Summer School: Do or Don’t?

May 10, 2011 12:00 pm     Posted in College, Reality  Meg- University of Delaware g+ page

Summer’s for day drinking, wearing cute sundresses, basking in the sun and finding the perfect summer romance. But who says that can’t all happen while you’re still on campus? Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re making the big decision about taking summer classes.


By Meg

1. Money. Taking summer classes, especially at a community college can save you some big money when it comes to your overall tuition costs. Early graduation or part-time student status can make a huge difference at the end of the day.

2. Grades. As much as we don’t like to admit it, our grades are always higher when our social life isn’t so thriving. The week your favorite bar closed for renovations? Straight A’s. The week it re-opened? Not so much. With fewer people on campus, it’s almost like good grades are a certainty. Not to mention that if you take your summer classes at a local community college, it’s almost guaranteed that it will be easier than your regular classes.

3. Jobs.  As far as my experience has shown, all of my job interviewers have been super interested in the fact that I’ve taken summer and winter classes.  It showed them that I had taken initiative to better myself by sacrificing a summer for my own education.

4. Being on campus. So summer classes aren’t all study, study, study. Being on campus in the summer is great. Imagine being able to find a parking spot at the coffee shop every time. Or getting into the bar without a line. Or not having to wait to use the only color printer at the library. There are some major advantages to being on campus during the summer.

5. Friends. New or old, summer bonding is sure to occur when you’re the only ones on campus. You’ve got loads more time to hang out, plus you’ve got to get mighty creative in how you pass the time since there isn’t as much going on in the summer months. I’ve made some of my closest friendships from the one summer class I took.

So now stop dragging your feet about taking a summer class and sign up! It’s a totally different experience than you’re used to and one everyone should try at least once. And really, if you get some classes out of the way now, that 2nd semester of your senior year will be a total breeze. Done and done.

5 Comments on "Summer School: Do or Don’t?"

  1. Emily says:
    Tue, 10th May 20115:20 pm 

    I totally agree! I am staying at my school for the summer and it literally took me 3 days to get an awesome job with major discounts :) My classes are gonna be cake, great gpa boosters. Not to mention studying in the quad while getting some major sun is beyond perfect! DO IT!

  2. Hannah says:
    Tue, 10th May 201110:29 pm 

    completely and totally worth it. the classes are easier and the teachers usually don't want to be there either. i'm taking 4 classes over the summer so i can graduate sooner. it's completely worth it to me! think about it this way….if you can get a class over with in 4, 6, or even 8 weeks during the summer….why would you drag it out over a 16 week semester? that's just painful and boring.

  3. Christine says:
    Wed, 11th May 20112:27 pm 

    My programme doesn't offer summer school, because we have to take regular classes during the summer. It's the best term to take classes though – the weather's amazing, you have enough sunlight that you have energy to do something beyond study, and it's light late enough that you can use that energy. You can't go and enjoy the weather while you're studying in the winter. You can, however, do that in the summer.

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