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When you’re pursuing continued education as a working adult, you may be taking just one or even two classes at a time. You might want to power through each semester to complete your degree or certificate program as quickly as possible, only to find that summer semesters can have distinct challenges and advantages to consider.

If you’re considering whether or not to take summer classes, this post can help you assess how to address potential challenges and plan for success.

The pros of continued education during the summer

Taking classes during summer can have a few strong advantages for adult learners.

Working parents, for example, will have kids off from school. They may be in summer camps, but there’s unlikely to be homework, soccer practice, and weekend events that happen during the school year. This can make it easier for some parents to balance coursework during the summer.

Some schools also offer shorter semesters during the summer. If so, you may be in school for a few weeks less during the summer semesters (though the number of hours you need to spend weekly on coursework will likely increase). This can be preferable for workers who want to get the class done as soon as possible.

The cons of continued education during the summer

While there are advantages of taking classes over the summer, there are some challenges to keep in mind, too.

For working parents, this may mean that children are home more. They may have summer camps, but at inconvenient times, which can be chaotic to accommodate. Younger children may need more attention when they would otherwise be in school, and there’s no after-school care to keep them busy.

Vacations are another important consideration. Many people take vacations during the summer months; this can be challenging if you need to worry about a final exam while you’re sitting on a beach with your family.

And it’s not just your vacations; your coworkers, babysitters, and home health aids for those caring for older family members are likely to be taking vacation, too. This can mean that you’re facing more demanding workloads in the office, and are trying to fill the gaps of support.

How to plan for summer coursework

Taking classes during the summer semester may not be possible for all adult learners, but some careful planning can help you power through if that’s your goal.

Plan vacations strategically

If you want to take a vacation during the summer and take a class, you probably can— you just need to plan accordingly.

Options may include:

• Booking your vacation in the time between when your coursework starts.
• Taking the vacation right after an exam, when coursework may be slightly less demanding and you’ll have time to catch up.
• Choosing a vacation that has a strong internet connection and some downtime that you can use to complete your coursework.

Create a dedicated study schedule

If you’re worried about completing a class during chaotic summer months, creating a dedicated study schedule in advance can be helpful. This includes when you need to listen to lectures, take tests, and complete assignments.

Make sure you account for both when and where you’ll be studying; some adult learners may benefit from heading to a library or coffee shop where they won’t be interrupted.

You can let your family or roommates know that you’ll need one hour of quiet after the kids go to bed twice a week, and that you’ll go to the library Friday mornings to complete your assignments.

Account for more intensive classwork

If your program has shorter summer semesters, that doesn’t just mean you’re off the hook for those credit hours. You’ll need to account for an increased workload, which means allocating more hours per week to each class you’re taking. Take a close look at your syllabus at the beginning of each course.

Consider choosing more flexible classes

Even remote classes have different degrees of flexibility. If summer months may be more demanding at work or in your personal life, flexibility can be your biggest asset.

Look for remote classes that allow you to watch lectures on your schedule, instead of requiring you to be online to watch at certain hours. Some professors may also give you several different days or times when you can take exams.

Let your manager know about big milestones

If you’re taking a class over the summer and may need additional support, let your manager know. Tell them when you’ll have a big exam or assignment, and communicate if you can’t take on extra work that will keep you at the office late.

If your company is paying for employer-sponsored education benefits through programs like EdAssist, they’re even more likely to accommodate you even when coworkers are on vacation.

Not sure if summer classes are right for you? You can talk to one of our academic coaches to help weigh your decisions.