After the end of a school year, we all know we get excited thinking about summer break.

Some things that come to mind would be beaches, amusement parks and partying all night long.

No more exams, quizzes or projects, and the list goes on and on. 

However, for others who want to get ahead or don’t want to waste any time, taking a summer class can be greatly beneficial. 

From my experience, there have been many times when I have taken a summer class and I have recommended it to other students who can work in a fast-paced class. 

Taking a summer class can help speed up your progress in school or help you get back on track with your progress. 

This all started about two years ago when I didn’t realize I was a little behind with my credit hours because I previously attended school somewhere else. 

Here at UCA, there are usually three different types of summer classes, sometimes a fourth.

There is a May intersession class, Summer I, Summer II, and a summer class that lasts all throughout Summer I and II. 

May intersession is a class that lasts from Monday through Friday for two to three weeks straight. 

There are some that are online or in-person. It is incredibly fast-paced but instead of spending four months on one class, you get the same credit in only three weeks. 

Summer I and II is just another week added to it, coming to a total of four weeks each. 

There were even times when I wanted to get ahead of my degree plan for the sake of not having to take as many classes during the fall and spring semesters of the school year. 

Although, yes, there are a few downsides. 

The first one is that not every class is available through the summer, but there are still many options to choose from, depending on what you are studying. 

It can get very stressful too, especially if you are juggling a job and still taking vacations during the class time. 

I always tell myself that it is only for the moment. It’s temporary and it will be over before you know it. 

There is an outrageous amount of homework in some summer classes. The workload seems to never stop. 

However, it’s only beneficial to you in the way that you can absorb as much information as possible in order for you to pass the class. 

Don’t be alarmed though, not every summer class is like this. These are just some of the things that I’ve experienced. There was one class that I took in the past where no homework was given and everything was done during class. 

So as you can see, it’s not all bad and scary taking a class during your summer break. 

Sure a few people might think you are crazy for taking one just because you want to get ahead, but it will be more amusing once they realize that you are two steps ahead of them.