Summer Study
When making plans for summer consider both academic and non-academic alternatives with the following question in mind: What is the best option for me? After a year of structured academic intensity, summer may be time for a change of pace. There are so many wonderful ways to spend the summer:
- Working at a job or internship to gain valuable experience
- Experiencing cultural immersion abroad on a foreign language acquisition grant
- Learning about the community through volunteer activities
- Broadening horizons through travel
- Reading, writing, engaging in the arts or sports
- Summer study (Note: If a summer class is shorter than ten weeks the material will be compressed.)
For some students, summer study is an essential part of their academic plan. It is best to arrive at this decision after consulting with a College adviser. Students generally have two choices for summer study:
- Enrolling in courses at the University of Chicago through the Graham School of General Studies
- Enrolling in courses at another accredited institution
Summer Study at the Graham School
Students taking Graham School courses generally register for one or two classes per session although students enrolling in a three-course sequence (such as physics, language, or civilization studies) take only one course per session. Given the obligations of an accelerated course of study, it is difficult to work more than a few hours per week while taking summer classes.
Financial aid is available for summer study on a limited basis. Students receiving aid for the Summer Quarter use up one of their remaining aid-eligible quarters. For this reason, rising second years generally do not receive financial aid for the summer unless they are able to clearly demonstrate that they will not require financial aid for their final quarter of registration. In general, the Federal Stafford Loan and some external (non-University) scholarship aid is not available for summer study.
The Application for Summer Quarter Financial Aid and Summer Work Study is available in the Office of College Aid. It is due April 15. It requires the certification of your College adviser, so please allow several days for your adviser to complete this form.
Summer Study at another Accredited Institution
Students considering summer courses at other institutions should: (1) read the transfer credit Web page with care, and (2) speak to their College advisers about the feasibility of such a plan.
