About Summer courses

 

By: Hassan Abdel Sallam

Summer courses are classes offered during the summer months at colleges and universities (and some schools also offer similar 'winter courses'). 

They are short courses that compress a lot of material into a shorter amount of time. Some are available in-person, and some are offered as online courses. All summer courses help students advance their academic studies and achieve certifications or degrees. Most schools offer an array of options for students to take classes in the summer, and some degree programs, due to the course load, even require students to enroll in a summer session. 

For example, rigorous programs such as those in medical schools, and many of the healthcare fields of study, often require students take a summer practicum or be enrolled in courses during the

summer.

 

The Pros and Cons about Summer Classes

 

The Pros of Taking Summer Classes

While spending your summer inside a classroom may not sound much fun, there

are several advantages of dedicating part of your summer to doing so. Below are

several reasons why you should take classes during your summer break.

 You will be able to make more progress towards getting your degree &

graduating.

 It is a wonderful way to play “catch up” and retake any classes you might have

dropped or failed.

 Summer semesters are shorter than then autumn and spring semesters.

 The class sizes are much smaller.

 You will have a chance to bond and establish friendships with your classmates.

 You will be able to get more individual attention from your instructors and more

opportunities to ask them for letters of recommendation.

 If you are an international student, taking summer classes is an ideal way to help

you adjust to your new surroundings and role as a student in a foreign country.

 Syllabuses will be more concentrated.

 It is a better time to take any required classes that could be a challenge.

 Some classes have the option of being online classes.

 You will have more access to your teachers, advisor, and the college’s financial

aid staff.

 You lesson your chances of becoming a victim of the “summer slide.” 

 You could lighten your autumn or spring schedules by taking one or two classes

during the summer.

 

The Cons of Taking Summer Classes

While spending your summer inside a classroom is beneficial in more than one

way, it does pose some challenges. Here are a few disadvantages of taking classes

during the summer.

 

 They are more intense, and you will be expected to cover a large amount of

material in a fleeting period.

 You will be taking tests and quizzes more frequently.

 Class options are limited due to the number of students requesting them.

 Many types of financial aid packages do not include provisions for summer

classes.

 You will not have as much downtime due to classes, homework, and studying.

 Balancing school and a summer job could become overwhelming.

 You run the risk of suffering from student burnout.

 

For more about Summer courses