amount of time.

Second, my computer was having some technical issues. My files were completely lost when my hard drive crashed. I lost a few days as a result of having to start the assignment from scratch.

Even though I am aware that the circumstances are not ideal, I am determined to do my very best to complete the task. The finished assignment is attached to this email.

I would appreciate it if you would give my request for a delay some thought. I am sure I can finish the assignment by the new due date.

I appreciate your consideration and time.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Final Thoughts:

While excuses for late assignment submissions can be amusing and humorous, it's important to keep in mind that accountability and time management should always come first. These ingenious justifications ought to be used sparingly and shouldn't serve to reinforce dishonesty or procrastination as bad habits. It's best to be open with your professors, ask for extra time when you need it, and make an effort to turn in assignments on time. Always keep in mind that education is a journey towards growth and development on both a personal and academic level. If you follow these tips, you will increase your chances of having your request granted.

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• Effective Classroom Management

Tips for Handling Student Excuses

• May 5, 2014
• John Orlando, PhD

As new teachers very quickly learn, students will come up with all kinds of excuses for missing assignments and other work. Students will never say, “I missed the exam because I was out late last night—it was one dollar taps at the Silver Horse, you know how it goes.” As a result, teachers must have a policy for handling these situations, which invariably involves a decision on trust.

The problem is that grandparents do die—it happens—but they don’t die as often as we are told and their deaths don’t always coincide with major deadlines in the syllabus. So how do we know when a grandparent really dies, or a roommate actually does get deathly ill in the middle of the night, and when we are being handed a line?

The answer, of course, is that we can’t. While not often discussed, the teaching relationship involves trust. A teacher once told me that we can only trust our students, and if they lie to us, then it says something about them, not us.

Here are some of my thoughts on how to handle these situations. I invite readers to share their own approach to trusting students.

• Don’t take it personally. Too many teachers take it personally when they catch students cheating. Students don’t cheat as a personal affront to their teachers— they do it because they can’t succeed the regular way. Students lie for themselves, not against us. One student who was in the military kept missing classes and assignments, coming up with excuses each time. Near the end of the class he sent me a note stating that he was withdrawing because he was an alcoholic and that the army was sending him to rehab.
• Lightening rarely strikes twice. I tend to give students the benefit of the doubt the first time, but get really suspicious the second and third time. Repeat occurrences require proof.
• Model trust. In the movie “House of Games,” Joe Mantegna plays a con man who teaches a woman the tricks of the trade. He tells her in the midst of a con that “This is a confidence game. Why? Because you give me your confidence? No. Because I give you my confidence and you reciprocate.” So start by giving students your trust.
• Take it out of your hands. A famous negotiating theorist once asked what a company that builds munitions should do if protesters sit on the railroad tracks that lead out of the plant. The conductor could inch the locomotive forward toward the protesters in hope that they will move off. But the smarter move is to start the train moving, and then jump off. This takes the decision out of his hands, which is a powerful negotiating device. Similarly, establish a situation that takes the subjectivity out of equation. I might say something like “One of my jobs as a teacher is to distinguish phony excuses from real excuses, since giving extensions for phony excuses is unfair to students who planned ahead to get their assignments done on time. What I have seen here indicates to me that this is a late assignment. If you can provide evidence that this not the case, then I will happily change my decision. But until then, this is what I see.”
• Preempt problems. A teacher once told me that he prefaces assignments with the comment that “I’ve consulted with IT, and all of the printers in the school have never failed at the same moment, so don’t use that excuse.” Establish a policy on excuses ahead of time. This not only reduces the number of excuses you will get, but also takes you out of the position of having to decide on a case-by-case basis after class when you are cornered by a student on your way to your next appointment.
• I tend to trust adults more than traditional age students. I don’t know if this is biased, and it’s certainly based on anecdotal evidence, but I believe that adults have more responsibilities than traditional age students, and so are more likely to run into life problems. There is a story in my family about me being hospitalized as a very young child with some sort of seizure issues. The doctors told my father that they would have to tie me down to the bed to prevent me from pulling out my tubes at night. My father told them that nobody was going to tie his son down, and so he stayed up all night by my bedside holding me when I went into seizure. He had an exam for a class the next morning, which he missed, and ended up having to leave school. He always regretted not getting his degree.

As always, I welcome your comments, criticisms, and cries of outrage.

