By: Isabella Cobo | Publish Date: April 27th, 2026
For many students at Kean University, the school day is not a day of back-to-back classes. For some, the day is defined by long gaps that can range from 15 minutes to as long as 7 hours. With registration season approaching, these gaps become a concern for many students, especially commuters, as it becomes clear they are trying to balance productivity and life on campus.
While some students intentionally leave these gaps in their schedules, whether to focus on assignments or spend time with friends, others find themselves dealing with them simply due to the limited availability of courses during registration. This results in long stretches of time with little idea of what to do.
Classes, especially general education courses, fill up very quickly. As a result, students who register later often face inconvenient schedules with long gaps that are far from ideal.
How and Where Students Spend Their Time
Faced with hours of unstructured time, students find their own ways to get through the day. Some choose to stay on campus, spend time on their phones, work on assignments, or catch up with friends. However, others admit that productivity is sometimes affected by scrolling, napping, or waiting for the next class to begin. This often turns these gaps into periods with little benefit for many students, making them feel uncomfortable and unproductive.
“Even if I try to work on assignments during this free time, there comes a point where it becomes very stressful not knowing what to do and not being able to go home” said Andrea Escobar, a sophomore at Kean University.
Across campus, some spaces have become go-to spots for students to spend their long gaps. The library, for example, offers an excellent environment for those who choose to use this time to study or catch up on assignments. Meanwhile, the Miron Student Center serves as a social hub for students who prefer to spend these moments with friends, eating, or simply enjoying a break from academic responsibilities. Kean also offers a wide variety of outdoor spaces, which become a top option for many students, especially on warmer days.
It’s also worth mentioning the university’s fitness spaces. Kean University offers a gym (In Harwood Arena) for students who want to make use of their free time by working out or simply exercising for a while, giving more purpose to these gaps while doing something positive for themselves. Not to mention, staying active is a great strategy for maintaining overall health and improving academic performance.
Life Beyond Campus
For students who may want to step off campus during these gaps, nearby areas offer a variety of options to make the time more enjoyable. Just a short walk from campus is Downtown Union, which provides access to many restaurants and cozy cafés where students can spend their gaps in a more enjoyable way and experience a change of environment.
Morris Avenue is another very common destination for many students during long breaks between classes. Known for its wide variety of restaurants and casual dining spots, it offers a great opportunity to have a proper lunch, meet up with friends, or simply relax and grab a drink before returning to academic responsibilities.
“It’s amazing that Kean is located on Morris Ave. It’s always a pleasure to have so many options for lunch between classes thanks to the wide variety of restaurants,” said Juan Garcia, a student at Kean University.
Although these long gaps may feel like wasted time, they also present a valuable opportunity to do things students often put off due to lack of time. They can be a great chance to socialize, exercise, or focus on personal growth. Many students use this time to complete assignments, attend tutoring sessions, or work on internships that are essential for their future career paths, turning what seems like empty time into moments full of learning and personal development. Others simply choose to focus on their mental health and use this time to rest, which is also a great way to make the most of it.
However, not all students see these gaps as an opportunity. For some, these long hours of waiting are exhausting, particularly for those with jobs, long commutes, or heavy course loads. The issue is not how students choose to spend their time, but rather how schedules are structured in the first place, which can result in a very stressful experience for many of them.
As students prepare for the upcoming registration period, the structure of their schedules can once again define their daily routines for an entire semester. While long gaps may not always be avoidable, what students choose to do with this free time can give a completely different direction to their college experience.
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