Summer school can be a time to catch up or get ahead.
Summer session coordinator Debra Daly said there are more than 3,250 students taking classes this sumer, 312 more students than last summer.
Financial aid is not available in the summer, but students do receive a 30 percent discount off the normal tuition price. Student loans are also an option for students who need help paying for the tuition.
Most often junior and seniors are the students taking classes in the summer either trying to catch up or graduate early.
“Some sophomores take summer classes too, but we see a lot more juniors and seniors,” Daly said. “Most of them don’t realize summer school is such a bargain until they are juniors or seniors.”
The most popular summer classes include physics, chemistry and theology courses. There are also a variety of three-week or five-week sessions.
And the classes do get intense.
“One day equals one week in the three-week session. If a student decides to miss class, they are going to miss a lot of information that was covered,” Daly said.
The maximum number of credits a student can sign up for during the summer is 15. “Essentially a student can complete an entire semester in the summer if they are motivated,” Daly said.
Due to the accelerated nature of the summer courses, students have to be very focused. It can be hard for students who have jobs and have to work, Daly said.
Summer classes are not supposed to be easier and the expectations should be the same.
There are some courses that just can’t be done in the three weeks. “Accounting and History are hard classes that just can’t be crammed in three weeks; that is why we offer them during a five week session,” Daly said.
Another concern is how much information a student can really retain. While accelerated courses may be great to fill in deficient credits, they also lack the repetition of traditional semester long classes that reinforce knowledge and skills.
“We don’t want to jeopardize the quality of the course just because it is accelerated; students are still paying top dollars,” Daly said.
Besides normal undergraduate classes, there are also classes being held for the certified gifted children. The first program is “Ad Astra,” which means, “to the stars.” This program is for seventh-grade and eighth-grade students. The second program is “Arete,” which means “excellence.” This program is for ninth- through 12th-grade students.
There are also two graduate religious affiliation programs on campus in the summer, the Christian Spirituality Program and the Instruction for Priestly Formation Program.