Dr. John Orlando helped develop and lead online learning programs at the University of Vermont and Norwich University, and he has taught faculty how to teach online as well as how to use technology in their face-to-face teaching.

© Magna Publications. All Rights Reserved.

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Late/missing assignment excuses right now

How forgiving is everyone being right now about students turning in homework and assignments late? I know there are some students that have fallen on hard times because of loss of a job, sickness of a family member etc. However, I'm getting emails now about assignments that were due 3 weeks ago, asking for an extension because "transition to online has been hard" (their words). Other students speak of generic "struggles" and ask for extensions on everything imaginable.

If I were a student right now and approaching my instructor for an assignment extension, I would probably give a few details as to why. No need to go into extreme or personal detail, but mentioning that someone in the family has been ill, they have had to pick up extra responsibility, lost their job, etc. I feel is reasonable. Or am I being a jerk and should I just accept extension requests regardless of length or reason right now?

I'm giving students lots of resources to help them study. I host live class sessions, which are recorded & uploaded to the LMS, and post supplemental videos for additional help. I'm also available via remote office hours, via the LMS discussion board, and through email to help, yet I'm having students complain that it's "more difficult" to get ahold of instructors. I can't help but feel that students are taking advantage of the situation. I wouldn't care if it wasn't more work for me, but I'm really struggling myself with my kids at home right now. I can't even get started on work for the day until around 9pm.

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New York Jets News

Jets: Is Aaron Rodgers out of excuses for Super Bowl or bust 2024 NFL season?

Aaron Rodgers is healthy, with a newly-equipped New York Jets roster that will position him to thrive in 2024. These factors may eliminate all excuses for Rodgers to not win a Super Bowl or get awfully close next season.

Sayre Bedinger of Lombardiave.com contextualized the Jets’ roster receiving the top grade among all 32 NFL teams by ESPN’s Mike Clay with Rodgers’ return to full strength and what that means for his playoff outlook and expectations for the upcoming year, saying this in part:

“Everything that happens in New York this year — good or bad — is going to reflect on Rodgers. Mike Clay’s roster rankings are just one of many roster rankings floating around this offseason, but the Jets are generally very highly thought of,” Bedinger declared.

“The last postseason game Rodgers played in was 2021. He hasn’t played up to the hype in many playoff games, even in big games the Green Bay Packers have won. Given how messy things were between he and the Packers at the time he was traded, there’s going to be a huge spotlight on him all year and he will be under the microscope in a big way.”

Jets: Aaron Rodgers has a handful of reasons why he shouldn’t fail to reach the Super Bowl

Rodgers has one Super Bowl to his name from the 2010 NFL season. Nothing can be taken away from the 40-year-old QB for that stellar performance, but given the fact that he has the second-most NFL MVPs of all-time with four, he has not translated such regular season success to the playoffs, even with elite players around him on many occasions.

Rodgers’ superlative talent has overshadowed some of his playoff shortcomings throughout his career, but there is reason for his feet to be held to the fire in 2024. He’ll have a near 1,000-yard rusher in Breece Hall behind him in the backfield to make his day in play-action opportunities week after week.

Rodgers also hasn’t had two bonafide 1,000-yard receivers at his side in a decade, since Jordy Nelson (1,519 receiving yards) and Randall Cobb (1,287 REC yards) did so on the Green Bay Packers in 2014. The only other times he did was in 2008 and 2009 when Gregg Jennings (1,292 & 1,113 receiving yards) and Donald Driver (1,012 & 1,061 REC yards) reached that marker. He came close most recently in 2016 with Nelson (1,257 receiving yards) and DaVante Adams (997 REC yards).

Garrett Wilson (1,042 REC yards) and Mike Williams can give him that next season. Though Williams only went for 249 receiving yards in 2023, that came in three contests. Had he played the full 17-game slate, the seven-year veteran would have gone for 1,411 yards in 2023. To prove that feasibility, he also amassed 895 receiving yards in 13 games in 2022, which would have seen him rack up roughly 1,170 yards in that campaign.

The Jets have also protected Rodgers by bringing back reigning Second Team All-Pro offensive tackle Tyron Smith and drafting No. 11 overall pick at left tackle, Olu Fashanu, who allowed no sacks in his collegiate career at Penn State. The defense is stacked with arguably the best cornerback in football in Sauce Gardner, a cohesive secondary, and a pass rush headlined by Quinnen Williams and Haason Reddick that will prime Rodgers to get an advantage in time on the field next season to sling his gun.

