Summer Session is here! Some Handy Tips

Summer Session courses are a great way to get a little closer to completing your degree. There are a wide range of courses to choose from. The following are some tried-and-true tips from seasoned students:

Plan your time commitment

Figure out how much time you’ll need to spend on your courses, considering how many you are taking, the content, and the length of each. The longest courses are only twelve weeks long, so the summer semester tends to fly by fast! However, this does mean you will probably need more time for course work each day than you would for a 16-week course.

Develop your strategy

With the beautiful weather beckoning everyone to have fun outside, it’s especially important to develop an iron-clad study strategy. Try to minimize distractions and interruptions. Seek ways to fit your recreational activities around your courses–not vice versa!

Get your ducks in a row

Before your courses begin, make sure your books or any other supplemental course materials are ready to go. Given the short duration of summer courses, it’s more difficult to catch up if you don’t have your materials at the start. 

Familiarize yourself with course expectations

Carefully read through the syllabus and course schedule for readings, assignments, or discussion post and response deadlines. Keep track of due dates because they can come up quickly in a compressed summer course. 

Know the deadlines to drop courses

Keep in mind you can drop a course without record if you do this in a timely manner. Shorter courses may have different drop dates, so make sure to know your deadlines. If you have financial aid, check to make sure that dropping a course won’t affect your eligibility. 

Reach out

If you have any questions, reach out to your professor, virtual mentor, or fellow students. Don’t wait until things get out of hand. Consider joining or initiating a study group or buddying up with a study partner to help keep on top of your studies.

Happy studying!

Your reward will be enjoying the rest of your summer knowing you’re that much closer to your degree!

-Ruth Wilson, WSU Global Virtual Mentor