Taking Summer Classes at Community College: A Comprehensive Guide

Many high school students consider spending part of their summer taking college courses, whether to learn more about a particular topic, demonstrate their readiness for more advanced work to admissions officers, or some combination of the two. Similarly, university students might choose to enroll in community college for many reasons, experts say. Typically, students are trying to catch up, get ahead or make room for additional programs. Community college offers students an accessible, affordable option for coursework.

Options for High School Students

Interested in finding out more about summer college courses that accept high schoolers? Obviously, you can’t simply walk into any college of your choice and sign up for a summer class. However, there are a number of different avenues by which high-school students can register for summer courses at the college level.

Summer Programs for High School Students

This type of program is specifically intended for students your age, so you’ll be mostly among your peers, often in courses specifically selected for your age group. These programs are often residential, or at least give you the option to study on-campus if you’d like, so you’ll also get to experience of living in a dorm, participating in group activities, and socializing with your fellow participants. There are also programs that are offered fully online, to accommodate your busy high school schedule. Not every summer program for high school students that’s run by a college will provide you with college-level courses or credits, so read the fine print. Of course, the experience can still be immensely valuable, even if you don’t receive credit. For example, William & Mary’s online program doesn’t offer credit, but you do receive a Certificate of Completion. You should also keep in mind that taking a college course through a program for high school students does not guarantee that you’ll eventually be admitted to that college or university.

Community College Enrollment

Community colleges often have an open enrollment policy, which means anyone can register for a college-level course without entering a degree program, though there may be age limits and prerequisites or placement tests may be required for certain courses. Since these courses are open to all, your classmates will likely be of a range of different ages and educational levels.

Extension School or Continuing Education

Courses offered through a college’s Extension School or Continuing Education department also often have open enrollment. Some courses may have prerequisites, and some programs have age limits; check the program’s enrollment policies for details. This can be a particularly good option if your local options are limited, or you have to juggle a summer course with a job or other responsibilities. Your classmates might be any age and from nearly any location. Not all online programs are equally well-respected, however, so you’ll need to be careful in choosing a good program.

Read also: Summer Session Policies

Benefits of Taking Summer College Courses

As we’ve mentioned above, taking college courses over the summer while in high school can benefit you in a number of different ways. Besides giving you a chance to show off your academic prowess, college coursework can have significant practical benefits for your ongoing development as a student and your future college plans.

Earning College Credit

Depending upon your eventual choice of college for your bachelor’s degree, the college credits that you complete over the summer may transfer to the college that you end up attending. If these credits can be applied to your degree requirements, you may be able to graduate from college early, which can save you both time and money.

Expanding Course Options

At many colleges, prerequisite requirements will limit your course choices during your first year or two, and you may have to sit through a lot of massive lecture classes on basic topics before you can access the more interesting seminars. Not every high school offers a full range of advanced courses, so you may not be able to pursue the topics that most interest you in as much depth as you would like.

Experiencing College Life

Obviously, college is different from high school-even taking an AP class doesn’t capture the environment you’ll find in college. Immersing yourself in a college environment can help you identify features that you’d like to have in a prospective college, as well as ones you’d want to avoid.

Demonstrating Academic Ability

Taking college courses in high school demonstrates your ambition, your ability to thrive at a high academic level, and your willingness to go beyond what’s expected to pursue your intellectual interests. Do be aware, as noted above, that taking coursework at a particular school doesn’t improve your odds at that institution. The benefit is in the knowledge you acquire and the intangible skills, like time management and self-confidence, that you develop.

Read also: College SAT Deadlines

Potential Drawbacks

There are plenty of reasons why taking a summer college course while you’re in high school might be a great idea for you. However, like any other summer plan, this option isn’t for everyone.

Transfer Credit Policies

Your future college might accept your summer courses only to determine placement, not for credit toward your degree, or they might even not accept those courses at all. Different colleges have different policies for transfer credits, and some can be quite complicated.

Academic Readiness

College comes after high school for a reason-high school curricula are designed to give you the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare you for college.

Cost Considerations

The exact cost of a summer college course can vary depending on the school, the length, and the format of the program (residential programs are more expensive than commuter or online options). If your program is far away, in order to get there, you’ll either have to be comfortable traveling alone, or perhaps allocate additional funds to have a parent travel with you.

Time Commitment

This may seem obvious, but any academically focused summer program will require intellectual energy, and going to school over the summer isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. You’ll be graded on your performance, and a college course may be much more challenging than your high school courses, so you’ll need to study hard and take your course(s) seriously. A college course is a commitment, even in the summer, and taking on that commitment will limit your other options-you can’t leave for two weeks of family vacation in the middle of the summer session, for instance, or participate in a summer program related to one of your extracurricular interests.

Finding the Right Program

If, after you consider these potential pros and cons, you believe that taking a college course over the summer is the right choice for you, you’ll want to consider your options carefully, before you start making plans.

Seek Guidance from Teachers

Your current teachers are in the best position to assess whether you’re ready for the rigors of college-level coursework.

