Suny Buffalo Summer Courses (2024)

FAQs

Are summer courses harder or easier? ›

Summer college classes aren't on the surface “harder”, but some students may find them more challenging, primarily because of the condensed timeline. Unlike traditional college terms, summer courses often compress the same amount of material into a shorter period, which may span from four to eight weeks.

If it's important to you to bump up your GPA, shorten your degree timeline or save on tuition, summer courses may be right for you. But if you prefer slower-paced learning or need a longer break between school years, you might pass on summer school.

Summer Semester

In summer, two or three courses is usually considered full-time, with three to four courses being the maximum.

Inherently, summer classes increase the chance for you to raise your grade point average (GPA). GPA is the total score of all your grades divided by the number of classes you've taken. The more classes you take, the less each grade will impact your overall GPA - giving those tougher classes a little less influence.

Yes, summer classes can impact your high school GPA if they are taken for credit and are recognized by your high school as part of the official academic transcript.

Failed classes count toward your GPA, though some colleges do not count pass/fail classes in your GPA calculation. If you get an F, you still have to pay for the class without receiving any credit toward your degree. What's more, failed classes don't count toward graduation requirements either.

While attending a college's pre-college program does not give you an automatic “in” that school, it does show colleges that you are serious about taking the next step to higher education. The experts agree: summer programs can make a meaningful and positive impact on your college applications.

Summer classes can save you money, set you up to graduate early, and help you knock out general education requirements in an accelerated format. But signing up for summer courses can also mean missing out on opportunities like traveling, part-time jobs, and internships.

For a student that is comfortable with a 15 credit load during the fall or winter semester, the following is a recommendation for summer loads. A student here for 12 weeks should take a maximum of 12 Credit Hours. A student here for 8 weeks should take a maximum of 8 Credit Hours.

Shorter Classes: Depending on your school's summer schedule, you can complete a semester's worth of work in eight, five, or even three weeks. To compare, a regular semester generally lasts 16-18 weeks. On top of that, you will likely only be taking 1-2 classes at a time instead of four or more.

Does taking summer classes help you graduate faster? ›

Faster Track to Graduation

One of the primary advantages of enrolling in summer courses is the opportunity to expedite your academic journey.

Research suggests that students should spend approximately 2-3 hours, per credit hour, studying in order to be successful in their courses. STEM classes often require 3-4 hours, per credit hour, of studying to be successful.

Accelerated classes are usually more intense than traditionally paced courses. They demand more hours per week in class and on homework. Accelerated learning also means less time off. For students with other commitments or who need more time to process new information, an accelerated course could prove too challenging.

One reason why some students may find summer classes difficult is the compressed timeline. Instead of having a full semester to learn and absorb the material, summer classes are often condensed into just a few weeks.