Should You Take a Summer Psychology Class?

Graduation season is winding down and university campuses everywhere are easing in their quiet summer season. Many students won’t return to campus until late August or September, but some students, including psychology majors and would-be majors, may consider taking a summer course (either online or face-to-face). There are good reasons for doing so, just as there are good reasons for not doing so. If you are thinking about taking a summer courses, consider the following.

Pro: Why You Should Take a Summer Course

You may want to get started in earnest on your major or you may want to complete a general education requirement;

You got behind—perhaps you dropped a class this or a previous academic year—so you want to catch up so that your course load is normal come fall;

You don’t like being idle and want to keep your critical thinking sharp by taking a college course or, alternatively, you want to take something you will enjoy—perhaps a history or a literature class;

You feel you work best when your schedule is structured, so taking a summer course while also working at a summer job feels right to you;

You are living and working on your campus, so why not get ahead where your degree is concerned;

Your job plans feel through and you don’t think sitting around surfing Instagram for hours at a time or gaming incessantly is a good idea;

You plan to take a tough class in the summer so you can focus on it (e.g., statistics);

You just really like taking classes;

[Insert you reason here and then read the next section . . .]

Con: Why You Shouldn’t Take a Summer Course

You need more structure than a summer class—which moves really fast—can provide;

The summer course is online and asynchronous, two qualities that you don’t like;

The summer course is face-to-face not at an ideal time of day for you (i.e., you worry you may miss a class here and a class there);

Though you are trying to work ahead (or catch up), you realize that it is going to be really difficult to keep up with a quick paced summer class while also working and trying to have some semblance of a social life;

You know you should take a summer class but you have no motivation;

You have a vacation planned that occurs right in the middle of the summer course (really, don’t enroll—and instructors are not generally fans of stories like “but my family always goes to the beach in late June . . . .”);

You tried to take a summer class before and you had to withdraw because it wasn’t a good experience—why might it be different this time around? If the situation is similar, think twice;

You are tired and worn out from academic your 2021-2022—you likely need a break from college-level work;

[Insert your reason here . . .]

There are valid and not so valid reasons to take a summer class—doing so can be very beneficial but it can also be a drag if you are not prepared to do the work. Choose wisely and well.

Good luck!