Should I take summer psychology classes?

[mandyjoy]

I have completed all required classes for my major (psychology). I need eight classes in order to graduate. I can either take three psych electives over the summer and five in the fall OR take no summer classes and graduate in the spring. I know most of you will probably jump to the idea of doing research over the summer, but I will be doing that either direction I go. If I graduate in the spring, I will still be graduating a year early. Personally, I would rather graduate in the fall, and I feel like taking classes over the summer would look good. I took three last summer and did fine. If I do take summer classes, does it matter which ones I take? I plan on going into clinical psych and would prefer to be in a psychodynamic-based program (I'm aware these are few and far between). Here are my options: Autism Spectrum, Health Psychology, Child Development, and PsychoBio of Sexual Behavior. Which of these would be the best for my goals? Also, should I just stick around until the spring or graduate in the fall? I will be paying tuition out of pocket over the summer, but it will get replenished with my financial aid refund in the fall. Thank you!

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[Never_Give_Up_ljd102013]

*bump*


I am curious about this too! I hope someone could answer this

 

[haRtwin]

I'm not sure which of the questions you are also curious about, but I will assume that it's whether you should take summer psychology courses.

I personally don't think the sequencing of when you take your classes matters, especially if you're taking summer classes for the sole purpose that it "looks good" (one reason that the OP has suggested). The only time I'd recommend taking summer courses is if you're behind in your coursework, otherwise it's best not to rush through the degree.

Other than making you look busy, I don't see what taking summer classes would add to a graduate school application. Personally, I think there are better ways to spend the summer. Conducting research, volunteering yourself for some minimal clinical experience, and studying for the GRE will easily keep you busy for a whole summer.

Students were forced to pay out-of-pocket for summer classes at my undergrad university, and, unless you didn't need to worry about money, it was totally impractical.

Come to think of it, I thought I learned less in the summer classes I took during undergrad. Each class was compacted into a single month, and we jettisoned a lot of material. Anyone know if there's any empirical evidence on how much students learn in courses taught over a shortened summer vs. courses taught during the regular semester? (Would trimester and quarter systems apply here?)

 

[CheetahGirl]

If anyone is curious about which of those choices of classes is best for psychodynamic interests, I vote for child development and health psychology, both present systemic issues that could be involved in assessment of an entire clinic picture. The sexual behavior seems interesting, but could be too specific and you may not want to get into Freud's psychosexual stages just yet without enough scholarly discussion to follow-up (so i'd wait for graduate school). Although, I did love my human sexuality course as an undergrad.

I agree with the above determination that the sequence of classes doesn't particularly matter. What matters is what you do with it after graduation (i.e., job, volunteer, research?).

 

[Spydra]

If I'm understanding correctly you'll graduate a year early whether you take summer classes or not? If that's correct then save your money and skip the summer classes. Unless any of the remaining 8 classes you need will only be offered over the summer there is no reason to spend your own money when you get financial aid the rest of the year. Instead spend your summer doing research, studying for the GRE, gaining hands on experience in whatever area of psych interests you, getting a head start on your PhD application essays, etc. I don't think grad programs care if you take summer classes (some schools don't offer them at all and others are on trimesters) or not as long as you finish your degree in an appropriate manner.

 

[PsychResearch123]

The above posts seem to be spot on. I'm kind of in a similar situation now, and everyone tells me that an extra year of research would be invaluable.

 

[Varian Wrynn]

If I'm understanding correctly you'll graduate a year early whether you take summer classes or not? If that's correct then save your money and skip the summer classes. Unless any of the remaining 8 classes you need will only be offered over the summer there is no reason to spend your own money when you get financial aid the rest of the year. Instead spend your summer doing research, studying for the GRE, gaining hands on experience in whatever area of psych interests you, getting a head start on your PhD application essays, etc. I don't think grad programs care if you take summer classes (some schools don't offer them at all and others are on trimesters) or not as long as you finish your degree in an appropriate manner.

I wholeheartedly agree with Spydra. It's very wise what she said.

 

[Dr_lost]

I will be taking summer Sociology classes. At my university, Theirs two sessions of summer classes (each one is 5 weeks long). I honestly don't know how much I'll really learn in that time because it's moving so fast. That's why I'll wait to take my required Psychology classes during the semesters, since it's at a slower pace (and I'll assume, I'll learn a lot more).

Honestly I enjoy Psychology, so paying my own money to take a summer class isn't that big of a deal to me. My reason behind it is simply to meet my Sociology requirement.