Is it a bad idea to want to take a class during the summer? Can you list some pros and cons?
Well this is my first time taking courses in the summer, and let me say, it is not that bad. If its one of those 1-2 days a week Liberal courses, it will be somewhat intense work for about a month or so, then bamboozle, its done before you know it. They are usually in the Spring (May-June) and in the Summer (July-August) semesters.
Then there are other courses that are both Spring and Summer (I am currently taking one that started on May 5th, and is ending on Aug 25th :(. ).
Overall, I stopped really being bothered by them, and as long as you spent about 30 mins to an hour on homework for a majority of the week, work gets done.
When the class is done, you have a credit you earned in about 1-2 months, rather than spend an entire fall or winter semester on it. However if you value the lengthy content of a Liberal, then by all means go for Fall or Winter.
An important note, since Spring/Summer courses are less frequent and finish quicker, the course lectures ands labs are longer. A lecture that would have been 2-3 hours in Fall/Winter semester, could be 3-7 hours long in Spring/Summer (I had a 7 hour one this summer, but thank the gods we had two 15 minute breaks, and a lunch hour break).
But for quick completion of Liberals, and as a result, granting yourself less course load during fall and winter, it is definitely a viable option.
I think Kieran also has insight on this, as he is also taking summer courses.
Hope this gives you something to think about :)