Guide to College Summer Classes
This summer, I took my first college summer class- in addition to three jobs and a move. Going into it, I was really nervous; I have never taken a summer class in general, and with so much going on, I was afraid I would develop burnout before the regular school year started. However, the way my course was organized, it ended up being a lot easier to accomplish than expected. It was definitely a lot to juggle everything and it certainly took hard work, but once I built a routine, I was able to make it happen! Here are the main strategies that got me through the summer- and set me up for success in the fall.
1. Build a THOROUGH Calendar
This step is absolutely non-negotiable for me when I plan out my day-to-day routine. With three jobs and course deadlines, it was vital that I was able to make deadlines and adhere to my time commitment expectations. I normally use a wall calendar and a planner, but my internship this summer introduced me to Google Calendar and it is now one of my favorite options. I added my work shifts, meetings, and project work time into the calendar and you can color code the events as well, which helps me to distinguish between my different jobs. As a result, I could make sure that I was assigning ample time to work on weekly assignments. I honestly think that this was the main reason I still had a socially fulfilling summer- I was prioritizing balance! All work and no play (or vice versa) is not my kind of life, so having my calendar with every detail was a game-changer.
2. Openly Communicate With your Professor
Especially if you have a busy schedule, your life will be so much less stressful if you just keep your professor in the loop. My course was called “Making the Most of your Communication Internship”, so it was a given that everyone in class was working. However, I still made sure to be upfront with my professor. Sometimes, things come up (which they did this summer) so I sent over emails asking for assignment extensions. My professor was really understanding and accommodating since she was aware of my schedule and knew that I genuinely needed more time. This also helps to build a stronger professional connection; given that my course was online, emailing was the best way to get to know my professor and receive advice. Your professor cannot help you if they don’t know that you need help- so let them know!
3. Switch Up Study Locations
If I spend too much time at one place (whether it is my room or the library) I start to fall into a rut. Things just get boring or overwhelming. However, summer is the perfect time to switch it up! Plus, you can try new places and explore in the beautiful summer weather. I love to try new coffee shops and shared WFH spaces around Chicago when I do my homework. It makes me feel so professional and *studious* and I end up getting a lot more done. I think that my best spot was doing an assignment on the Lakeshore- it was so relaxing and my friends had a nice picnic after. Sure you are doing work in the summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun!
4. Don’t Stress: A Summer Class Can be Tackled!
For some reason, taking a summer class had me more nervous than when I took five classes last quarter. The class was not even a subject I struggled with- so why was I worried? I think it was because of the thought of summer- this is when students relax, work a summer job, and hang out with friends. I think that going in, I believed the stigma that a summer class means you can’t have fun- but that simply is not true. Especially at DePaul, courses are organized to keep a strong work-life balance for students. We can easily hang out with friends, relax, work, and have fun during the rest of the year- when we take four to five classes! When I changed my mindset, I realized that taking a class was not going to take over my whole life- I had a great summer outside of class too! It is a great way to get ahead of the school year, so don’t worry- you can make it happen!
Overall, I am glad that I took a summer class this year. It set me up to be ahead of my course requirements, so I can now graduate a quarter early! I feel like I was able to challenge myself to do things out of my comfort zone and build a true work-life balance. With this, I am already warmed up to jump into classes next month! Hopefully my tips can help ease your decision to take summer classes in the future- it is a great opportunity!
~ Breanne