I have always enjoyed summer school. I took summer classes in both undergrad and in my masters program. Summer was always more laid back. The classes are more compacted because of the shorter time frame, and that meant no filler and just good information that helped teach the subject. And at my undergrad and grad instiution, summer was no different from the rest of the year. Academically, it was business as usual.
Then I took summer classes this summer. Here’s my advice – don’t ever take summer classes. At least, not at CUA.
During the year, the law school is in full swing. The cafeteria is open, you can get a hot meal, and the school does an acceptable job of keeping later hours so that evening students can get their needs met without having to take time off from work or leave early.
All of this flies out of the window in the summer. The cafeteria is closed. All you’ve got are vending machines, which are often unstocked, and don’t accept dollar bills. And, of course, there’s no change machine. None of the academic offices are open beyond 5 PM. And there have even been situations where our classrooms have been locked and classes have started late while a key was tracked down.
We used to get significant support and communication from the administration regarding things like grades, final exams, and the like (even if we didn’t like it). Summer has been hit or miss. For final exams, many of us use our laptops, but we’ve recently been informed to make sure we get our computers read for finals because there will be no computer support during the exam period. During the year, there are at least half a dozen IT guys running around.
The classes themselves are fine, but it’s hard getting used to the schedule.
And the price? The same as during the year.
Sherpa and I were talking the other day, and we both wondered where our money was going. For summer at least, I have no idea. No services, little communication, spotty support. I would have been better off spending the summer playing Grand Theft Auto IV.
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Our administration helpfully explained that the Subway in our building closes at 3pm because staying open later as it does the rest of the year wasn’t economical even though there are more than twice as many people there at night; this is, alas, too typical to inspire much outrage anymore.
hemmm… how “helpful” of them.
Ouch, so why did you go through this torture? Do you graduate early or just not have to take as many classes during the regular semester?
The main reason I did it was to get a little flexibility in my scheduling options.
Unlike the day program, the night program is pretty rigid in the classes we can take. If we don’t take a ‘core’ bar exam class when they suggest we do, there’s a chance we may miss it, because they’re not always offered at night every semester. I took Professional Responsibility, so I can take an elective next spring rather than take that.
Just another example of why night students get the shaft.