The Practical Benefits of Attending Summer School at Meredith

As it has in years past, Meredith College is offering a variety of summer school courses throughout the summer months. This year, courses will be offered in multiple formats including online, face-to-face, and hybrid.

Brandon Stokes, director of retention and student success, said students often tell him summer school can be an important way for them to catch up on their studies, get ahead, or just keep their momentum going. Reflecting back on his own college years, Stokes said he can relate to both the desire to make progress and the need to balance competing needs.

“Even when I was in college years ago, I placed a lot of value on finding a way to continue to earn credits over the summer months,” he said. “However, as a former first-generation student myself, I definitely understand that many students need to use the summertime to work, intern, or help the family business. That’s truer today more than ever.”

Stokes noted that Meredith has taken steps to make summer school more affordable to help students who are balancing financial need with a desire to continue to progress toward their degrees.

“Not only is tuition less expensive by the credit hour, students who received a Pell Grant at Meredith in the 2020-21 academic year can continue to use that Pell Grant at Meredith throughout the summer,” said Stokes. “The more credits they take, the higher the Pell amount scales. As a matter of fact, I’ve recently seen many Pell-eligible students apply their Pell Grant to Summer School and be able to enroll in 12 credits for less than they’d pay out-of-pocket for 6 credits without the Pell grant.”

Summer school courses cover a range of subjects and are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Some students choose to fulfill general education requirements, others explore a topic for fun. Taking summer courses can also help students complete credits quickly. Sessions include three- and five-week sessions as well as a full-term session that runs May through July.

Summer school offers additional benefits to incoming first-year and transfer students; those who register for summer courses can meet with an advisor and get their fall schedules earlier than they normally would.

“I strongly encourage any student that has the time and means to continue making progress towards their degree in summer school to keep the momentum going,” said Stokes.

Learn more: meredith.edu/summer