<p>A question to all current students. Does anyone know the maximum number of classes one can take during the summer?</p>
<p>Pretty sure it's 2 cu per session.</p>
<p>That's what I thought, but was unsure whether that would allow for four total, as there are two sessions in the summer in addition to a 12-week long session.</p>
<p>There are indeed two six-week-long sessions per summer, and you can generally take 2 cu per session, for a total of 4 cu. I think it's theoretically possible to take more than 2 cu's per session by petition, but that would be insane (a typical summer class meets for 3-4 hrs every day).</p>
<p>Thanks mattwonder, I'll keep that in mind. I was generally debating whether to pursue an internship this summer or take classes, always considering that I want to dual-degree. I felt if I needed to take summer school at some point, its better to handle that early.</p>
<p>I debated the same thing after my freshman year. I'd say go for the classes (as I did) for several reasons:</p>
<p>1) It's hard to find an internship as a freshman. <em>Really</em> hard. If, by some chance, you do get some really cool opportunity (like a freshman program, or something abroad), go for it, but don't try to do OCR (that's for juniors) or hope you'll find a job - especially in this economy. Most Penn freshmen return to their hometowns, and work a summer job like lifeguarding, camp counseling, or flipping burgers. Places that hire interns (regardless of major) prefer to hire juniors going into senior year because they know more and have the potential to work sooner (coming out of school). </p>
<p>2) Summer classes are cheaper as a freshman. It's a fact that tuition increases each year, and a summer after freshman year is a lot cheaper than an extra semester or year at the end.</p>
<p>3) Taking a class or two as a freshman can open doors down the road in your curriculum. Getting one individual required class that's not always offered done in the summer can open up the line in your schedule to take other rarely offered classes, especially in the case of a dual-degree.</p>
<p>Note that when you take summer classes, you pay per course. College classes are the cheapest (~2500), followed by engineering (~3300), followed by Wharton classes (~4200). The summer can be a great time to take math, a science, a foreign language, or a history class. Also keep in mind that summer classes are usually taught by grad students (but of course some of those grad students are WAY better than professors).</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I feel more secure about pursuing summer school now. I didn't know there was such a cost disparity between the schools. I'll have to keep that in mind. What did you do during your time? Did you knock out Gen Ed. or Wharton core classes? Also, what are the implications for financial aid?</p>
<p>I found the cost disparity to be really annoying. I was considering taking a stat summer class (which is in Wharton) but then I saw the prices and I took math instead...</p>
<p>I took MGMT 101 (for the wharton core req't), HIST 202 (british history - for a global gen ed), MATH 240 (just to open up some doors - it's a prereq for so many upper level quant. classes) and MATH 412 to cover a math minor, engineering math elective requirements, and for my wharton stat concentration.</p>
<p>I also think that summer school after freshman year is a really good chance to spend more time on campus when it's most beautiful, less crowded, and more relaxed. Possibly consider taking 1 class each session, or just going for one session because you don't want to work too hard and burn out. (I wouldn't recommend taking 2 classes each session, and working 30 hrs a week, which is what I did - bad call)</p>
<p>sorry if it's a stupid question but when you take a summer course, do you still have a dorm or do you have to make new living arrangements?</p>
<p>Also, how long are summer classes and does anyone know if Econ 102 is offered during the summer?</p>
<p>Summer classes are 6 weeks per session -- so there's one session from May to July and another in July/Aug, leaving you an opportunity for go to school for part and work for part, if you're so inclined. I'm pretty sure Econ 102 would be offered in the summer, though not sure which session; I think most of the basic classes are offered during the summer bc summer session is kind of geared towards underclassmen who are trying to get requirements out of the way.</p>
<p>There is summer housing available, but it isn't necessarily going to be the dorm or the room that you're living in now. Penn closes down most of the college houses during the summer and typically keeps 1-2 dorms open (the high rises) and all the summer residents have to move there; it's probably a cost saving measure not to have every single dorm open all summer long, and it's easier for them to maintain/paint rooms etc. if there aren't any residents around. The other, more cost-efficient option, is to get a sublet from one of the upperclassmen who want to keep their apartment but lease it out bc they're going elsewhere for the summer. You'll start seeing lots of ads for apartment sublets prob starting in March or so, when upperclassmen firm up their own living plans and decide to lease out their places.</p>
<p>this ? is for mattwonder in regards to the post at 12:31 am
in part 2 you said:
Summer classes are cheaper as a freshman. It's a fact that tuition increases each year, and a summer after freshman year is a lot cheaper than an extra semester or year at the end.
does this mean we can take classes as an incoming freshman the summer b4 we start or the summer after our freshman year?</p>
<p>mattwonder, question. If I were able to find a internship (maybe a minority program or something along those lines), should I pursue it at all costs or should I prioritize and determine if I wish to give myself more academic flexibility?</p>
<p>PennGrl09:
I don't know if you can take real summer classes in the summer before freshman year. I know they have a few special programs that are (sometimes remedial) classes targeted at incoming students, but those are rather small. I don't think the general summer classes are available. At any rate, I would strongly suggest AGAINST taking classes before you get to Penn. You'll really have no idea what it is you need, and you should enjoy the summer before going to college. There was a recent thread on this topic.</p>
<p>Chi-town23_33: You're a freshman, right? If you do find an internship targeted at freshmen, and it sounds like an interesting way to spend your summer, go for it. But don't spend time hunting for one, as it's not worth it. (ie, don't try to do OCR. Every year some toolish freshman goes to all the OCR presentations and he/she looks like an idiot.) If you do indeed find out you need more classes, you can always take them in the summer after sophomore year, or fit them into your schedule some other way (trust me, your major/curriculum/planned classes will change. many times).</p>