Exploring the Reasons Behind College Students Choosing Summer School
Summer school has long been associated with students who need to catch up on their coursework or retake classes to meet graduation requirements. However, many college students in good academic standing opt to take summer school classes for a variety of reasons. These reasons include getting ahead in their degree plan, lightening their workload during the regular academic year, keeping busy, and enjoying the flexibility and pace of summer courses.
For some students, like Romano, the decision to enroll in summer classes stems from a desire to continue learning and maintain academic momentum. Romano, who is taking multicultural psychology and sociological theory courses, expressed her passion for education, stating, “Now that I’ve got some momentum, I just don’t want to stop learning. I just want to keep going.” Despite facing challenges that prolonged her undergraduate journey, Romano is now focused on completing her master’s degree and plans to pursue a second master’s degree to become a marriage and family therapist for people of color.
Similarly, Moreno chose to enroll in summer classes to get ahead in internship credits and stay busy during the summer months. He acknowledged the benefits of taking courses throughout the summer, noting that it eases the workload for the upcoming semester. However, Moreno also highlighted the potential stress of balancing summer classes with a job.
Pros and Cons of Summer School Experience
While the decision to enroll in summer classes offers various benefits, it also comes with its share of challenges. Merino-Aguirre, an incoming freshman, shared her experience of taking Chem 32 and Math 96 courses to prepare for college and avoid feeling lost on campus. She pointed out that while summer school facilitated the transition from high school to college, it also led to feelings of burnout and laziness due to the lack of a break between academic terms.
Flores, another incoming student, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the advantages of getting a head start in college courses while adapting to the faster pace of learning. She appreciated the opportunity to familiarize herself with the college environment and adjust to the rigorous academic demands.
Phea, enrolled in an asynchronous accounting course, reflected on the challenges of online summer classes, noting that information retention can be compromised compared to in-person instruction. Despite the convenience of completing assignments at her own pace, she acknowledged the limitations of online learning in terms of retention and engagement.
Impact of Summer School on Graduation Timeline
For students like Hernandez, enrolling in summer classes serves as a strategic move to accelerate degree progress and graduate early. By taking additional courses during the summer session, Hernandez aims to fulfill graduation requirements ahead of schedule. While the prospect of early graduation is enticing, she acknowledged the trade-off of a busy summer schedule without a significant break from academic commitments.
Tawade, pursuing a double major, strategically chose to enroll in summer courses to balance his academic workload and graduate within four years. Despite the high cost of summer classes, Tawade recognized the benefits of focusing on a challenging subject like physics during the summer term, allowing him to dedicate more time and attention to the course. He appreciated the personalized attention and resources available on campus during the summer months, despite the quieter atmosphere.
Student Perspectives on Summer School
Sidbiqui, who opted to take oceanography and communication courses at UCLA during the summer, highlighted the benefits of staying engaged in academic studies and maintaining a study routine. She appreciated the vibrant campus life in Los Angeles and the opportunities for extracurricular activities outside of class.
Teki, enrolled in global economic analysis and ethnic studies courses, emphasized the advantages of asynchronous classes in terms of flexibility and pacing. Despite the demands of balancing coursework with sports activities, Teki found the summer semester conducive to catching up on missed courses and progressing towards graduation.
In conclusion, the decision to enroll in summer school varies among college students, with some choosing to get ahead in their degree plan, maintain academic momentum, or accelerate their graduation timeline. While summer classes offer benefits such as flexibility, pacing, and early degree completion, they also present challenges like burnout, high costs, and limitations of online learning. Ultimately, the choice to participate in summer school reflects individual goals, motivations, and strategies for academic success.
