4 Ways To Stand Out In A Short Summer Course

By Julia Dunn on June 19, 2016

For many college students, summer doesn’t exactly mean 24/7 lounging at the beach or leisure reading at the nearest smoothie shop. While these things definitely can and should happen this summer, some students are also getting ready to start summer session classes at their university.

For those who are unaware of the differences between normal academic year classes and summer session classes, summer session classes are much more compressed and faster-paced than normal classes. Even for students used to the 10-week quarter system’s rapid pace, summer session is challenging because classes can last only five weeks (some intensive courses are even two weeks long, four to five hours per day every weekday).

Short summer classes put more pressure on students to perform successfully at a faster speed. With a normal class, students have more time to acclimate to the professor, syllabus, and course setup. Summer does not allow you as much adjustment time in this regard.

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Furthermore, summer session classes typically enroll fewer students than a typical academic year course, which means a smaller ratio of students to instructors exists. You’ll be seen in a summer class, and your professor will be able to give you more attention.

Here are four ways students can stand out to a professor in a summer course.

1. Don’t miss class.

In a two or five-week class, your absences matter and stand out so much more clearly to your professor. If you miss one day out of a two-week class, you’ve missed 10 percent of the class just in that one day. In summer session, fewer weeks in the term means longer class sessions likely every day of the week (for instance, you may have class from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday).

Falling behind is crucial to avoid in summer, since the courses are jam-packed with material and you are expected to keep up with nightly readings and assignments. As previously mentioned, summer classes contain fewer students, so it’s more likely that your instructor will know who you are (or at least be able to match up your name with what you look like). An absence can impact your grade much more severely in a summer class because of the shortened timeline, so unless you become dangerously sick, never miss a session of summer class.

2. Ask questions.

You’ll probably need to ask many more questions anyway given the shortness of summer classes, but either way, make sure to ask questions in class. Your professor will have fewer students to deal with and thus more time to devote to each person enrolled, and you really want to stand out in summer classes so as to secure that A for yourself. Ask questions anytime you need clarification about something, be it a course policy or a material-related question.

3. Be engaged, prepared and thoughtful.

Don’t skip out on doing the assigned readings or critically thinking about the course material in your summer class. When you’re in class, pay attention to what is going on and talk with those around you at appropriate times about what you are learning. Thoughtful comments will contribute to a professor’s opinion of you, which can only get better if you put visible effort into the class. You only have so much time to prove why you deserve an A, and failing to understand this could lead you to a B or C quite quickly.

4. Pour your soul into the subject.

You have almost no choice but to make ancient literature, molecular chemistry, or international affairs your life for the next two, five, or eight weeks. The fast-paced schedule will remain challenging throughout the duration of your course, and it will not slow down for you. The best way to make the most out of your summer course is to truly devote your energy to it. You are privileged enough to be taking an accelerated course for the same number of units as a normal course, so it is best to work with that in mind.

The rigors of a summer course can be tough but extremely rewarding; you will get not only to advance further in your degree pathway (or catch up on it) but also the benefits of smaller class sizes and streamlined lectures that contain all the essential material condensed into a few short weeks. These courses will be over almost as soon as they begin, so ensure that you stand out in class. Professors will reward you for this, and you’ll learn a lot from your experience in such a rapid, intensive course.

You may even make new friends in the more intimate class setting that you can hang out with or study with once the class is over. With enough organization, focus and dedication, you can stay on top of your summer class and leave a lasting (positive) impression on your professor.

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