Public colleges and universities across the country are surprisingly more crowded than normal this summer as enrollment in summer courses are up this year. A USA Today article looks to the current economy as the source: “High unemployment drives nontraditional students to enroll in college at all times of the year, but a tough economy makes it more difficult for traditional-age students to find jobs and internships, or gives them greater awareness of the need to complete a degree as quickly and inexpensively as possible.” But the piece also acknowledges that there is not one reason behind all students’ actions.

Take a look at some of the buzz about summer course enrollment around the web:

• KPBS in San Diego reports that California Community College Chancellor Jack Scott estimates more than 140,000 students have been turned away from summer classes this year. He credits a “perfect storm” situation due to cuts in the classes offered, people who want to retrain for work, students who want to transfer to other schools and first-time students who want to get a leg up. He says this last group has been especially affected since they receive no priority.
• According to Inside Higher Ed, a Craigslist posting brought to light that students at Columbia Basin College may be selling their spots for in-demand summer courses. Since the school has done away with waiting lists for classes that fill up, any student who knows when someone has dropped the class can try to quickly scoop the spot up.
• ClintonNews.com, covering Clinton, Mississippi, reports that summer enrollment at Hinds Community College is up nearly 60% over last year. In addition to crediting the soft economy, this article also says the changes in Pell Grants are to blame – students can now use such money toward summer classes, and many hope to save money on classes during their summer at home or to have an earlier graduation date. The most in-demand courses are “the traditional college transfer courses such as English composition, music appreciation and biology… [as well as] courses needed by aspiring nursing and allied health students -- human anatomy and physiology, introduction to sociology and human growth and development.”
• For those taking summer courses in hopes of an early graduation, this NorthJersey.com article addresses some of the trade-offs, like a summer job or internship that give you practical experience and exposure to your career field of choice.

Summer may have officially begun, but for fall college applicants, this is just the pre-season to admissions. Now's the time to get a headstart on the process and make things easier come autumn. With three months of vacation, students can kick back, relax, and still have plenty of time to get ready for the piles of applications that await. Here are some tips on how to maximize your productivity this summer and make the fall a breeze:

• Get experience. MyCollegeCalendar.org suggests: "There are opportunities for unpaid internships, local community volunteer programs, domestic or foreign volunteer programs, community college courses, high school advanced credit courses, and other pursuits."

• Explore your college options. Such A Smart Mom says: "Be sure to factor in your GPA and any SAT or ACT test results as you narrow your choices. If you have certain schools in mind, spend time looking over their websites. The National Center for Education Statistics’ College Navigator has great information about graduation rates, freshman student retention rates, admittance rates and financial aid awards for colleges. Simply type in the name of a school near the top of the page in the section aptly labeled Name of School."
  

• Sneak in a campus tour. Steve Cohen at Zinch.com lets us in on a secret: "One real plus of summer visits is that some colleges only conduct personal interviews during the summer months. That’s because admissions officers are usually on the road in the fall visiting high schools. So check ahead and see if the colleges you’re considering will schedule an interview." 
  

• Create a resume. Michael Streich writes: "Summertime offers many undisturbed hours to gather four-year’s worth of high school accolades in order to develop a resume. Students should bear in mind that many applications will have separate forms listing extracurricular activities and volunteerism."

• Have fun. MyUSearch Blog offers the following parting advice: "Use the summer to really reflect on the things that you hold most valuable. If you could do anything, without commitments for one full week, what would it be? When you have that answer, ask yourself why you value that activity so much and think about how college will help make this activity more than just something you can do in your free time.