7 Reasons to Take Classes this Summer

While taking classes might not be everyone’s first choice for a summer activity, there are many reasons why enrolling in a summer semester can be beneficial for your college career.

Last summer Georgia Tech’s campus was far from deserted, with more than 3,800 students sticking around to take classes. While taking classes might not be everyone’s first choice for a summer activity, there are many reasons why enrolling in a summer semester can be beneficial for your college career. 

 

1. Stay on track for graduation.

Switched majors? Interning? Co-oping? Students deviate from the four-year plan for many reasons, but whatever the cause, summer classes are a great opportunity to catch up.

“I switched majors from biomedical engineering to computer science, so I took summer classes to be able to graduate in four years,” said Melissa Tallant, a third-year computer science major.

2. Get the classes you want.

With fewer students registering for classes, it’s easier to snag the courses that fill up quickly during the school year. As registration time tickets are based on credit hours, the summer is a good time for underclassmen to get one of those popular upper-level classes.

3. Fast-paced, but relaxed atmosphere.

The summer semester is only 12 weeks long, so time flies by. Classes are condensed to present the same amount of material, but in a shorter period of time. Even with the compressed schedule, summer at Tech has a different feel from the regular school year.

“Summer semester is still rigorous but definitely more relaxed than the regular school year,” said Jun Park, a third-year pre-dental student. “I’ve taken summer classes for the past two summers. By taking summer classes, I am able to keep my academic semesters between 14-16 credits and still graduate in four years.”

4. Flexible Scheduling.

Want to take classes, but already have summer plans? There may be a way to do both. Tech offers short summer sessions, where students only take classes for half of the summer. The Early Short Summer Session starts May 11, with finals from June 15–17. The Late Short Summer Session begins June 22 and ends with finals from July 27-31.

“Since I was only taking two classes over the summer, I wanted a condensed schedule so the classes wouldn’t be spread out,” said Azka Niaz, a second-year business administration major. These short summer sessions give students flexibility in building their summer schedule and allow them to take classes without giving up their whole summer to school.“I decided to take summer classes because I got the opportunity to be a FASET leader, and I wanted to have something to do on campus for the first part of summer,” Niaz said. “I took classes during the early short summer session before FASET got really busy later in the summer.”

5. Work and take classes.

Because of the scheduling flexibility, some students choose to hold a campus job or internship while taking summer classes. Short sessions and online classes allow students to work part-time or full-time during the semester. In addition, online classes give students the opportunity to earn Tech credits without having to stay in the Atlanta area.

“Last summer I had an internship in Illinois, so my best option for getting relevant coursework while having an internship was online classes through Tech,” said Maria Johnson, a third-year biomedical engineering and computer science major.

6. Opportunity to save money.

Because the summer semester is shorter, mandatory student fees and housing rates are less than in fall and spring semesters. Consider swapping a fall/spring semester for a summer semester, and you could save quite a bit of money.

7. Time to enjoy campus and explore Atlanta.

Labs, tests, and homework may be the first things that come to mind when considering summer classes, but also keep in mind that there is plenty to do aside from studying. Even over the summer, there are events going on around campus and in Atlanta.

  • The Student Center Programs Council hosts the popular outdoor movie series, Flicks on Tech Green.
  • You can enjoy Atlanta’s 4th of July fireworks from the roof of Clough Commons.
  • You can sunbathe and study on the sun decks at the Campus Recreation Center (and work out without waiting for a machine).  

For information about available summer courses, visit the Course Catalog in BuzzPort. Class registration for summer and spring classes opens March 30.

 

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