<p>On CC, I often come across posters who say that they or their kid can graduate in four years (implying no extra cost) with plan X (major change, double major, etc.) but that they will take summer classes every summer. As someone who has taken summer classes, I'm confused by this--summer classes cost money! Even taking a course at my in-state university this summer cost around $2000 for one four credit class. Granted, much cheaper than a semester's COA (tuition, fess, room, and board), but still nothing to sneeze at, IMHO! Are summer classes usually much cheaper than this, or does $2000 just seem like nothing when you're paying $30k-40k a year? I'm curious about the thinking here...</p>
<p>I think my D's summer session Organic Chemistry course (with Lab) was around $2,300 at the local public university, so I think your math is pretty close. There was a compelling reason to take this particular course during the summer. It was this reason, rather than cost-saving, that made taking the summer course worthwhile.</p>
<p>You have some expensive summer courses. Those prices are comparable with private colleges in Massachusetts. The CC my daughter attends is about $130/credit all-year. Local state uni is about $300/credit.</p>
<p>Summer classes at DD's college cost about $500 per credit. That's $2500 for 15 credits. Tuition at her private school is $32,000 per year...could be 45 credits (they are on quarters). While it costs for the summer term, the cost is much less than per credit during the school year. Plus as with an above poster, there was a reason for taking the course during the summer as opposed to during the school year.</p>
<p>The benefit is not in saving money, but in graduating with a double major or more.</p>
<p>I recall talking to a student in a summer course one year that failed the class during the regular year. He said that he preferred the small class size in the summer course as opposed to the large lecture-hall format during the regular school year.</p>
<p>question, You are absolutely right! I have the same problem with others suggesting that you can just go to summer school. That is a possible for the wealthy, but a strain on the lower income students, or those that are middle class. My son took a class at a cc and it only cost $300. The key is to get it approved by one's 4 year school in advance. I don't know that all 4 year schools are jumping to accept those credits. Also, my son could have taken a similar class online through a low ranked instate 4 year public school, but that would have cost $1000. It would have been hard to pay that $1000.</p>
<p>question
summer sessions cost money...yes!!
S's program in Sports Management requires a practicum worth credits during the summer following their soph year. They fail to inform you in their literature that you will pay extra for this "privilege" and that any scholarships the student may have for the academic year won't help cover these required costs.Fortunately, S found a practicum that paid some wage,but not nearly the cost of the credits.Most kids work for free.
They also require an internship during the senior year in order to graduate. If the student can't fit in or arrange that final experience during the senior academic calendar year (due to other reqs, etc) then the same scenario will play out...paying for an extra semester.
I'm sure many parents have butted up against this scenario with many different majors at many insitutions.</p>
<p>My son attend a LAC during the year and wanted to take a lab course during the summer to lighten his fall semester load while interviewing for medical school and to finish a double major. He was on partial scholarship during the school year, but the scholarship could not be used during the summer. My son inquired if he were to finish after fall semester could he use the scholarship for the summer session and not the following spring. It was a no go; the money was to be used for 8 semesters, fall and spring only. This made no sense to me, but we could not convince the school otherwise. We ended up paying for the course during the summer at private school tuition rates!</p>
<p>"Summer classes at DD's college cost about $500 per credit. That's $2500 for 15 credits."
???????????? $500x 15 = $7500
But then 5:19 am is early ;)</p>
<p>But, if the student can graduate a year earlier and thus enters the workforce a year early then they can more than recoup the extra cost of the summer sessions. Every year delayed from entering the workforce is a net cost. Stretching to the 5th or even 6th year for some not only costs in tuition and other school charges, it costs them the lost salary.</p>
<p>I'm not a big fan of summer classes if it requires a student to also pay for a dorm or apt.</p>
<p>Summer classes are expensive and when you add dorm costs on top of that - yikes.</p>
<p>Some kids go take summer classes at their local univ so that they can live at home in the summer. That save a bit of money. But those summer classes can still cost upwards of 2000 or more.</p>
<p>I know a number of kids who did summer classes after they changed majors to "catch up" and graduate on time. I know a few who graduated a semester early which saved quite a bit in costs and gave them a jump on the job search. They returned to the grad ceremonies in June however.</p>
<p>D took a summer course at a local public uni to make up for a class she dropped earlier due to illness. Taking a single summer course was not particularly expensive ($700 for 3 credits) and because it started at 5:30pm, it did not interfere with her summer job. Also, catching up in the summer meant she did not have to carry additional courses during the year; this was important because a regular course load for her includes courses with additional lab and studio hours.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>That's $2500 for 15 credits.>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Oops...my mistake. It was $250 a credit...not $2500 for 15. Still...a bargain compared to the regular tuition of 11,000 per quarter or $700 plus per credit.</p>
<p>Between my junior and senior years, I took summer school classes at a college that I was considering for law school. I knew that it was considered more rigorous than the school I was regularly attending, and I wanted to do well and get a recommendation from a professor at that school. The strategy worked, and while it was expensive, it was worth it to me.</p>