By Hannah Bolandian ’19

While the majority of senior students are looking forward to their summer adventures before college, some will be packing up to leave as soon as two days after graduation.

Although it is only a small percentage of seniors, some of the graduating class will be attending their colleges earlier than others for a summer semester.

While the reasoning differs depending on the student, some, such as Becca Barr ’17, attending Pennsylvania State this summer, will be getting ahead with the required credits. “I’ll be taking a math class and an English class [this summer],” she said. “This way I will get a head start in credits for the fall semester.” In some other cases, students are required by their college to enroll in a summer semester.

Contrary to popular belief, seniors end up looking forward to be starting college early and don’t view it as missing out on their summer fun, “At first I was hesitant about the summer semester, and it was a total con for me when deciding which school I wanted to go to, but after talking to people who had previously done the summer semester, they said that had a really good time doing it,” Barr said.

In addition, Bailey Rizza ’17, attending the University of Michigan, has been looking forward to her planned summer. “I’m actually excited for summer semester, although it’s sad to leave my friends it’s nice to be able to get ahead and get acclimated to the environment of a big school,” she said.

Rizza explains that there isn’t a difference between the experience of a summer semester and the average year of college aside from the fact that fewer people enroll during the summer. In addition, she says she will be taking fewer class over the summer than the fall semester.

Morgan McWhirter ’17, attending Penn State in the fall, feels as if summer semesters are helpful for those who may have more difficulty adapting to the new setting of college.

“After hearing feedback from people who have done summer semesters, I wouldn’t mind doing one if I had to,” McWhirter said, “but I am happy I’ll be home this summer to make memories with all my high school friends.”