June, July, August. Those three months of bliss when you can finally unwind from the stress of classes and those pesky final exams. It can be the perfect time to focus on your social life or find relaxing time for yourself. Read a book, get a tan, travel. Who knows? You might even be motivated enough to find a summer job or an internship to earn some extra spending money.

OR, you can do something that will benefit both your education and future. Enroll in summer classes. Okay, so you can call it summer school, but really, how bad can taking a class or two be? Especially when there are so many advantages in doing so!

1. Suffer a whole semester vs. suffer a short amount of time

Most summer classes last about five weeks and meet two to three times a week. If you know that there is a class that you will absolutely dread sitting through for an entire semester, why not take it early? Summer learners also benefit in that they are not distracted by the rigmarole of school year obligations. They do not have to simultaneously worry about extracurricular activities and social obligations. You can focus all your attention on that one class and earn that A grade- no excuse! Balancing academics becomes easier when you have more leisure time, of course. And after you complete your educational requirements, you have the rest of the summer to go on those exotic vacations you've been waiting for.

2. Graduate sooner

Get a jumpstart on the school year and get those core classes out of the way. If you are looking to graduate early or plan to earn a double major, summer classes can prove invaluable. Dedicate part of your summer to a class, and then enjoy easier course loads during the semester. Also, whether or not you decide to stay in your college town or head back home for the summer, you do not actually have to take courses at your college or university to earn credit. Often times, your community college offers classes whose credits are transferable to a range of majors at your own school.

3. Don't kick the habit

After a few months of zero academic responsibilities, it's always rough going back and readjusting to the school year. However, if you never fall out of the loop of learning, it will be a much easier transition for you. Plus, you forget the stuff you learn when you don't practice the material, so summer classes will keep you smart.

4. Make New Friends

Taking summer classes gives you endless opportunities to meet new friends before the school year begins and expand your social circle. The class sizes may be smaller and more personal as opposed to those huge lecture halls where you may not even spot the same person again for the rest of the semester. Trust me, it happens.

Remember that you can always use the summer time wisely. And it doesn't necessarily mean you have to sacrifice fun.

"A lot of school buses" courtesy wheany via Flickr Creative Commons