When it comes to summer school, there are two opinions. First, those who think it’s a waste of time. Second, those who see it as an opportunity for a head start on the next school year. Chances are, you’re in the latter group.
After all, who wouldn’t want an advantage when it comes to getting good grades and acing that all-important college admissions test? Indeed, summer school days help prepare for the crucial admission test and secure your position in your desired college.
But what happens if you don’t go to summer school? Do you miss out on all those benefits? Will it impact your social and educational life? Not necessarily.
You can do a few things to make up for the lost time. Of course, we’re not just talking about cramming for tests. Check out our guide below for more tips on making the most of your summer if you miss the classes.
Image source: Freepik
Why Do Students Choose to Attend Summer School?
Summer days are meant for enjoying leisure when your school is closed. So, why should one attend summer school instead of enjoying their vacation? An overwhelming number of students and even their parents keep asking questions.
So, here’s our key takeaway for students to attend summertime school.
Most students choose to attend summer school for one of two reasons. They will either attend summer school to get ahead or to catch up with the competition.
Are you a student who wants to get ahead? If so, summer school is a great opportunity to take more challenging classes. As a result, you can get a jump on your coursework. This can give you an edge when you apply to colleges or scholarships.
You will have better knowledge of your courses. Plus, colleges mainly consider summer school attendees as serious candidates. It gives them an edge over others for better admission chances.
If you’re a student who needs to catch up, summer school is also a great option. It can help you catch up on credits and stay on track for graduation. In some cases, it can help you improve your GPA.
What Happens If You Don’t Go To Summer School?
Around 3.8 million students attended summer schools in 2019, before Corona pandemic. However, many of them opted to drop out of the course later. Also, only some students go to summer classes for different reasons.
So, what are the potential consequences of not attending summer school?
Of course, many schools and states have stricter policies for summer schools. Hence, many schools will not allow their students to get into next year’s classes if they skip summer classes.
It happens mostly if students fail in more than two subjects during their regular school days. At this moment, schools will hold back the students. Thus, they must retake those courses to advance to their next year’s school days successfully.
Nonetheless, there’re other consequences of not attending summer school. First, you may need to catch up on your coursework. Also, you might need help to catch up when classes resume in the fall. This can put you at a disadvantage compared to your classmates. In the worse scene, it may impact your grade point average (GPA). And it’s unnecessary to tell you the importance of good grades.
In addition, you may miss out on meaningful opportunities to get ahead in your studies. For example, you may not be able to participate in summer courses or workshops. These can help you accelerate your learning. So, missing the workshops and courses is a hard setback for many.
Finally, not attending summer school can affect your social life. You may miss opportunities to make new friends or participate in social activities with your classmates. Thus, during the summer days, you may feel lonely.
Image credit: Freepik
The Academic, Social, and Emotional Risks of Skipping Summer School
Missing summer school can have a significant impact on your academic career. You may need to catch up on your coursework. This can put you at a disadvantage when competing for grades and scholarships with your peers.
Also, universities and colleges consider summer class attendance a soft sign of students’ career seriousness. The same conception is true for corporate worlds.
So, when you miss summer school, you lose the chance to remain in the good book of the authorities. It can hit you hard during college admission or career jobs.
Colleges will often offer better subjects and scholarships to summer school students. It happens if one attendee and one absentee in summer classes have similar grades. So, before leaving summer school, you must watch out for missed opportunities.
What’s more, skipping summer school can have social and emotional consequences. You may miss meaningful opportunities to make friends and build relationships with classmates. This can be particularly damaging if you’re an introverted or shy student.
Moreover, you lose the exposures that students in summer classes gain. Attending workshops and seminars is an excellent way to expose yourself to better opportunities. Skipping the classes means you let these chances go.
And finally, skipping summer school can lead to isolation and insecurity. You may feel like missing out on the “high school experience.” Also, you may feel like you’re being left behind. It can dent your confidence and affect your mental health. Notably, it happens when your fellows post pictures of their joyful class time.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Time if You Have to Skip Summer School
Have you decided that skipping summer school is the right choice for you? Of course, it’s a brave decision. But, indeed, you don’t have to regret it. There are still some things that you can do to make the most of your time. It will help you maximize the summer days without any penance.
Here are some tips for making the most of your summer if you don’t go to summer school:
- It would help if you took advantage of online learning opportunities. You may not be able to attend summer school in person. Yet, there are plenty of virtual courses available that can help you get ahead. Also, many of them are free too.
- Use your vacation time wisely. Instead of just lounging around all summer, use it as an opportunity to catch up on classes. Alternatively, you should pursue a new passion project. You can attend art schools, a writing workshop, or a beginner-level programming course.
- Plus, you should find other ways to stay engaged in academics. You can sign up for an online tutorial program. Or else, participate in an extracurricular club or camp related to your field of study.
- Also, try spending time with friends and family. Ensure you have fun while taking care of your educational needs. It’s a great way to build relationships and create memories during what could otherwise be a boring summer break! You could go on a cross-country tour.
Alternatives to Summer School for Learning
If summer school isn’t the best solution for you, plenty of other options are available. For example, consider enrolling in an after-school program or an online course. These can give you many of the same benefits that regular summer school offers, but with more flexibility and convenience.
You could look into a study program, internship, or volunteer opportunity that focuses on various subject matters. It can be one that summer school would have covered. These experiences can look great on college applications. It also helps you expand your knowledge differently than traditional schooling.
Finally, if you can manage it, consider taking a learning vacation to explore the subject of your choice. It would help if you tried going on adventure tours too. There’s no better way to get immersed in a new concept than by visiting places associated with it. It’s incredible seeing how it works in real life!
Related: How To Get a Summer Internship
Conclusion
Are you thinking about skipping summer school? Then, you must ensure to weigh all of your options and consequences first. Summer school can help you catch up on missed work, get ahead in your classes, and prepare for the next school year.
If you need clarification on whether summer school is right for you, talk to your parents, teachers, or guidance counselor. You should only finalize the decision with their opinion. They will help you make the decision that’s best for you. Also, consider the alternatives before skipping the summer classes so you won’t regret it later.