Check Transferability

Summer college courses can do more for you than allow you to build up college credit, but if saving time and money is a major factor in your decision, you want to make sure your credits will successfully transfer to your future college. If you’re confused about anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to the admissions office directly!

Read Course Descriptions and Syllabi

Course descriptions and syllabi can tell you a lot about the course and its workload, from how much reading will be required to which specific topics you’ll cover. Since college courses are often much more narrowly focused than high school courses, you want to be sure you understand what you’ll actually be studying, so that you can choose a course where you’ll feel comfortable.

Seek Firsthand Accounts

A firsthand account of what taking summer college courses as a high school student is like can be invaluable.

Summer Classes at Community Colleges for University Students

Taking community college courses over the summer can free up time in your schedule during the academic year, Cartagena says. This could make pursuing a minor or double major more feasible. If changing your major delays your graduation timeline, community college courses can be a way to get back on track, she says. Local community college classes give students the option to continue learning while they’re home. General education and elective units are popular community college offerings, experts say. Upper-division courses, on the other hand, typically need to be completed at your home institution.

What Are Community College Classes Like?

Many community colleges offer courses year-round, including in the summer and winter. They're typically available in online, in-person and hybrid formats. This can be an attractive option for students looking to supplement their university coursework. However, these courses have the same content and learning objectives as their university counterparts, she says. The learning environment at community college can be different and may “negate some of the difficulty that students experience at a university,” Esparza says. For example, community colleges typically offer smaller class sizes and, as a result, more accessible professors. Tuition cost is another benefit, experts say. Community college courses tend to be more affordable, especially for students financing their own education. Students shouldn’t underestimate what community colleges have to offer, says Sarah Heath, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at Colorado Community College System. As a result, they can offer students access to specialized equipment, industry-recognized credentials, work-based learning opportunities and strong workforce connections.

How Do Community College Transfer Credits and Grades Work?

Grades from transfer credits generally don't affect a student’s GPA at their home institution. Your community college GPA and university GPA stay on separate transcripts, experts say. Credits, on the other hand, do transfer. If you pass a community college course, the credits can count toward your university degree. Each university has its own policy for transfer credits, experts say. Agreements between institutions, which guarantee the transferability of courses, can simplify this process. Students can use various resources to navigate the transfer credit process, experts say. There are state-specific online databases, like ASSIST in California and the Texas Common Course Numbering System in Texas. Transferology, another online tool, allows students to compare course equivalencies across state lines. One of the best resources is your university's academic advising department, experts say. They can verify that courses will transfer and apply to your specific degree requirements.

How Does Financial Aid Work?

Students should be mindful of potential financial aid implications when enrolling in community college, Heath says. To understand how additional courses might affect their current aid package, students can consult their university’s financial aid office.

Can You Take Community College Classes in Other Cities and States?

Many university students choose to take community college classes in other cities and states, experts say. However, transferring credits from out-of-state institutions tends to involve more factors. Before enrolling, consult your academic adviser to ensure credits will transfer, experts recommend.

Additional Considerations for Summer Classes

"Summer" and "classes" probably aren’t words you planned to pair together. While most students imagine their summer spent in the sun and not inside a lecture hall, sometimes taking summer courses can be a smart move. Although you have to give up some free time, summer classes can help you graduate earlier, lighten your upcoming semester workload, or help you catch up on required courses. Summer classes are college courses taken during-that’s right-the summer months. They can be taken in person or online, it just depends on what you are needing to take and what your college offers.

Duration and Pace

While the duration of summer classes varies from one college to another, one thing remains the same: summer classes move fast.

Shorter sessions: These classes last between two to six weeks and move at a faster pace.
Longer sessions: These classes last between eight and 10 weeks and are more spread out.

Balancing Workload

With summer courses in the mix, you can decrease your credit hours during regular school semesters. Once you finish your general education courses, you get to take the fun classes, otherwise known as the courses that are actually related to your field.

Financial Aid

Although there are some scholarships that do help with summer classes, financial aid can often be limited. This means many students have to pay out of pocket per class.

Time Management and Motivation

It’s important to keep in mind that summer classes include just as much information as your normal classes, but in a much shorter timeframe. There is a summer break for a reason. Many students rely on this time to recharge and prepare for the upcoming fall semester. Taking summer classes may mean giving up some downtime.

Planning and Preparation

You know you want to take a summer class, but which one is best for you? Does this class count toward your major? Does it match your interests and strengths? Are you mentally ready for an accelerated course? Summer is the time that many students like to check out-and for good reason! When considering summer classes, you’ll want to make sure you set yourself up for success.

Plan ahead: Build a schedule before summer begins so you know how classes, work, and personal plans will fit together.
Find ways to stay motivated: It can be hard when your peers are studying abroad, traveling, or just having fun all summer.
Get good at time management: Find ways to study effectively and prioritize your important tasks first.
Stay healthy to avoid burnout: Make sure you plan to take breaks and get enough rest before the fall semester.

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