Rodgers can put forth his most career-defining season in 2024

The competition in the AFC and the NFL as a whole will present challenges for the Jets, as well as their primetime-heavy schedule, but if Rodgers looks like the Rodgers we’ve seen for the bulk of his career, this may be the one season where not winning it all will fall on him the hardest.

There isn’t an area of the field where the Jets aren’t strong. They’ll be only as strong as their weakest link, which will say something about how far the former Super Bowl MVP Rodgers is able to lead his juggernaut roster next season. Since it’ll be their first year together as a unit, there may not be full-blown championship-or-bust implications, but a Super Bowl is expected from this group of guys, and that’ll only happen with Rodgers at his best.

This article first appeared on  Empire Sports Media  and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

• NFL insider addresses reports on Steelers' Russell Wilson, Justin Fields
• 49ers' Kyle Shanahan shares what impresses him about Brock Purdy
• The 'Multiple seasons with 2000+ scrimmage yards' quiz

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National Donut Day 2024 deals: Get free food at Dunkin', Krispy Kreme, Duck Donuts, Sheetz

You may not need a reason to chow down on a donut but there is one on friday, june 7, which is national donut day. donut dealers including dunkin' and krispy kreme will be doling out free donuts..

There's no hole in the historic nature of National Donut Day , which lands on Friday, June 7.

While many made-up food-related "holidays" exist – among them, National Hamburger Day and National Wine Day celebrated most recently – National Donut Day has some historical basis.

The Salvation Army  in 1938 established the first Friday in June as National Donut Day to honor the organization's Donut Lassies, women who traveled to France to serve donuts and other snacks to soldiers during World War I.

These days, the date gives lovers of donuts – or doughnuts, as Krispy Kreme and some other purveyors refer to them – a sweet chance at some freebies, bargains and special treats.

National Donut Day: We mapped Yelp's best local donut shops in each state

In addition to the deals and specials below, remember to check social media accounts of local donut shops as they may have National Donut Day deals, too.

Dunkin' National Donut Day deal, plus donut-shaped sponges

For National Donut Day on Friday, June 7, you can get a free classic donut of your choice at Dunkin' with the purchase of any beverage while supplies last.

You can also order limited-edition donut-shaped Scrub Daddy and Scrub Mommy sponges – a clean collaboration with Dunkin' – online for $9.98 . Each order comes with one Scrub Daddy scrubbing sponge and one Scrub Mommy, which has a scrubbing surface on one side and a sponge on the other.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Scrub Daddy, Inc. (@scrubdaddy)

Krispy Kreme

Get a free doughnut in person, no purchase necessary, on Friday, June 7. Special, or “limited edition” doughnuts are not part of the promotion. You can also get an original glazed dozen for $2 with the purchase of any dozen in stores or the drive-thru at participating Krispy Kreme locations.

Members of the convenience store chain's 7Rewards loyalty program can get a glazed donut for $1 on Friday, June 7.

Get a free donut Friday through Sunday, June 7-9, when you buy any Sheetz Bros coffee or ready-to-drink coffee at any of the major mid-Atlantic gas stations, restaurants and convenience chain locations. Find the deal under the OFFERZ tab on the Sheetz app . Limit one per customer; the offer is good while supplies last.

Tim Hortons

Members of the Tims Rewards loyalty program can get a free donut with any drink purchase including limited-time beverages such as the Cookie Butter Cold Brew and Cookie Butter Iced Capp.

Duck Donuts

Get a free cinnamon sugar donut on Friday, June 7, for National Donut Day. No purchase is necessary and in-shop only.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Duck Donuts (@duckdonuts)

'Happy National Donut Day, y'all': Jelly Roll toasts Dunkin' in new video

More National Donut Day deals

◾ Casey's: Members of Casey's Rewards loyalty p r ogram can get a free donut. Also from Friday, June 7, to June 16, Rewards members can get a half dozen donuts for $4.99. Among the options: the new Oreo Dirt Cake Donut, a chocolate cake donut topped with vanilla icing, crushed Oreo cookies, and a gummi worm.

◾ Dutch Bros. Coffee: The coffee chain is celebrating National Donut Day on June 7 with a special specialty drink, the Jelly Donut Shake.

