Don't take the summer class. Just don't do it. I know in all of your just-finished-freshman-year-life-is-great eagerness you think taking that online science, math, or class of your choice during the summer is a GREAT way to pass your time and get your GPA up just a bit, but just don't do it. If you plan on working during the summer, especially if that job is as demanding as being a camp counselor or having an internship, this point needs to be EMPHASIZED. DON'T TAKE THE CLASS. I know, some of you parents out there are going to want to argue that "education is more important" and "if my child can get ahead academically why shouldn't they?" I hear you, believe me I do. College is fun, but the work is really, really hard. Leave hitting the books for the months between August and May. Understand that a summer class might not be the best decision.
You're probably taking the summer class because you heard summer classes are easier than ones given during the fall and spring semesters. You might be taking the class because you're afraid of potentially having to be a fifth year and no one really wants that. And yeah, summer classes are easier in some ways. You can choose when and where to pick up your book and study. The quizzes are online and therefore no one can stop you from using your notes or textbook for them, but the same can't be said for the final. And in other ways online classes are NOT easy at all.
In the biology class I regretfully decided to take this summer, we're learning material that is normally taught throughout a period of 14 weeks, in seven. Do the math; it's not a cake class by any means. I had to quit my job as a camp counselor because I physically wasn't able to read and get through two chapters and online lectures per week while dedicating 12 hours each day to pre-school aged children. Unless you're an upperclassmen who is in seriously dire need of extra credits, take the job or the internship over the class. You'll gain so much more from both of those experiences and probably have far less stress. And let's be real; who wants to be stressed about school during the summer? Summer jobs and internships show discipline, responsibility, and initiative. Summer classes show that you're spending your free time doing what employers (hopefully) know you can already successfully do -- be a good student.
My brief job as a counselor gave me insight for what age I may want to pursue a career working with. It taught me how to work in a team, and it taught me just how attentive I need to be towards three and four year old children. It taught me that children are absolutely exhausting, but worth every second spent with them. These are all things that will help me in the real world. My online class? Sure it taught me about new and innovative ways to cure cancer along with all the reproductive information I could ever have possibly wanted to know, but I would’ve been perfectly content learning all of that in the fall. Or in the spring. I wish I didn’t regret my choice to “try and get ahead” but I do.
So if the values that a summer job or internship hold are more important to you than studying your butt off during the summer, I say put faith in those things. For the next few years all you’re going to be doing is learning, and after those years all you’re going to be doing is working. Let your summers be filled with other things. Things you can still learn from, but not in the academic sense. There’s so much to be learned from children and peers or working with bosses who you don’t quite get along with and learning your place in the hierarchy of the real world if it's an internship you pursue. Real world experience. Summer jobs and internships will give you insight on these things, but a summer class? Not so much. Choose wisely!
