Summer can either set you up—or set you back.

📣 Parents, if your student had a tough semester or is juggling a packed fall schedule, summer is a golden opportunity to reset.
🎓 Students, if you're trying to catch up, get ahead, or just create some breathing room—this one move could change your entire year: take a summer class at a community college.

It’s flexible. It’s affordable. And it works.

This isn’t about filling every minute of your break. It’s about using one class to make your next semester lighter, smarter, and less stressful.

The story that inspired this post

Last summer, one of my students—we’ll call her Maya—was a student-athlete trying to hold it all together. She barely passed a gen ed history class in the spring, and the thought of tackling a packed fall schedule with away games and labs? It made her anxious just thinking about it.

So Maya signed up for Intro to Psych at her local community college. Online. One class. Done by mid-July. That one decision let her cut her fall schedule to 14 credits and finally feel like she was in control.

Her parents didn’t nag. They asked her what she needed, helped her look up what would transfer, and covered the $350 tuition. Everyone won.

Why community college summer classes are a game changer

🎓 For students, taking one class this summer means:

• You can catch up if you failed or dropped a class.

• You can get ahead and knock out a general education requirement.

• You can explore something new without the pressure of a full semester.

• You can lighten your load for a future semester you know will be brutal.

• You can protect your GPA by spacing out difficult classes.

📣 For parents, summer is the perfect time to ask:

• “What’s one class that could make your next semester easier?”

• “Would you rather take it now, or while also juggling labs and clubs?”

• “Have you checked if it counts toward your major or gen eds?”

You don’t have to manage the process—but you can guide the thinking.

What you need to consider before registering

Taking a summer class isn’t just about picking something random. It needs to be strategic.

🎓 Student actions:

✅ Check your degree plan and see what you still need
✅ Talk to your advisor about transfer credit from another school
✅ Confirm whether the course fulfills a gen ed, major, or elective requirement
✅ Be realistic: Are you going to show up for an 8 a.m. summer class?
✅ Look for online options that give you flexibility

📣 Parent actions:

🔎 Help your student navigate the college’s transfer credit policy
📞 Call or email the registrar with your student (not for them!) to confirm transferability
📚 Ask if they’ve gotten written pre-approval from their school before registering
💳 If you’re helping financially, clarify how many classes you’ll cover

Who benefits most from summer classes?

🎓 Students, summer classes are especially helpful if:

• You’re an athlete who wants lighter credits during your season

• You have a heavy course load ahead (think Organic Chem + 18 credits)

• You’re trying to raise your GPA after a rocky semester

• You need flexibility and breathing room next year

• You want to stay on track to graduate in 4 years—without overloads

📣 Parents, if your student is juggling work, sports, or stress, suggest they "borrow time" by moving a class to summer.

Be careful: what to watch out for

🎓 Not every community college class will transfer. Always ask these questions:

• Is this class on the transfer equivalency list for your school?

• Do you need written permission or a transient form before taking it?

• Will it actually count toward your major, or just be extra credit hours?

• Can you handle the pace of a condensed 5- or 8-week course?

📣 Parents, don’t assume. Support your student in asking these questions before paying or registering.

Final thoughts

🎓 Students, you don’t need to spend your whole summer buried in books. But if you want more freedom in the fall, less stress, and a better GPA—taking one class this summer might be the smartest move you make all year.

📣 Parents, your role isn’t to push—it’s to partner. Offer support, ask thoughtful questions, and remind your student they’re capable of taking the lead.

Summer should feel like a break. But it can also be a breakthrough.