◾ GPM Investments: Members of the Fas rewards loyalty program can buy one donut, get one free on Friday, June 7. The date also is the beginning of Free Frazil Fridays where customers can fill up a small-sized frozen drink and scan it for free at the register on Fridays in June at participating convenience stores. ARKO-owned, GPM Investments-operated convenience stores include 1 Stop, Apple Market, Corner Mart, Dixie Mart, Fas mart, ExpressStop, E-Z Mart, lash Market, Jetz, Market Express, Next Door Store, Roadrunner Markets, Rose Mart, Village Pantry, Scotchman and Young's.

◾ Maverik and Kum & Go : The convenience stores –  Maverik acquired Kum & Go's roughly 400 stores in August 2023  – are giving members of  Maverik's Adventure Club  and  Kum & Go’s &Rewards  50% off donuts all day on June 7 (limit 10 per customer).

◾ The Original Donut Shop Coffee: The coffee brand has teamed with country singer and brand ambassador Kelsea Ballerini on a special Ballerini Blend, which becomes available Friday, June 7, on Keurig.com . Its "buttery, creamy vanilla flavor … is unapologetically fun and delightfully sweet," according to the coffee maker. For every purchase of the Ballerini Blend, you get 50% off any additional box of The Original Donut Shop K-cup pods.

◾ Shipley Do-Nuts: Get a free glazed do-nut with any purchase on Friday, June 7, in person or order online with code DONUTDAY24.

◾ Stan's Donuts: If you miss National Donut Day, the Chicago chain has the special Big Cat combo starting Saturday, June 8. The $6 combo includes a Stella Blue Brewberry Shandy, made with blueberry cold brew and lemonade, and a powdered sugar donut, the favorite of Dan (Big Cat) Katz of Barstool Sports .

• Taco John's: Members of the chain's Bigger Bolder Rewards program get free Mexican Donut Bites with any purchase on Friday, June 7.

Contributing: Amaris Encinas.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads:  @mikesnider  & mikegsnider .

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Why NBA players couldn’t be more wrong about the Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau

Donte DiVincenzo had seen the poll .

Last April, as the playoffs approached and the New York Knicks were well on their way to the franchise’s best season in a decade, The Athletic published an anonymous player poll in which their coach, Tom Thibodeau, was the leading vote-getter in a most unflattering category: The coach whom players would least like to play for.

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It wasn’t even close, either, with Thibodeau receiving 43.6 percent of the votes and then-Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas a distant second at 14.5 percent. Add in the fact Thibodeau had become a two-time winner of this unwelcome award, having also taken the (dis)honor when this poll was last published in 2019 , and it’s safe to say his reputation as an old-school leader in these new-age times was alive and well.

But to see these Knicks (41-28) compete with that vintage Thibodeau style on their 3-1 West Coast trip that ended with a loss at Denver on Thursday night, and to marvel at their ability to remain among the Eastern Conference’s best ( Boston notwithstanding) despite a brutal run of injuries to pivotal players, was to realize that today’s players are just flat-out wrong about the oft-criticized 66-year-old. Just ask DiVincenzo.

“That poll, for me — and excuse my language — but it doesn’t mean s—,” DiVincenzo, who played for Golden State last season and signed a four-year, $50 million deal with New York last summer, told The Athletic after the Knicks’ win over the Warriors on Monday night. “I’ve seen the poll, but I signed here.”

His ringing endorsement continued from there.

“I don’t care (about Thibodeau’s reputation),” DiVincenzo continued. “I don’t care. Guys in the NBA now (are different) than before. Everybody wants the game all offense. Nobody wants to come in and practice. But me, being my first year here, I think he’s done a great job of balancing things.

“From the outside world, there’s always (a different view). But in our house — in-house — we have a good dynamic and we enjoy it and everybody enjoys being around each other. To the outside world, you don’t really know. All you know is perception. All you know is the history from other teams (Thibodeau has coached) and his years with different organizations. But we’ve had plenty of rest days, plenty of off days.”

And rumor has it, I shared with DiVincenzo, that Thibodeau practices aren’t nearly as hard as advertised these days.

“They’re not,” DiVincenzo confirmed. “I played for (the Warriors’ Steve) Kerr and played for Coach Bud (former Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer). It’s not like you come here and all of a sudden you’re just running track every day (in practice). I think what he does by far better than anybody I’ve been around is he’s the most prepared. So it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go for two hours on your feet and running. But when you’re in there, you’re gonna lock in and you’re gonna get the stuff done and we’re gonna get out of there.”

