For those who have experienced a summer in Madison, it is easy to agree they are some of the best months to be on campus. There are plenty of reasons a student might decide to stay in Madison during their undergraduate career, including jobs, an inability to get out of a lease or to take classes. Now, taking a class during the summer has become much easier.

UW Madison has decided to increase the scholarship money for those who choose to study during the summer term. Increasing tenfold from the year before, UW has decided to offer $250,000 worth of scholarship money.

There are countless reasons to consider taking a summer class. It can be a great option for someone who needs to catch up on credits or who wants to get ahead in their coursework. It can give students an opportunity to focus all their attention on a difficult course.

This increase in scholarship money makes this option more accessible for many students. The money offered will range from about $500 to $3000 for those who are eligible.

The courses offered span different colleges and programs, and can last anywhere from three to eight weeks long. This is a piece of the chancellor’s initiative to decrease the time it takes for a student to complete their degree.  

An initiative to help decrease the amount of time needed to obtain a college degree is much needed. With the small fortune it takes to pay for an education, the opportunity to decrease the amount of time to receive this education is undoubtedly beneficial.

Along with the increase in available scholarship money, there will also be an increase in the number of classes offered during the summer. These two improvements will help the student body, providing an opportunity that may have been inaccessible to many in the past.

Summer classes are often not what students want to spend their free time doing, but when the course load is only a few credits, it’s more manageable and pleasant than people initially expect. Coupled with the beautiful weather Wisconsin summers offer and the promise of a pitcher on the terrace in the evening, summer classes can be downright outstanding.

The scholarship money is only offered to students who attend University of Wisconsin during the academic year, but they are also open to students who normally attend other universities. Though there is not an opportunity for scholarships from UW itself for students from other universities, it offers the Madison experience to those who may not have the means to attend UW full time.

Overall, there are no downsides in this new plan to fund more students’ educations during the summer months. Whether it be by necessity or to lessen the amount of time spent on an undergraduate degree, the additional funds and classes offered are a way to make it an easier process for everyone.

Whether or not you had planned on staying in Madison during the summer, considering taking a class during the summer is not a bad idea. A few credits during an accelerated course is manageable with a job and allows for flexibility within a degree course.

Ask anyone who has spent a summer in Madison, whether they are based locally or have been employed in the area during the summer. Odds are, the general consensus will be that summers are magical in Madison. With the opportunity to get financial aid in the summer term, taking a class could be your excuse to stay this year, and studying isn’t too awful when you get to hang out on the terrace or sunbathe on Bascom hill at the same time.

Hannah Fricke ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in microbiology and life sciences communication.