Class registration for the Summer 2021 semester is just around the corner. Like me, you are probably wondering how to make the most of your time this summer. Having found myself faced with options, I thought I’d share some of my (and friends' and
classmates’) thoughts and insights into the summer course registration process, to help with your decision.
"...when faced with the prospect of another summer with opportunities to travel and socialize restricted, a summer class becomes more than an opportunity to make progress towards graduation."
Many students choose to use the summer semester to catch up, get ahead or retake courses. My first thought was that because I’m progressing as planned, summer classes don’t seem necessary. But, when faced with the prospect of another summer
with opportunities to travel and socialize restricted, a summer class becomes more than an opportunity to make progress towards graduation; the right class could offer something safe and interesting to do over the break.
So, I cracked open the course catalogue and checked the “My Progress” tab on Self Service (you can navigate there from your dashboard on one.bellarmine.edu) to see which summer
classes might work for me, and if any of them sounded interesting. After narrowing down my options, I met with my advisor to go over my options with her, which was extremely useful (as it always is). She went over the different class possibilities
with me and then recommended looking into an internship for credit.
As it turns out, I wasn’t the only one contemplating a summer course—some of my friends have also been considering their options. I thought they might have some valuable experience to share, so I asked them about the application process and
why they chose the classes that they did. “The process was exactly the same as registering for the Fall semester,” Dylan, a friend and fellow sophomore, told me. “I chose both my courses because I need them for my major.”
Another sophomore friend of mine, Sam, said, “My advisor was definitely the best source of advice for registering. Talking to him and getting his input was super helpful.” When I asked him why he decided to take summer classes he also said
it was to help him graduate on time.
“It was nice to stay connected to my peers and the Bellarmine community during the summer.”
When I started asking around, I was surprised how many had experiences with summer classes to share. Philip, a Design, Arts & Technology and Communication major, said he took a general education summer class so he could focus on his major during the
school year. “I decided to take a summer class so I could get ahead and lighten my course load in upcoming semesters,” he said, “I also thought that it would be something enjoyable to do over the summer.” He described the class
as a good experience and told me, “It was nice to stay connected to my peers and the Bellarmine community during the summer.”
The final step in my decision making was perhaps the most important one: talking to my family. My parents are very connected with me, and they had a lot to say about what I might enjoy doing and what the best way to use my time this summer would be. Discussing
my options with them was really helpful.
Currently, I’m hoping to use the summer term to pursue an internship in my field (which I can earn academic credit for!), and the process of considering summer classes helped me get a jump on lining up my summer plans. If you’re still not
sure what you’ll be doing this summer, I recommend taking a look at the course catalog and talking to your academic advisor. The sooner you do, the more options you’ll have to choose from.
Make a good summer great by signing up for a summer class at Bellarmine.
Click here for a summer schedule.
Hello, I'm Bilal Qazi, and I am currently a Sophomore at Bellarmine
University. I am majoring in Communication with a minor in Anthropology.
I am trying figure out what I want to do with my degree. I have loved
my time at Bellarmine so far, and I hope the rest of my time here will
be as good as it has been.