In this “ player participation policy ” season where the NBA has finally pushed back on the load management movement , and where a public outcry for improved defensive play and increased physicality has come along with it, there’s something fitting about a Thibodeau team showing out in this kind of way. They’re tough, with a next-man-up mentality that has helped them survive serious setbacks for Julius Randle (out since suffering a dislocated right shoulder on Jan. 27), Mitchell Robinson ( out since ankle surgery in mid-December ) and OG Anunoby (missed 20 of the last 23 games after having a loose bone fragment removed from his right elbow). They play hard on both ends of the floor, with a seventh-ranked defense that has flourished despite the aforementioned absences (Robinson and Anunoby, in particular, are elite on that end).

After wins at Portland (105-93), Sacramento (98-91) and the Warriors (119-112), these (severely) undermanned Knicks used that formula to nearly upset the defending champion Nuggets in their West Coast finale (they trailed by five midway through the fourth and lost 113-100). It was another strong sign, among so many of late, that the Knicks will be a handful for any team that comes their way in the playoffs — no matter who’s able to take the floor.

But if Thibodeau’s Knicks can get healthy in time for the postseason — and that’s a major if — it’s not hard to imagine a world in which they’re making the kind of deep playoff run their franchise hasn’t seen since falling to Reggie Miller’s Pacers in the East finals nearly a quarter century ago. After all, they have nearly a month of compelling evidence (Jan. 1 to Jan. 27) that they can play like title contenders when at full strength.

During that span that followed their trade with Toronto for Anunoby , and included Randle, the Knicks went 12-2 while boasting the league’s No. 1 defensive rating, ninth-best offensive rating and second-best net rating. It was some of the best basketball any team has played this season — Celtics included.

Yet the uncertainty that comes with all these ailments makes it harder to handicap New York’s postseason prospects. It’s not yet known when, or if, Randle will return. And as our Fred Katz wrote on Thursday , the Knicks have learned the hard way before that Randle rushing back after an injury is not a wise plan.

Anunoby’s timeline is unclear, too, as he returned for three games recently only to need time away again because of pain caused by lingering inflammation. Robinson, meanwhile, was a full participant in Knicks practice on Wednesday but, per Thibodeau, will still need “a while” to regain his form and must also be cleared to return by the team’s medical staff. Even big man Isaiah Hartenstein , who has played so well while helping fill the void left by Robinson, remains on a minutes restriction because of an Achilles issue that has dogged him all season.

Which brings us back to Thibodeau.

As is the case with any coach whose contract situation is in question, the outcome of the postseason will surely matter when it comes to what comes next. His current deal runs through the 2024-25 season, but league sources say he hopes to secure his future with the Knicks when both sides plan to revisit the topic this summer. At this rate, the Knicks might wind up hoping they’d decided to get something done with Thibodeau before the recent explosion of coaching salaries.

For those who might have missed the economic boom on this front, take a look at this list of recent deals that have drastically changed the market:

• Monty Williams signs a six-year, $78.5 million deal with Detroit in May.
• Gregg Popovich signs a five-year extension reportedly worth more than $80 million with San Antonio in July.
• Erik Spoelstra signs an eight-year extension worth more than $100 million with Miami in January.
• Doc Rivers signs a deal with Milwaukee in January that runs through the 2026-27 season and is worth approximately $40 million combined.
• Steve Kerr signs a two-year, $35 million extension with Golden State in February.

League sources say Thibodeau, by comparison, makes an annual salary in the neighborhood of $7 million. All signs point to a well-deserved raise likely coming his way.

It makes perfect sense too. This roster, which was largely built by the Leon Rose-led front office with Thibodeau’s gritty mentality in mind, is full of players like DiVincenzo who thrive in a demanding and professional environment. In that sense, it’s a much better fit than Thibodeau’s Minnesota mess that came before (the fact Jimmy Butler was the only core player who was cut from the Thibodeau cloth was … problematic ).

Franchise centerpiece Jalen Brunson is known to be among his biggest backers, as is his father and Knicks assistant coach, Rick Brunson. Randle is his kind of player too, a bruiser who is surely trying to rush his way back right about now. Ditto for Anunoby, who fought through obvious pain in his recovering elbow before the decision was made to give it more time to heal.

