Thursday, Apr 14, 2022
Planning your summer schedule? Consider adding summer classes to your calendar.
Summer is just around the corner. Though it may seem like the time to kick back and relax, the season can be extremely productive for adults considering going back to school. For many, the summer months may present more opportunities for downtime including a flexible work schedule, reduced time in the office, and if you’re a parent, a break from your children while they’re at overnight camp or participating in summer programs.
This summer, maximize your time off by taking action toward your goals. Here are five reasons why you should take advantage of summer classes.
1. You can re-energize your career by learning something new.
Feeling stuck in a career rut? Signs that you may be in a career slump include a general lack of motivation and disengagement from your work and work environment. Perhaps you feel that you’ve outgrown your role or have few opportunities to learn the skills necessary for career advancement.
If you’re interested in enrolling in a degree or certificate program to give your career a boost, summer is the perfect time to ease back into the learning environment. During Summer Sessions, there are over 100 available courses to choose from and registration is open to visiting students.
2. You can focus on career development.
Embrace the slower pace of summer by honing your experience. Reinforce your skills by taking a course specifically targeted to an area where you’re looking to expand your skill set or keep your skills current. Explore courses in public speaking or writing, develop your leadership strengths with a management class or gain a transferable skill that can help you advance with your current employer by taking a course in business, computer science, marketing or social media.
3. You’ll save money on tuition.
Summer classes present a unique, cost-effective opportunity to save on overall tuition costs. Rider University offers low, per-credit rates for in-person and online courses and other tuition discounts. For example, if you register for four undergraduate summer courses at Rider, you’ll pay for the price of three with our special discounted course offer. Financial aid may also be available for qualifying students.
4. You’ll benefit from smaller class sizes.
Typically, fewer students are enrolled in summer courses than during the fall and spring semesters. This offers a major advantage to adult learners who may be taking summer classes to get a head start on their degree and get acclimated to being back in school.
Smaller summer class sizes create an intimate, yet relaxed, learning environment that can help you to become more engaged in the coursework and begin to feel comfortable participating in classroom discussions. It also presents larger opportunities for building meaningful relationships with your professors and classmates and a chance to receive more individualized attention and support if you need it.
5. You’ll complete courses faster.
Looking for a way to quickly complete your bachelor’s degree? Summer classes give adult learners the ability to take six-week classes during two summer sessions. Take advantage of the shorter duration to work through courses faster, including prerequisites, and be well prepared to move into classes directly related to your major in the fall and spring.
6. You’ll still have a school-life balance.
As a working adult, finding a learning option that fits into your busy life is important. With courses available in-person and online, summer classes allow you to easily integrate your studies into your schedule and the ability to plan a summer vacation or other activities in between. At Rider, summer courses are broken into two sessions. The first session begins mid-May and runs through the end of June. After a break for the Independence Day holiday, classes resume July 5 and run through mid-August.
There are numerous ways to enrich your education during the summertime. Ready to learn more about Rider University’s Summer Sessions and how we can help you make progress toward your goals? Contact a counselor for more information.