Summer can be the perfect time to earn money, rest, or travel. How you spend your summer can also lead to pivotal academic and professional opportunities. 

What do you need to know if you plan to catch up on courses or pursue experiences that will build your resume this summer? Review these tips from academic advisors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to get ahead on summer registration or experiential learning opportunities.

Summer registration

You might consider summer classes because you don’t want your schedule to be so intense during the school year or because you’re already a little behind on credits. But you should also consider whether you want the additional expense of tuition in the summer and whether taking classes will get in the way of other opportunities such as an internship, job, or travel. 

If you are thinking about enrolling in a summer course, talk to your advisor about your decision.

Here are five important things to know if you are considering summer courses.  

1. Signing up: Registration for the Summer 2025 starts March 10 to 14. You have been assigned a summer “early registration” time (the earliest time at which you can register), which you can now view on MyUI. Make an advising appointment soon if you want to talk with your advisor about summer courses!  
2. Course modality: Courses will be offered in a variety of formats this summer—online or in-person, and synchronous or asynchronous. Pay attention to the “delivery mode” of each class to make sure it is at a time and location that works for you.  
3. Session length: Summer courses are more condensed than spring and fall classes and are offered during 12-week, eight-week, six-week, and four-week sessions. If you plan to take multiple summer classes, be careful not to overwhelm yourself by overlapping classes during the shorter sessions and think about which subjects you would feel comfortable studying in an accelerated format. 
4. Transfer coursework: Cost and convenience may lead you to take a summer course at your local community college. If this is your plan, you will likely need to apply (or reapply) to that school as a non-degree-seeking student. Take the time now to get familiar with your transfer school’s website and registration process. Use UI’s transfer course guide to make sure your classes will transfer toward requirements at UI, and be sure to touch base with your advisor.  
5. Cost and financial aid. Summer tuition is not part of the normal tuition you pay during the school year, so check tuition and fees. You may be able to get financial aid for summer if you qualified for federal aid through FAFSA and are enrolled in 6 s.h. of credit or more. Talk to The Office of Student Financial Aid to learn about your options. 

Summer opportunities

Summer can also provide more flexibility for experiential learning that will add to your resume. Now is the time to start your summer internship or job search, and UI has many resources to help you! 

Don’t forget that there are also opportunities to get academic credit for experiences like internships and study abroad.  

1. Internship search: If you’re feeling daunted by the internship application process, you’re not alone. Consider meeting with a career coach in The Pomerantz Career Center to strategize about your intenship search and to hone your search skills or resume. Once you land that internship, talk to your advisor about whether it would help you to register it for credit, and pay attention to funding opportunities such as the Hawkeye Experience Grant. There are several opportunities for abroad internships, too. Learn more in this guide from International Programs. 
2. Summer study abroad. Want to travel while getting some coursework done? Many summer study abroad programs have application deadlines in late February or early March, so you’ll need to act quickly. If you haven’t started the process yet, be sure to review these study abroad first steps. 
3. Summer jobs: Many students rely on income from the summer to help support their education. Keep in mind that your summer job can be an opportunity to build your resume if you look for positions related to your field of study. Some student employment is available for students staying in the area over the summer, and many opportunities can be found on the University of Iowa’s Handshake site. Need help getting set up on Handshake or getting started with your first resume? Stop by The Pomerantz Career Center’s peer advising drop-ins. 

Summer is an important time for taking care of your physical, mental, academic, and financial needs. There’s no one right way to spend the summer, and your advisor is happy to talk through all the possibilities so you can make the best decision for you.