School’s in for Summer
by KJ Hamilton

It’s pretty easy to think about summer when you’re in the middle of winter in New England. It’s blustery and two degrees outside; of course I want to think about warm, sunny days sitting out on the Common. There’s still work to be done in the current semester, of course, but it’s also the perfect time to start planning ahead. A semester of school this summer might not be such a bad idea.

Sure, most students readily look forward to the end of the winter/spring term and relish the fact that they can hang up their backpacks for three months. But, for those of us who plan ahead, summer classes can be extremely beneficial. Here are a few things for you to consider.

Summer is a great time to squeeze in a few extra credits. A full load of coursework during the hotter months is usually less than twelve credit hours, which leaves time to explore opportunities outside of the classroom. Internships are an excellent way to gain experience and build your resume. A lot of firms even offer paid opportunities for students, so there’s also the chance to score some extra cash.

You could also study abroad. This would give you the chance to see the world, experience foreign cultures and earn class credit. It would also give you plenty of stories to tell your friends when they return in the fall. Of course, everyone likes to have some crazy tales to brag about.

If you choose to bypass foreign cultures, classes on campus are a bit different from the other semesters. First of all, they are smaller. Your psych class might have hundreds of students during the regular semesters, but not so in the summer. And there’s always the possibility of having class outdoors.

Syllabi are modified to cater to the semester. So, imagine a biology class that normally requires twelve weeks of classes and labs. Now, imagine that same class with the same material (and maybe minus the labs) in eight weeks or less.

I once had a literature professor that required students to read sixteen novels and write six term papers. I was in that class a total of four days when a friend of mine clued me in: during the summer that same course only required four books and two term papers. So, give the harder, more difficult options a chance in the summertime. It might be an excellent time to get anatomy, chemistry, or physics out of the way.

Not only will you have the chance to save yourself a lot of work, but you’ll also save a couple of dollars on books. As with my lit class, there’s only a certain amount of materials that can be required in the summer semesters. You might even get lucky and pick a course with no text requirement at all. That means more money in your pocket, which is never a bad thing.

Lastly, summer is also a great time to look into study opportunities that might not be a requirement. Are you into ecology? Ancient cultures? Flip through the course catalog and see what interests you. We all have those elective hours to fill, so why not spend a semester this summer exploring history in the North End or studying marine life at the waterfront? It could be a life-altering experience.

Ok, stop thinking about those heat waves for a moment. Come back to winter. Don’t worry, it won’t last forever. But, if you want to attend school this summer, plan it now. Get cracking on that internship application, or apply for your student visa. Summer catalogs might not be available until the spring, but it might not be a bad idea to consult your academic advisor for some input on your options. You know what they say: the early bird catches the worm. So, go ahead, get ready to fly.