Collecting credits in college is a fine balancing act. You have to balance your interests with major and general education requirements. You have to balance your schedule with course availability. In order to reach your all of your academic goals, there are extra measures you can take to accumulate credits.



Here are three suggestions for earning academic credit during winter and summer break:

1. Travel aboard

Traveling abroad is a most enjoyable experience. You get to immerse yourself in the culture of a foreign country. You're exposed to new people, places ideas and practices, and you can better develop your foreign language skills. You get to see the world from another perspective, and you can also earn academic credit in the process. While other students are home enjoying their vacations, you can enjoy a vacation and do little bit of studying at the same time. Having the opportunity to experience in another country is marvelous; furthering your educational goals in the process is an added bonus.

2. Get an internship

Internships are best conducted while you are in college. Sure you need a break, and it would be nice to have some time off, but you need to start thinking about your career options while you are still in school. Many internships require that you get academic credit for your work, so it's best to score these job starting experiences while you're still in college. Internships give you the opportunity to start thinking about the practical and professional application of your studies in a real world environment. Take advantage of these opportunities, and apply them towards your college credits.

3. Hit up a community college

Community colleges are the coolest places in the world. They're packed with survey and vocational courses, and many of these courses can be transferred back to your university. If you want to spend your winter and summer breaks productively, enroll in a community college class and make sure you can transfer the credits. You can knock out a pesky GE requirement or take a Pro Tools class and learn about editing digital audio files. You can learn how to sew, how to be an accountant or just work on your major. Community college classes are cheap, so if you can transfer the credits, you can really get a bargain.

Summer programs at your current university are also an option to consider. You may have to make alternate housing arrangements, but you can definitely get a head start on your credits. Really consider traveling abroad, it's more rewarding than you can ever imagine. Get college credit for your internships and look at the winter and summer offerings at your local community college. If you stay productive, even when school's not in session, you will be that much closer to completing your scholastic and professional goals.