Perks Of Taking Summer Courses

By Alexia Puente on July 17, 2016

Summer approaches and while weighing your options, you ask yourself, “Should I take summer courses?”

With more and more students looking to graduate early and fill up their resume, summer becomes a busy time for many undergrads. While the search for internships doesn’t always work out as planned, summer courses are one of the other options students can choose to keep busy during the break.

Summer courses aren’t everyone’s top pick. The shorter semesters ensure that more material needs to be learned at a faster pace, and many classes meet every weekday for six weeks. For students who have only taken fall and spring courses, this adjustment could seem overwhelming.

However, the positives that come with summer courses are very much worth the effort. If you’re ever questioning your summer plans, consider the benefits that come with the summer term.

Here are three advantages of taking summer courses during your academic years.

1. Save money!

One way to save money is to take summer courses at a local community college. Community college courses cost much less than they would at a four-year university. Getting the classes transferred also ensures that you’ll have the credits you need for your degree, which ends up being more cost-efficient in the long run.

Summer sessions provide the perfect opportunity to ensure that your degree plan is fast on track. Many students attempt to stick to the four-year plan to avoid the increased debt that comes with staying on campus longer. Graduating earlier than that can save thousands on tuition — an idea that any student can get behind.

Racking up the credits ahead of time can also grant you priority during registration periods. Registering earlier and getting the courses you need, including any needed prerequisites, will also aid in graduating on time by saving necessary time and money for later on.

2. Spend less time on core curriculum

We all have that one subject that we dread having to take for our degree plan. Perhaps your university’s calculus course has a reputation of handing out F’s, or maybe you’re not looking forward to the long papers required for your literature class. Summer semesters are shorter, meaning you’ll only be in session for six weeks as opposed to 15.

Those difficult classes can be taken at your university or at a community college, but regardless, taking them during a summer term will give you more time to focus on them. You can choose to only take one or two summer courses to dedicate your time to, so you won’t feel as overworked as you would’ve taking those courses in the fall or spring.

3. More flexibility to your schedule

Even if you’re not planning for early graduation, you can save a lot of time by enrolling in summer courses. Many university degree plans will require students to take 15 hours per semester for the four-year plan. Learning during summer semesters will allow you to take the 12-hour minimum during the long year, saving you more time for internships, school clubs, or a part-time job. This can be very beneficial to students attending university in an area rich with opportunity, as summer housing may not always be available near a place where they can find it.

The pros of taking summer courses outweigh the cons, as the rewards have longterm effects on your education and future. Not only will you graduate on time, but you can save thousands of dollars and have more experience to show on your resume once you’ve graduated.

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