For a more specific example of their simpatico ways, consider that 29-year-old Josh Hart played all 48 minutes of the Knicks’ win over the Warriors (tallying his fifth triple-double) and seemed ecstatic to do it. He’s signed through the 2026-27 campaign. And as an intriguing and relevant aside, third-year point guard Miles McBride (a 2021 second-rounder from West Virginia) has shown the kind of developmental progress of late (including a career-high 29 points against the Warriors) that only adds to their depth.

Even with all these injuries, in other words, the Knicks have no shortage of reasons to be optimistic about what lies ahead. As Katz reported after the Anunoby trade in mid-January , the search for another star to pair with Brunson will continue this summer — whoever that might be. New York has all of its own first-round picks going forward, along with protected firsts from Dallas (2024), Detroit (2024), Washington (2024) and Milwaukee (2025). Those kinds of assets help greatly, of course, in these sorts of star-player pursuits.

In the here and now, though, Thibodeau’s focus is on these Knicks fighting through all this adversity and raising as much hoops hell as they can when it matters most. And the coach so many players would least like to play for, it seems, has total buy-in from the ones who couldn’t be happier that he’s their coach.

“It’s a team, and that’s what we prioritize,” Thibodeau explained before the Warriors game. “That’s (why) we want guys to sacrifice and put the team first. But there has to be that belief. And I think when your best players have that belief, your entire team ends up having that belief. We know we have a great group that we work with. They’re great to be around every day. They give you everything they have. So we know we’re fortunate, but we know we still have a lot of work to do.

“And I think confidence comes from demonstrated ability, like the fact that we’ve won with players being out (means) there’s a belief that we can do it. If we stay disciplined and do the things that we should do, we’ll have a chance to win.”

(Top photo of Tom Thibodeau and Jalen Brunson: Mike Stobe / Getty Images)

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Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Sam Amick is a senior NBA writer for The Athletic. He has covered the Association for the better part of two decades while at USA Today, Sports Illustrated, AOL FanHouse and the Sacramento Bee. Follow Sam on Twitter @ sam_amick

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How to Get Out of Doing Homework

Last Updated: March 4, 2024 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 111 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 284,139 times. Learn more...

Sometimes you just can't get it together and finish your homework. Maybe you had a concert or a game after school and you were too tired to think when you got home. Maybe you ran out of time, or you fell asleep early. Maybe you just had something way better to do! This article will give you ideas for how to get your parents off your back about doing homework and convince your teachers you have a perfectly good reason why you didn't do the assignment. Plus, learn techniques on how to make it look like you made an attempt at your assignment, but life, fate, or technology got in the way. Just don't make a habit of it, or your grades may suffer.

Making Excuses to Your Teacher

• Notice how your teacher reacts when other students forget their homework to gauge how much you can get away with.
• Notice if your teacher collects homework or usually just walks around and glances at your worksheet to make sure you did it.
• Try to get an idea of what your teacher likes. If they have pictures of their cat everywhere, you may be able to use that to your advantage later by telling them your cat is very sick or had to be put down and you were too devastated to finish the assignment.
• Remember that your teacher probably got into teaching because they are passionate about their subject. Participate in class as much as possible: if they believe you love history, too, they're probably more likely to be sympathetic later.
• Find out how much homework counts toward your final grade. If homework only accounts for 20% of your grade and you ace all your tests, projects, and class participation, you might be able to get by without doing homework and still get a decent grade.

• If your teacher expects you to email them your assignment, ask them the next day if they got your email. When they say they didn't, act confused and explain that you definitely emailed them and that you can't believe it didn't go through. They probably can't check to see if you are lying and will probably give you an extension.

• Claim the death of a family member. Make it someone close enough that it would affect you, but not so close that the teacher will find out about it. A great aunt or uncle works as they tend to be older. There is also no limit on the amount of great aunts and uncles you have, whereas with grandparents there is a limited number of times you can use that excuse. Plus, you don't want to tempt karma by saying your grandma died unexpectedly.
• Say that you are having a private family issue and you don't feel comfortable talking about it, but you can't do the homework.
• Tell your teacher your pet died. But be aware that if your teacher happens to be having a conversation with your parents and says something like "Sorry about the dog!" they may find out you were lying.

