College In The Summer? 5 Times It Could Be Helpful
Should you add summer classes to your associate degree plans? The decision that's right for you depends on many factors, but it could be the best call if you fall into one or more of these situations.
1. You Need to Go Fast. The number one reason most students attend summer classes is to get done faster. If your associate degree goal depends on an accelerated timeline, summer semester is one of the best ways to make it happen. Keeping up the accelerated pace can be difficult, but you may only have to do it for one or two summers for this degree type.
2. You Don't Want to Overload. If you have a goal to get a degree fast, the temptation will be to take as many courses in a semester as you're allowed and can fit into your life. And if you only have three semesters rather than four, you will need to fill your schedule even more to accomplish this without taking summer classes. The result could be overburdening. Instead, the addition of a summer semester allows you to avoid weighing down the other semesters.
3. You Have to Fill Prerequisites. Learning institutions are usually unable to offer all classes every semester. And so you may need to craft a strategy to include less common classes or ones with a specific timeline. Adding a prerequisite class that's commonly offered in summer allows you to stay on target to sign up for the following class in the autumn semester.
4. You Like Shorter Classes. Taking summer classes does have one big advantage over taking the same class at other times: the classes are generally shorter in overall length. For a student who isn't interested in sitting through a full three months of a certain subject, for instance, summer classes might be limited to two months. You may have longer days, but you'll be done sooner.
5. You Want to Keep Good Habits. Taking the summer off can mean loosening up on your routine and school day habits. If you've struggled to get into a good place mentally or in your weekly schedule, this could make it harder to get back on track in the fall. Instead, consider taking even just a class or two as a sort of placeholder for regular classes.
Do you have any of these goals or interests? If so, summer might be a good time — or a necessary one — to include in your associate degree strategy. Learn more about summer options and scheduling plans by meeting with a counselor today.
To learn more about your options, contact a school that offers associate degrees.