College Admissions Consulting Should I Take Online Courses this Summer? Written by Alexandra Rendonon July 12th, 2024 I began my career in admissions at Mount Saint Mary’s University as an admissions officer. While at the Mount, I gained experience working at a women’s college and worked with students from California, Washington, and Oregon. I also managed several campus programs for high school counselors, financial aid and scholarships, and onsite application days. After leaving the Mount, I took a position in the undergraduate admissions office at the University of California San Diego where I worked with both domestic and international high school and transfer students. I gained extensive experience in application evaluation and became a team leader, providing application review training for our evaluations team. Learn More About Alexandra summer activities, summer planning, online learning, Now that summer is in full swing, students should make a plan for how to spend their time off from school. Hopefully this means some time for family and fun, but it’s also a great time for students to explore interests they don’t have as much bandwidth for during the busy school year. This could take the form of a summer job, sports or an activity, community service or a special project. For some students, it’s a time to explore an academic interest. Online courses are an easily accessible way to do this. Before registering for an online course there are a few questions students should consider. Are Online Courses a Good Fit for Me? Not every student thrives in an online learning environment. For the kinesthetic learner, online classes can be especially difficult. Typically, most online courses will require the student to spend several hours in front of the computer per week, and they generally are less interactive than an in-person class. While online classes can be a strong fit for some, before registering for a class it’s important to reflect on the type of learner the student is, and also to consider the commitment level of not only the class, but the required homework and study time. Do I Need to Take Online Classes in Summer to Be Competitive for Colleges? Absolutely not! Colleges do not expect students to take additional classes in summer. They are simply one way a student can choose to spend their time in a meaningful way. Reasons to take classes in the summer include the student having a genuine interest in the subject matter and excitement to take the class, repeating a course where the student initially received a D or F grade, or wanting to take a class to explore a subject they may not be able to take during the school year. Are There Any Classes I Shouldn’t Take in Summer? There are no classes that are necessarily off limits for online courses, however, students should consider the fact that these classes can be faster paced because they may be condensing a yearlong course into just a few weeks or months. This means that it can be easier to fall behind quickly. What Options Do I Have for Taking Online Courses? There are many options for online classes. These include traditional high school offerings, college-level courses, and online certificate programs. Here are a few of the available choices: High School Courses There are several options for traditional high school courses online at both the both college preparatory and Advanced Placement level. A student’s local school district may provide their own online classes, and outside resources like BYU Independent Study and UC Scout have a variety of course offerings. College Credit Courses A large number of two-year community colleges and four-year colleges/universities provide options for online classes. Some specific classes may be geared towards high school students exclusively, whereas others are open to high schoolers or any community members. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Other E-Learning Platforms MOOCs provide all kinds of learners with robust access to educational content. Many top colleges and universities have free courses available on MOOCs; Coursera and edX are two of the best known. While not affiliated with colleges or universities, other e-learning platforms such as Khan Academy and Udemy are additional options for students to learn new skills and subjects for free or low-cost rates. Find out what you can expect from our partnership and view our variety of flexible services. Learn More about Our Services Related Resources Read | Posted on August 28th, 2024 Is a 3-2 Engineering Program Right for Me? Read | Posted on August 14th, 2024 Career Pathways: How Do I Become a Physical Therapist? Read | Posted on May 29th, 2024 How Social Media is Used in the College Admissions Process