Why Everyone Is Wrong About Taking Summer Classes

Every student works their butt off from August to May so it’s rewarding to know there is a nice long break to make money, go on vacation, or even catch up on our Netflix queue. Some of the common excuses for not taking classes during the summer are “I want to enjoy my summer while I can” and “I don’t have the time. What if I told you from personal experience that it is the best way to go about your summer? Here are a few reasons that I hope will help your schooling and summer experience.

1. Time Management

Now I know at my school there are three summer sessions, and all of these sessions are six weeks a piece. Realizing this, I still take 15 credits in the summer semester because, even though it's 15 weeks of classes condensed into a month and a half, you can go at your own pace. Most teachers give weekly assignments in the summer, and you have to do these when convenient for yourself. This is not anything out of the ordinary, but when it comes to summer plans your schedule has to be on the ball.

Let us not forget that being able to divide one’s time between work and play is an important skill in itself. As a college student, it is easier to spend more time partying than it is to devote to actual studying and homework, but when dealing with condensed classes, whether skilled at time management or not, a student becomes better at planning in their life.

2. Most are Online

Yes! Many summer classes are online classes. Of course this may scare many students when deciding whether or not to take a course in the summer, but this allows students to make their own schedules. Most students work in the summer time, so going to class can be difficult, but with online courses, you can focus on your studies before, after, or hell, even during work. This gives the student the opportunity to have class whenever they feel like it. I hated the idea of online courses when I started college, but now I prefer them. Let’s not forget it is pretty nice to “go to school” while sleeping until noon and watching Netflix during class.

3. Teachers are Lenient

Maybe this sounds crazy, but it’s true (for the most part) that teachers tend to be more forgiving when grading papers and homework during the summer time. Most teachers understand the struggle of working and going to school, plus the idea of six-week classes. They realize that they barely have enough time to teach the information for the students to have a strong grasp of the content. That being said, it should not suggest that students give little effort, but summer classes usually give the term “give it the old college try” meaning. Unfortunately, for many teachers, they do not realize which or how many summer classes they may have to teach, so their summer vacations are infringed upon also.

Summer classes do not hurt one’s summer as much as they may think. The idea that “if I take classes, then I won’t be able to enjoy my time off” is the biggest misconception. Students can have both; the two are not mutually exclusive. I believe the often forgotten part about taking summer classes is that they will help you get your degree faster!