Summer Studies: What You Need to Know
Author: Lorin Harris
Read Time: 3 Minutes
Introduction
While most students traditionally take classes in Fall and Spring Semesters, Penn State offers summer course options to all students. The reasons for taking a summer course vary: catching up on credits, graduating early, preferring an asynchronous format…the reasons are different for every student. While it is helpful to have the option to do some schoolwork over the summer, there are some elements to be mindful of before scheduling summer courses--they are a bit different than regular Fall and Summer semesters!
Everyone Wants to Take a Summer Class—but Remember, They’re Faster!
The summer semesters operate in shorter “session” based fragments. Summer session I is 6 weeks: May 13th -- June 4th, and summer session II is also 6 weeks: June 26th -- August 9th. Keep in mind that regular academic calendars in the fall are 15 weeks, so summer sessions are about half the length but still require the same equivalent of work as a regular session course. Because of this, students may have to put in extra time and effort to stay on top of the workload.
Some Courses are More Challenging Online
For various reasons, some courses are harder online. They may be designed to be more difficult and heavy due to the fact that they are online and don’t require the in-person element of exams, quizzes and lectures. Or, the nature of the asynchronous set-up may be more challenging for students--communication is only by email and canvas announcement and it’s on students to look at the syllabus and see when assignments are due. There are no peers or professors there to remind about upcoming exams or deadlines, meet face-to-face, or build connections with. Many summer classes have group project assignments embedded in the course, and it can be challenging to electronically coordinate work and assignments with people of different ages, time zones and responsibilities. Additionally, it is more challenging to access Penn State Learning resources and tutoring resources that are typically available on campus in buildings, so the emphasis on the entire process being virtual learning is heavy. Some people enjoy this but it isn’t favored by everyone, so it’s important to take it into consideration!
Balancing School Activities with Summer Responsibilities
Most University Park students are in-person, on campus during fall and spring semesters--so while they may be involved with extracurricular activities, athletics or jobs, usually the priority is being a full-time student. In the summer, however, most students are at home or working internships/jobs in locations other than State College. Because of this, It can be challenging to squeeze an intense summer course into a summer schedule that may consist of more work, vacations and obligations than a student might see during the school year. Professors and faculty may not be willing to offer extensions or absences for vacations or trips, and that is something to factor in. Working or interning a long amount of hours in the summer also takes time away from classes, and performance in the course could take a hit if students don’t have the time or motivation to be fully committed to the course.
Conclusion
Summer classes are great ways to catch up, get ahead or learn more in any topic. However, it’s still important to know the details about what they require before deciding if they are right for you to take. Factoring in all of the elements about the way PSU summer courses are designed will maximize chances of success in those classes.
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