Summer break is only a few short weeks away. Are you a student veteran who is burned out after two long, stressful semesters, and do you look forward to outdoor activities under the summer sun? You may have a job or internship lined up to get ahead or just catch up with personal finances. However, many students fail to consider the advantages of taking summer classes. You could take a class or two, hold a job, and still enjoy summer activities. Here’s why summer school could be to your advantage.

Summer courses are more fun and are generally easier.
- Professors are human too and want to enjoy the sun just as much as students.
- Courses are less crowded and therefore allow more individual attention.
- The environment is more conducive to open discussions and questions that might otherwise be difficult to handle in larger classes.

UW-Madison offers courses from two to 14 weeks with most courses lasting four or eight weeks. Imagine taking a three-credit class in only four weeks. The Veterans Administration considers six credits during an eight-week summer session as full time, so you can receive full-time GI Bill benefits. It literally pays to attend summer school. You may have been avoiding one dreadful class. What better time to take that class then when carrying a lighter course load and the weather is warm? By getting a required course out of the way you can ease your fall or spring semester credit loads. This also may enable you to graduate earlier than you had previously planned. Some students like to relax after a long stressful school year. However, the general summer session doesn’t begin until mid-June and ends in mid-August. That leaves four weeks before and three weeks after to enjoy the summer fun and you can collect GI Bill for the entire summer.You won’t be alone or bored if you stick around for the summer.

There are a variety of summer activities in and around Madison that you won’t find during the regular school year including:
- Outdoor concerts and movies on the Memorial Union Terrace
- Plenty of fun filled activities in and around the lakes of Madison
- Attending classes in shorts and sandals
- No sidewalk congestion or long lines
- Lots of parties

So why not sign up for a summer course or two? Registration has already begun. And don’t forget your GI Bill and
state tuition grant benefits.