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At the University of Michigan, a summer break means something different for everyone. Even though the hustle and bustle of the fall and winter semesters have ended, some students opt not to break. Students at the university spend summers doing internships, taking classes, spending time with loved ones, and everything else imaginable.

On the other hand, many students do — take a break. Because the university has so much diversity, people spend their summers doing different activities. “Where is your internship this summer?” is a question that begins to be heard on campus by the middle of the winter semester. In certain colleges and programs, the pressure to find an internship and spend your summer being productive is real. An internship is definitely not required. A program similar to an internship is not needed to graduate, and it is also not needed in order to land a job after graduation. However, the more years spent at the university, the more the expectation of getting an internship grows. Even though it is not obligatory, many students go through recruitment and ultimately spend their summer as interns in their respective fields.

Another common way to summer at the University of Michigan is to take classes! Although this may not sound fun, there are many reasons why a student might consider this option. Whether they are on a four-year scholarship, did not perform well in a class, or simply want to get ahead on their graduation plans, many students end up in Ann Arbor taking classes for some duration of May through August. Whether it is on campus, at home or online, taking a class or two during summer break is very common at the university. Many students look at summer break as a time to get ahead of schedule or catch up.

The third common way that U-M students spend their summer is simply enjoying it! This means something different to everyone. Perhaps, you enjoy summer through an internship or through a vigorous course load. But many students enjoy going home, traveling, and spending time with loved ones. Maybe they go home to work at their job from high school. Maybe they travel and spend time with friends whom they met in Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan student body is diverse in multiple ways, so it only makes sense that students spend their summer in diverse ways.