Misc.

10 Reasons You MUST Take Summer College Courses

Every time I ask students if they will be taking courses in the summer, they always say, “No way, I need my summers off!”.  Of course students would not want to take summer classes because then they think they wouldn’t have a summer.  If you are a student, you probably took at least 15 credits each semester this past year, which is considered a good, full-time load if you wish to graduate in 4 years.  However, many majors require more credits to graduate, so students may end up finding themselves taking upwards of 18 credits a year (crazy!).  Why not graduate sooner and make your semesters less stressful by taking at least 1 class in the summer? Here are some reasons why you SHOULD take at least one class in the summer, though I’d advocate for taking 3:

1.You don’t have to take so many credits during the regular academic year (less stress on you).

2.You can choose between taking one-three classes a summer.  If you choose to take only one, you do, in fact, still have a summer.

3.Most summer classes run between 1 and 4 weeks, far less time than what that class would run in the regular semester.  Even if you choose to take three classes, you CAN still have a summer.  So, if you have to take a class you know you are going to hate, why not take it in 1-4 weeks as opposed to 15 weeks?

4.Many of them are online and/or hybrid so you may not even have to commute to campus.  You typically do much of your work online, in the comfort of your own home.

5.Most summer classes are much easier than in the regular academic year.  I know this by experience, which is why I always took summer classes.  Even if they end up being hard, so what? Challenge yourself and relish the fact that it will be over very soon.

6.Classes tend to be smaller, so if you need more individual help, you can likely receive it from your professor.

7.  I need to mention this again, you can graduate SOONER!

8.Most end up being easy A’s (at least, speaking from experience and from word of mouth from other students and colleagues).

9.You get experience with online modules and opportunities to meet with and learn from new students in an online format, which is what today’s generation is so used to.

10.  You will likely be completing several writing assignments, which is a great way to hone in on those writing skills.  I improved my writing skills significantly just by taking online classes in the summer because grades were often dependent on written submissions, such as responding to discussion groups in your school’s online platform (Desire2Learn, Blackboard, Canvas, etc.)

I went to college to become a teacher, which takes the average student 5-6 years to earn their degree.  I even changed my major THREE times.  If I had not taken summer classes every single summer, it would have taken me at least an extra year to graduate.  Instead, I graduated in 4 years and received an A or a B in every summer class I took.  I also learned quite a bit about myself as a student and as a writer.

I HIGHLY suggest you take summer classes!