La Voz

There are too many summer courses offered to just pick a couch and a remote. Some say that sweating it out three quarters a year is more than enough. However, you may find enjoyment in the satisfaction of completing a less desirable class in half the time.

There's always that one required math class which you're dreading to take. Remember, summer school schedules cleanly cut down the torture time from twelve weeks to six. If required courses don't fit your criteria of a relaxing summer, there is certainly a class offered which does.

The academic school year is too hectic to take classes that sound just "interesting." Chances are your schedule is already crammed trying to satisfy those rigid transfer agreements or major requirements. Summer school offers a myriad of classes for you to simply dip your feet into.

If you're an Economics major, go out on a limb and take an astronomy class. At first you may try to calculate the marginal cost and value of this class to your life's overall education, but once your eyes adjust to the darkness of the planetarium, you'll realize that there's a world beyond scarcity and diminishing utility. Being able to recognize Venus's shine on a crisp clear night may even serve you in your romantic affairs. God knows you econ majors need it.

If you're allergic to textbooks during the scorching summer months, take an acting class. Being knowledgeable about theatre will make you a more cultured person overall.

Being in a class with random "ambitious" people might seem intimidating, so sign up for something with a friend. Summer is a great time to take a class with a friend who goes to a different school.

Why not take a dance class with that special someone? If he/she doesn't appreciate your new floor moves, other members of the opposite sex certainly will. Summer school has something for everyone. Taking a course you enjoy will keep you busy, give your summer organization and structure, and keep you socially apt.

Summer school not only offers a plethora of horizon-widening courses, but also a great opportunity to be social and meet new people.

CON

In terms of educational value and time management, summer school doesn't make the cut for knowledge boosting efforts. Simply put, summer school is a waste of time disguised as a time-saving endeavor. Jam-packing six-week courses can be extremely labor intensive and doesn't have much with learning.

In order to be completely productive in any summer school class, multi-tasking is a must. A typical summer school course covers about two book chapters per day and about six chapters per week, which only allows for rudimentary teaching. In addition, it usually takes about two days to master one topic, which is roughly about 12 hours if you are studying consistently for six hours a day.

I don't know of any students who study that way. Some students may only be interested in saving time and settle for a remedial level of education, but to master higher education levels, a considerable amount of time needs to be spent with the books and processing the information.

Summer school may be a positive Intervention for high school students who are falling behind in their classes, but in college, there is no substitute for the quality learning experience during the fall, winter and spring quarters. Most students are not really learning the vital information of a subject and converting that into long-term memory. Students could learn more during a three-month internship related to their major.

Most internships conveniently have longer terms than any summer school class and can be easily obtained by visiting the campus Career Center in the Student and Community Services Building.

Summer school is a joke since it wastes six weeks of your time and teaches you very little. An in-depth analysis of any topic cannot be mastered in only a few weeks.

Without a solid education in the fundamental classes, future success will be close to impossible. If you want to get out of De Anza quickly with a barely passing GPA, go ahead and enroll in a class or two this summer.

But if you want to increase your knowledge, your time would be better spent in an internship.

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