• Tell the teacher you were in the bathroom when they assigned the work and you completely missed that you had homework. However, if your teacher has a good memory or writes homework on the board or on a school website, there is a high chance this will not work.

• This works best if you are somebody who rarely gets sick(maybe once or twice a year) then you will be more trustworthy if you appear sick.

• If you do this too often your teacher will stop being sympathetic, so make sure it only happens once or twice.

Making It Look Like You Did Your Homework

• If your teacher walks around the class checking for homework, but doesn't take it in, write your homework page and task at the top of some random notes you have for that class. If they're not attentive, they won't notice.
• If they are attentive, try to distract them by asking a question related to the subject or show them a word in the textbook you don't understand.

• Say you must have left it on your desk/in the car/on the bus and ask if you can turn it in at the end of the day. Then you can quickly do the assignment during lunch.
• Be smart when pretending to be upset that you lost your homework. If you usually slack off and don't do your homework, it may seem odd to the teacher when you suddenly worry about not having your homework.

• If you cheat on writing based homework, paraphrase it so your teacher can't tell that you cheated. Also, think about how you usually perform in class. If you don't usually do well in class on homework and tests, your teacher could get suspicious if you get all the answers right. So to be smart, get some answers wrong on purpose.
• Try asking one friend for answers to questions #1 and #2, then another friend for the answers to questions #3 and #4, and so on until the assignment is complete.
• Assemble a study group and let them work out all the answers.
• If you have a friend who owes you a favor, tell them this is how they can repay their debt.

• Bring in a blank flash drive and swear to your teacher you saved it to the drive and you don't know what happened.

• Go into File Explorer and find the file you want to make corrupt. Right click over the file and select 'Open With...', then select Notepad. Once the file opens in Notepad you should see a really bizarre document with gibberish. Click anywhere within the document and type something random in it, disturbing the flow. After this just save and submit. When your teacher opens it, it will show up an error.
• Do not select "use application as default" when selecting Notepad after File Explorer step or else all word documents (.docx) will automatically in Notepad showing gibberish.
• Create a blank image in Paint and save it in .bmp format. After that, forcefully change its format into .doc (right-click and hit Properties), and change the title to the name of your homework assignment. Now, when you try to open the file in any text viewing program, it will show up as a broken file. Send it to the teacher, and if they ask you the next day, just say sorry about this inconvenience and promise to send it this evening. Now, you have an extra day to complete your homework.

Convincing Your Parents

• So your parents check your history? Easy. If you have the Google Chrome browser, you can use Incognito mode. This will not track your history at all. Press ctrl+shift+N at the same time to open an Incognito tab. Remember to close all Incognito tabs before you go back to doing your homework.
• Remember ctrl + w closes a window with one tab without prompt, so it is the perfect way without downloading Firefox and certain add-ons to use the computer without parent's knowing anything of your exploits.

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• Try to sound very stressed about not finishing your homework. Try to only skip homework when you really need to. It might be obvious that you're not trying if you never do it.
• Try to be honest when you get caught. If you lie and get caught, you might be in bigger trouble.
• Remember: in most cases, it is unlikely your teacher will excuse you from doing the homework altogether, even if these tactics work. Go into it thinking they will give you an extension and you will have time to catch up on your work without it impacting your grade. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Homework is there to help you. In the long run, not doing homework will impact not just your report card but your future. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Avoid lame and common excuses. These excuses have no effect, so don't even try to use them. Avoid "I forgot" and "My dog ate my homework" kind of excuses. Using long, boring excuses may make the teacher just dismiss it and tell you to turn it in tomorrow. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://edinazephyrus.com/how-to-fake-sick-successfully/
• ↑ https://corrupt-a-file.net/

About This Article

If you weren't able to finish your homework, there are a few good excuses you can use to keep your teacher off your back. You can blame technology and say your computer or printer broke. If you needed the internet for your homework, say your internet went off for a few hours. Pretending you forgot your homework isn't the best excuse, but it sounds better than admitting you didn't do it. Search through your bag and pretend to look for it, then tell your teacher you must have left it at home. To make it more convincing, see your teacher at the beginning of class and say you had a busy week and forgot to do the homework. You can even tell them you had a family issue. Teachers are unlikely to call you out for being sick, so try going to the nurse before class and telling them you feel sick and you can’t go to class. For more tips, including how to get out of your parents making you do homework, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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