<p>I travelled around the Chapman website and was unable to understand whether this term is mandatory or optional, and other particulars.</p>
<p>Any illumination is appreciated.</p>
<p>It is optional but many, many students take advantage of interterm…the tuitition/dorm room and board is included in your second semester fees so you are not charged any more for interterm…this past year my son would have been home for 7 weeks if he had not done interterm which would have been way too long for him and probably us as the rest of his friends would have started back to school around mid January…he took 1 class but perhaps some kids take 2…he loved being back on campus for interterm and is planning on doing it again this year…alot of film kids take location filmmaking and are assigned to a particular film that an older student is doing or kids just take other classes they need…its a nice way to get an extra class out of the way but certainly not necessary if you want your child home longer over winter break. One negative was that his flight back was pricey because he had to travel right after New Years and those flights just weren’t cheap on that Sat. or Sun. before interterm started…</p>
<p>My son took one last year, and plans to take 1 each term. It’s free, the housing is included, as Corky said, and often that break is too long for the kids.</p>
<p>What I found out this summer, too, was that it is getting harder and harder to get extra summer school GE/Breadth/Core classes at community colleges, and taking that interterm can boost your GPA and speed up your graduation date. He can’t get a summer class due to budget cutbacks at the lower cost public schools for summer, but he can count on taking something during January which will really help. Plus, the classes are really interesting he said. </p>
<p>It also is nice to take a class like that, where it is the only thing they are focused on. There is travel and study options, and although not mandatory, I know many Chapman students that seize this opportunity.</p>
<p>At my other son’s college, the winter term is pricey plus they have to pay extra to stay on campus during that time.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if a student can stay in the dorm at Chapman during Interterm if he or she is not taking any classes?</p>
<p>I don’t know. That is a good question. </p>
<p>Call the housing office. The phone number is on the website and should be in your introduction package.</p>
<p>KIAD: please report back when you find out the answer to your good question. Thanks.</p>
<p>I did ask. The answer seems to be yes.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I called the res life office, asking about dorm closures after final exams (so I can schedule his air back home), and the young lady stated that they don’t close the dorms even for winter break. This seems unusual, and I don’t like throwing rumors out there, but I wanted people to know in case this figures into anyone’s planning.</p>