With summer coming up, some students are debating whether they should take a course over the summer or if they should wait until the new school year and take it at night school. We’ve already covered some of the reasons students choose to take courses during the summer, but what about if you have the option to do it in night school during the year? Does that change your thinking? Here, we’re going to provide some tips that will help you decide which is the better option for you.
Now, first and foremost, you should decide how difficult you think the course will be, and whether you think you will be able to complete it well with the added work of your regular schooling. This can be a quick and easy way to answer the question. If you think the course is too hard to do along with your regular schoolwork, it might be a good idea to take it over the summer. If you think you will be able to do it parallel to your schoolwork, there are a few other questions you can ask yourself.
Are you going to have friends that will take the course with you? Though we would not suggest the only reason you take a course is to be with your friends, sometimes having friends with you can make the course easier and more enjoyable. This is especially if you prefer to form study groups instead of studying alone. Another reason you can have to take the course with your friends is that often summer/night school is open to the entire School Board, and it can be intimidating to be in a room full of people you do not know.
Helpful Hint
Doing some courses over the summer can help you be more focused on a smaller number of courses during the school year.
Doing courses in night school can help you regenerate over the summer and come back to school ready to learn.
How tired do you feel near the end of your current school year? This can be a big factor in deciding when to take a course. If the student is feeling burned out, taking the summer to regenerate can be the better choice. On the other hand, if the student is feeling fine and wants to take the course during the summer, it is up to them to decide.
Keep in mind that your night school course will probably not be in your school. Do you have enough time to get there and how will you get back home? If it is far away, do you have enough time left in the day to complete your schoolwork? The logistics of going to a night school class can be one of the factors that help students decide when to take a specific course.
Do you prefer to study online or in-person? Some summer and night school courses are offered only online/in-person. If you have a strong preference, this can be a quick way to decide. If you choose to take an in person course over the summer, do you have a way to get there and back home? If you choose to do a course online, are you able to focus long enough to finish it? What about while your friends are inviting you to go somewhere?
The decision of whether to do night school or summer school can be a difficult one to make (especially as the student is still in school). There are many pros and cons to doing either (or both, if there are more courses the student would like out of the way), The ultimate decision will be will be up to the student and their family. Answer the questions we’ve posed in the article above, and weigh the pros and cons to try to find the decision that is best for you.
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