<p>Can someone explain the 4-1-4 schedule to me or point me to a thread on it? I'm wondering if it means more breaks, which for a long distance school would mean increased plane ticket expense and more travel during bad weather. </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>is that like what Carleton has?</p>
<p>Elon has 4-1-4:
Classes start in late August and end mid December, there is a 3 1/2 week-1 course-January term from say the 3rd to the 28th, a four day weekend, and spring classes from early February to mid May</p>
<p>MIT has that too. The January session, called IAP is full of short courses, many of them off-beat offerings. Some kids use the time for a prolonged vacation or to take internships and whatnot, but most want to be on campus for this. That means they return to school right after new years, just like students on a traditional schedule. Spring semester starts right after IAP without time to go home, so it really has no effect on traveling btwn home and school. It can really be the best part of the school year! Go here for some idea of MIT offerings:
<a href="http://web.mit.edu/iap/%5B/url%5D">http://web.mit.edu/iap/</a></p>
<p>It can be a chance to study one thing in depth for a short period of time, to take a foreign study trip, or basically to goof off. At some schools (such as Williams) it is required; at others (such as Smith) it is optional. And, yes, it can mean more plane ticket expense and travel during bad weather (unless one doesn't return home during one of the breaks.)</p>
<p>And at some schools the "4" is a guide, and not written in stone.</p>
<p>Good to know. St. Olaf College operates this way, which is why I was asking. </p>
<p>What's the name of that schedule that (apparently) Colorado College does, where they take one class at a time, for 3-4 weeks (?). That sounds really nice, especially with regard to homework!</p>
<p>Macalester offers J-term courses (usually 2 credits, instead of the normal 4), independent study options, & internships. Some classes and groups and orgs offer trips over J-term to other (warmer) parts of the US and abroad. I know a couple of people from Mac and other schools who use January to go abroad because a full semester away won't work (sports, music, scheduling).
It doesn't mean more breaks, just a longer one (1 month) for those not taking J-term classes. Most freshmen go home, a lot of sophomores stay around and just get jobs to save up for future spending.</p>
<p>Colorado calls it the block plan
I think it might be good for some courses and some students- and the schedule does set Colorado apart from other colleges- but it wouldn't work for everyone.</p>
<p>All the material that you otherwise would cover in a semester- is covered in a 1/3rd of the time.
For students who need time to process and absorb material- it could be very difficult.
<a href="http://www.coloradocollege.edu/dept/en/cos/1/blockplan.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.coloradocollege.edu/dept/en/cos/1/blockplan.asp</a></p>
<p>My daughters school ( Reed)
has a one month break between semesters.
about half of that the school is closed- but one or two weeks is taken up with Paideia- a chance for students to teach or take classes that aren't graded, but are outside the norm.
The emphasis is on fun courses- enjoying being at school without * being in* school.
Dr Demento an alum usually comes to do presentations and lectures for example
Steve Jobs in his Stanford commencement address last year, credited a calligraphy class taught during Paideia for his emphais on typography in the Mac interface :)</p>
<p>Several Eastern LACs have that and it certainly isn't a "school shut down for one month break" kind of thing. Rather, intensive short courses, internships, etc. Bates has a 4-4-1 schedule with the "short" term at the end of the year instead of middle. Here is an excerpt from their description:
"Short Term. The Short Term provides an unusual opportunity for a variety of educational programs, frequently off campus, that cannot be offered in the regular semesters. These include marine biological studies at stations on the coast of Maine; geology fieldwork in the American Southwest and Hawaii; and art, theater, and music studies in New York City. ... It provides special opportunities, on and off campus, for those conducting laboratory experiments in the natural sciences. The term also allows for faculty-directed study in foreign countries. ...... Students may complete a maximum of three Short Term units, although only two are needed to fulfill the degree requirement."</p>
<p>one thing you should check on is if schools shut down for breaks
some schools I was surprised to see- shut down even for thanksgiving and spring breaks- requiring students to find other accomodations if they are not going home.
Asheville @ North Carolina for instance</p>
<p>Williams has a 4-1-4 schedule. During the January term which they call Winter Study students take one course which is generally off-beat, fun or something outside of their normal area of interest. First years are required to stay on campus and choose from the course list (which is lengthy), but after that students can take advantage of one of the travel based courses or devise their own study program on a topic or in a place of their choosing.
Winter Study is not graded which encourages experimentation.</p>
<p>Its also a time for accelerated socializing and campus activities, especially snow sports. The kids I know really enjoy Winter Study and consider it a positive.</p>
<p>Having a winter term does shorten the Christmas/Yearend break considerably. From a parents viewpoint this can be a negative, but on the other hand friends tell me that having their college kids hanging around the house for 4 to 6 weeks in January is way too long. Theres a 5 day break after Winter Study, which is a little awkward for long distance kids as its too short to justify a trip. At Williams youre allowed to stay on campus during this time and often of campus organizations sponsor short trips in the area.</p>