Making the Most of Summer

By Roxie L. Catts, Director, Advising Resource Center and Coordinator, Undergraduate Academic Advising

With summer just around the corner, many students are already daydreaming about lazy afternoons spent lounging by the pool. Others, however, are planning to take advantage of the academic opportunities that summer offers.

Taking a summer course at the University of Arizona can be a great opportunity for students who are looking to get ahead in their course work or explore a new area of interest. During the regular academic year, students may have trouble registering for some of the more popular and high-demand courses. Less competition for course enrollment makes summer an ideal time to register for these classes.

Summer session at the UA can also be a great time to make up any deficiencies from the past academic year. Students often take summer courses in order to catch up on requirements that were not completed during the year, or to bring up their GPA and maintain eligibility for scholarships or program enrollment.

Most UA summer courses are offered during one of three terms: Pre-Session (May 19th – June 7th), Summer Session I (June 9th – July 10th), or Summer Session II (July 14th – August 13th). This flexible schedule allows students to complete courses in a brief period of time, without necessarily committing the entire summer to school work. Registration for Summer 2008 courses is currently available to students through Student Link.

Summer courses at other universities or community colleges can be another great option for students - especially those who will not be in Tucson. Although many course opportunities do exist at other institutions, students must be sure to work with their UA academic advisors in selecting courses that can be applied toward their degrees. Remember, other schools will likely require that students apply for admission and compete for seats in high-demand courses, so it is best to start this process as soon as possible. It should also be noted that courses taken at other schools will not be factored into a student’s grade point average.

Finally, although summer courses are a fine choice for many students, the value of summer employment should not be overlooked. Regardless of the type of work, summer jobs provide students with valuable skills, a sense of responsibility, and content for their resumes! Those who find work related to their field of study should speak to their academic advisors about the additional possibility of earning internship credit. Students who are considering working this summer should also check out UA’s Office of Career Services for guidance in finding and securing employment.

As always, students are encouraged to contact their academic advisors with any questions or concerns. Advisor contact information can be found through UA’s Advising Resource Center.