Summer Stories
Students choose to take Summer Session for so many reasons. Here are a few of the 2024 stories! We hope you find some inspiration and maybe a tip or two for next summer!
Being able to be on campus with fewer students here with the cost of only paying for a 10 units and taking more units than that.
Tip: I would say taking advantage of Prof. Office hours really helped out as well as TA’s office hours and tutoring sessions.
Going to the office hours through Zoom, given to you by your teaching team, is immensely helpful as it gave me more guidance and encouragement. It really makes a difference when you verbally communicate with your professor and/or T.A., because they want to help you. That's their job. The campus is much more roomier and fresher because of the smaller foot traffic during the summer. The campus really feels like it is yours, and the forested environment with its wildlife really stands out during the summer session, which I love.
I was motivated to take summer courses to get used to the university workload. All three courses I took were online, but as an incoming freshman, I was able to learn the structures of assignments, readings, discussions, presentations, and essays. With this experience, I have learned to manage my time around these and I feel confident going in-person for my first year.Tip: When managing a five-week class, the biggest piece of advice I would give is to not procrastinate. It may seem obvious, but the classes fly by. I learned to complete/start any assignments the day it is given in order to not fall behind and give me time to meet with my professor during office hours.
I like UCSC a lot more than where I came from, I worked hard to get into here. Summer classes keep me on campus and also help me feel more in tune with the fact I’m a college student living my own life.
Tip: Spend as much time as you can on campus! I know a lot of people are not taking advantage of how beautiful and unique our campus is. It’s easy to feel super isolated and alone in summer classes, especially when so few of us here. But honestly reach out and try your best to build connections that you’ll see in the actual school year
As a first-generation college student, my motivation to take summer classes stems from a desire to finish college early and successfully. I want to support my parents, who have sacrificed so much for my education. By taking summer classes, I can accelerate my progress and ultimately achieve my academic goals while making them proud. Taking classes this summer has significantly advanced my academic goals, particularly by passing a challenging course in just five weeks. This accelerated pace pushed me to manage my time effectively and deepen my understanding of the material. Successfully completing the class not only boosted my confidence but also brought me one step closer to graduating early and achieving my dreams.
I took summer classes to get ahead on my degree requirements and save money for the Fall.
Tip: Try to do homework in the dining hall if you find it hard to focus alone. The noise and people walking around makes me feel accountable for my work and actually get things done.
I am so glad I took classes specifically at UCSC. As a visiting student, I went on to Rate My Professor to read about the teacher and saw a lot of bad reviews, but I had to take it anyway since I had no option. I took my chances, and the teacher was an awesome teacher. Everything I am studying right now has everything they taught us, and they had time and patience to walk us through the course very well.
Tip: Do not always depend on Rate my professor. Different people have different opinions and experiences.
Ismael Perez
Kai Ando
Pihu Sharma
Robbie Rivas
Mahi Rahman
2024 Summer Session Student
2024 Summer Session Student
