Starting in the summer is never a bad idea. Normally 102 takes the longest for students to complete and summer gives you a 6 day a week schedule but completing in 9 or 12 weeks can still be tough. To be honest I would probably recommend starting in the fall, enjoy the last summer before your son starts college and stay an extra summer or two where you can complete one or two of the shorter in a summer to get ahead. If you look at some of the courses like 221 (basic instrument), 222 (instrument procedures) , or 323 ( single engine commerical) they are around 20 lessons, as compared to 28 of all brand new info in 102. On top of that you already have year or two under your belt and understand the town, have friends, have living arrangements. I started 102 in the spring of my freshman year and was hired as a CFI the summer between junior and senior year which was made possible by completing summer courses.