Should I take summer courses?

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My first year of college is coming to a close. With that in mind, I've been looking over all my required courses for obtaining an Associate's Degree, and it's getting me a bit worried. By the end of this year, I will have taken seven courses, and I need a total of sixty-four hours to obtain my Associate's Degree.

This is getting me to realize that, if I only go to school from September to June, then it's probably going to take me a long-ass time to complete my degree. My options are taking courses over the shorter semesters after each main semester, or taking courses over the summer. The reason I feel hesitant to do this, however, is because I have become so accustomed to not going to school over the summer that I just couldn't imagine starting now.

For those who have taken summer courses, what is it like? Are the classes easier or harder?

I took classes (June) and worked in a lab(June and July) over last summer. I too was worried about not having the entire summer off like I'm used to. But I still had some of May and August off. So I didn't miss it too much. Just no big gap of increasingly monotonous laziness in the middle. It was a nice change. I'm planning on being busy for some of this summer too. (:

I really enjoyed it though. It's a totally different experience just taking one class at a time. It was much less stressful, in my experience. Though, keep in mind, I just took linear algebra. Really depends on the classes, I suppose. But I thought the one or two classes only focus was nice. I recommend. (:

The condensed time might make some classes more difficult. Though, maybe they'll alter the course content slightly to accommodate for the time compression.
I'd ask around to find out about the particular class you are planning on taking. (:

If you are taking less classes; it is easier.

It also helps keep yourself into good school habits. I always found myself worse-off if I took a summer off.

Another thing to try is take Saturday classes! You can't believe how much better I did with less people in the classrooms. Especially my Lab classes.

Depends on the length of the summer session. If it's quite short, take 1 or maybe 2 classes. That's what I'm doing this summer. I don't want to be in school forever either.

I would say go for it if you can. The pace is much faster since class sessions are shorter, but you can complete more courses within a shorter period of time.

Summer classes are much faster, but also much smaller which makes it better, imo. I went to a school that ran on a trimester system. Normal classes were 10 weeks, and summer classes were either 4 or 8 weeks (depending on the class). Expect to be in class 4 days per week regardless for about 2 hours.

When I was studying for my bachelor's degree, I took a year's worth of organic chemistry in 10 weeks during the summer after my sophomore year. I really liked being able to dedicate all of my study time to that one course, especially since it was quite difficult. I still had most of May and August off, plus a week's break in July, so I didn't feel like I had missed summer vacation. It was actually nice having something to focus on, rather than just being at home all day.

I am currently enrolled part-time at my local community college and plan to take an anatomy course this summer. The class will meet 4 nights a week for 8 weeks, but cover an entire semester's worth of material. So, yes, summer classes can be more intense because you are learning the material in a shorter amount of time. But, you will be able to really focus on that material without other classes and activities to distract you.

I wouldn't dismiss the idea of summer classes just because you aren't used to being in school at that time. You may actually like the change in routine, I know I did.

I've had HORRIBLE experiences with summer classes! First of all,they are just about as expensive as regular classes.The sessions were 6 weeks long,a regular semester of information,mid terms and exams crammed into it.I passed barely.
Warning: DO NOT TAKE LANGUAGE COURSES IN SUMMER CLASSES.Incredibly stupid.

If you are the sort of person who can learn well in an online class format, consider taking just one course in the summer and doing it online. I loved doing my reading assignments outdoors on nice days. I had the flexibility to do computer work, write papers, take exams, etc., on the rainy, crummy days. It hardly felt like being in school, and I was able to earn three or four credit hours each summer.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide!

I am taking a full semester over the summer: four classes anyway. I will be going from May straight through to the end of August, three hours a day. I find they go by SO quickly, even though you are technically in class the same amount of hours. I found them to easier than the longer semesters, not because they are less-challenging, but because I have a better routine with only one class to deal with. Things are more condensed, but you are still required to give a 1/2 credit or 1 credit's amount of work.