<p>I really prefer Yale's exam schedule to Princeton and Harvard's. I know now, from experience of having exams after break, that you're always on edge and it's like you don't have a real vacation. With Yale you can have your rigorous school period and then a few weeks of absolute relaxation, time with friends, and ease. Mucho mejor!</p>
<p>Absolutely agree! I like knowing that with break comes closure.</p>
<p>Yeah, Yale's schedule seems much nicer, but I'm used to taking exams after holiday break because I have school midterms in January. Harvard's reading period is when you don't have class but just study, right? So technically Harvard people don't have to study during vacation; it's just that they can't relax?</p>
<p>Usually a reading period lasts about a week. Some classes observe the reading period by not meeting, some don't observe it; classes without finals usually don't observe it. Having finals after the break makes the break a little more tense, but with the reading period, it shouldn't be all that bad.</p>