Completing and Transferring Summer Session College Courses

For many of us, spring is still a pleasant daydream. We're feeling glimpses of it on the March breezes now and then, but winter's chill is still nipping at our heels. Our winter coats are still ready and waiting.

That, combined with the fact that mid-terms are looming on the horizon, makes it difficult for most college students to think about summer and fall course registration. But the way many college enrollment cycles work, summer registration is underway, and the time to enroll in fall courses is just around the bend.

After a semester of hitting the books for four or five classes, the last thing you may want to think about is spending your summer doing more of the same. The dog days of August are all about lounging by the pool or working a summer job to save money for the coming school year.

But keep in mind that taking a college course or two in the summer months can have many advantages. You might want to consider taking summer classes if:

- You hope to earn your bachelors degree within four years and feel you may have fallen behind by taking fewer credits during a regular semester.

- You have changed or are thinking of changing your major and need to catch up on your set of requirements.

- There's a required course for your major or general requirements that may be particularly rigorous is in a subject matter that isn't your strong suit. While summer sessions at colleges tend to be shorter and more intense, if you're only taking one course you can devote your full attention to it, instead of dividing your academic efforts between four or five classes.

- You need to get a particular course finished as quickly as possible and your college is not offering it in the fall semester.

- You need or want to take a particular course in the fall semester, and it has a prerequisite that you have not yet completed. Taking the prerequisite in the summer will allow you to meet the requirements to enroll in the fall class.

Taking courses during the summer months can help you get ahead in your degree program or make up for semesters where you may have fallen behind.

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