Summer Classes

By: Saba Aamir Staff Writer

Although the spring semester is almost over, it's not too late to think about taking summer classes. I know hearing about summer classes can get tiring. After all, why would you want to spend these following months dealing with classes when you can just enjoy your summer break? However, summer classes are an excellent opportunity to earn credits in a short time, or to get general education courses out of the way.

Summer classes are a huge benefit to university students. With summer courses being relatively shorter than your typical semester courses, students still get a good portion of summer break for themselves. Students are often done with coursework in about half the time they would need during the regular college semester.

Keep in mind that this can be a good or bad thing, depending on how you look at it. Trying to finish a 16-week semester's worth of work in half or less than the usual amount of time can get overwhelming. The material also comes at you fast, giving you less time to take in information, as stated by Best Accredited Colleges. But if you're ready for a challenge, then go for it!

Some students prefer to get general education coursework out of the way by taking summer classes, which also helps them get ahead in their degree program. You might have a course you need to take to graduate that you have been putting off (but it is not relevant to your major), so taking it during the summer is the best choice for you. According to www. education.seattlepi.com, "summer courses let you cross off required classes so you can take others during the fall and spring," and you might even graduate early! Despite all this, the payment for summer courses makes it hard for students to decide if they want to spend extra money on the summer semester. Personally, I found this to be a hard decision. I am taking a course this summer semester, so I do not have to worry about when it will be offered next. However, the payment for the summer course is the worst part.

The University of St. Francis (USF) charges $400 per credit hour, which is not bad, but if you want to take more summer courses, the price just goes up. You can cover the price with the help of financial aid or loans, but that only adds to your student debt loan. So, think carefully!

An alternative to paying less money for summer courses is by taking a summer course at a community college if they offer the class that you are looking for. But check with your advisor to see if you can transfer the credits for the class after taking it at a community college.

University of St. Francis sophomore, Amanda Kouba, states that she decided to take a class at Joliet Junior Community College because the classes are not as expensive as USF. "The cost is important to me, although some other students may not have a problem with it," Kouba said.

Nevertheless, there is a lot to consider when deciding to take a summer class. By taking one, you may realize how helpful they can be in your college journey. However, this is not to force you to take one. At the end of the day, do what is best for you!