WITH WINTER break coming soon, many students are planning how they will spend their holidays. Some students decide to continue their coursework for three more weeks by taking seasonal courses. Seasonal courses offer the opportunity to take classes and obtain credits during the summer and winter breaks, starting almost immediately after the final exam period of the previous semester. Two to four hours of class every weekday is the standard time allocation for a single course, and students may take up to seven credits. The Yonsei Annals interviewed students to gain insight into their motivations and challenges encountered during the seasonal semesters.

Manana Kutlwana Moerane (Fresh., UIC, Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Div.)

   The main reason I decided to take summer courses was the advantage of fulfilling my Underwood International College (UIC) Common Curriculum requirements early. For that reason, I took Critical Reasoning and, out of interest, I decided on Computing in the Creative Social Context, a non-UIC course focused on music. I am very satisfied with my overall experience. From my perspective, the courses were conducted in a way that allowed me to thoroughly study the subject with high efficiency. However, I wish we were given more time to rest before the start of seasonal courses, as the program was rigorous and demanding. For someone who is based in Songdo, commuting from the International Campus to the Sinchon Campus was also a big challenge. There were fewer time slots available for shuttle bus reservations and they did not always fit my class schedule. At times I had to rely on public transportation, which cost me additional time and effort. Moreover, the extreme summer heat and frequent rainfalls made commuting more dreadful.

Lee Chang-ki (Soph., Dept. of Political Science & Int. Studies)

   I have taken five seasonal courses so far and had different motivations for doing so each time. For summer classes last year, I took one major class because freshmen cannot take major classes flexibly in Songdo. The following winter, I decided to take six credits because I was afraid I would not have earned enough credits before next semester’s course enrollment. Also, a class that is usually conducted in English during the regular semester was being held in Korean, which I preferred. Last summer, I took an elective class to get extra credits and a major class that did not open during the regular semester.

   Personally, an advantage of seasonal courses would be the registration process. I am more comfortable with the first-come-first-served method as opposed to the mileage system for the regular semester. Not to mention that for non-major students, it is easier to take College of Commerce & Econ. classes during seasonal semesters because competition is cutthroat during the regular semester.​​ Seasonal courses also provide flexibility since you can drop subjects without hesitation. Another aspect is that I can be exceptionally productive during the break. Five consecutive days of class for three weeks straight is indeed intensive but helps me focus better.

Esra Ceylan (Jr., Dept. of Chemical & Biomole. Engin.)

   My main motivations for taking seasonal courses were the fear of not graduating on time and wanting to be more productive. Last summer, I took an elective course to fulfill my elective requirements. It is difficult to keep track of electives alongside major courses during the regular semester, so focusing on the easier courses during the seasonal semester is convenient. I like how seasonal courses run every single day for three weeks. It is intense but I prefer it to having the classes run over a longer period and disrupting my entire holiday break. The tuition for the classes seemed expensive at first, but it is understandable considering that it is a whole semester’s worth of classes crammed into three weeks. However, improvements could be made by increasing the number of classes for specific courses. The main reason I considered summer classes was to take General Physics and Experiment (1), but it was impossible to register for it due to its popularity. I wish they would open more mandatory courses for first-year engineering majors because one is not enough.

Jang Sae-yeon (Sr., Dept. of Atmo. Sciences)

   The seasonal semester gave me the chance to meet course requirements and to retake a course for a better grade. Colloquially, you could say that I am “buying” my course grades with extra money. Since 16 weeks’ worth of content was condensed into 3 weeks, the stress that I would have felt throughout the semester was also condensed. However, the most notable disadvantage is the cost. Compared to students who take 18 credits, if I take 15 credits during the semester and one 3-credit seasonal course, I have to pay an extra ₩330,000. Moreover, because seasonal courses are fast-paced and demanding, they require a lot of time studying and doing homework. Since I balanced seasonal courses with a lab internship, volunteer work, social life, and a family trip, I was spread thin across many activities. My advice to those who are considering taking seasonal courses is to only take them if you can *keep your eggs in one basket* and focus on coursework.

Shin Ji-hyun (Soph., UIC, Economics)

   I took World Philosophy last winter break to fulfill the Common Curriculum requirements. Overall, the seasonal semester allowed me to immerse myself in class discussions continuously and intensively, while also effectively utilizing my winter break. Because the professor taught with enthusiasm and the workload was manageable with barely any assignments given, I could adjust to the schedule with ease. In terms of the course quality and tuition fees, I found them satisfactory, particularly when compared to the regular semester. However, one thing that bothered me was that I found the course registration challenging. This is because, although a demand survey is conducted before each registration period, the availability of courses does not always align with the results of the demand survey, particularly for high-demand courses. I suggest the university publicly share the survey results and I hope students’ opinions can be more accurately reflected in the variety of courses offered.

Yoon Min-kyung (Sr., Dept. of Business Admin.)

   I have previously enrolled in two seasonal semester courses, namely Principles of Macroeconomics in the 2021 winter semester and Management Accounting in the 2022 summer semester. Due to the pandemic, the former course was held online. Although I was occasionally distracted because the lectures were all video-based, I made the most of it by rewatching videos for a comprehensive review. For the latter course held offline, the professor encouraged an open exchange of questions and answers, which led me to actively participate in class discussions. 

   Seasonal semesters were the best way to make the most of my breaks. Daily classes helped me review the class material efficiently without lengthy post-class study hours. Since every student enrolls in seasonal classes voluntarily by paying additional tuition fees, they tend to be more engaged. The enthusiastic classmates created a vibrant class atmosphere and even motivated me to delve deeper into the course. However, the commitment of three weeks and the intensive workload made it challenging to set long-term plans, such as part-time jobs or overseas travels. Attending classes during extreme weather conditions was also physically demanding.