<p>I just checked out the I'term course offerings. Approx. what % of students return for January?</p>
<p>My gut feel is around 30-50 percent. Pretty broad, I know. D has gone or will go for all that she's been in-country.</p>
<p>Is my sense that first-years are less/least likely to spend Jan on campus correct?</p>
<p>I dunno. Makes sense to me. Any students with an opinion? </p>
<p>D went back for J-term first year but for a 1-unit course that was only the last week. She's planning on a couple of "for fun" courses for a change this J-term.</p>
<p>My daughter didn't do J-Term as a First Year, but she's doing it this year. Last year she ended up pretty bored by the end of January.</p>
<p>I've been on campus for part of Jterm every year so far, and I will be back as a senior. I plan to split my time between reading for pleasure, working on campus, going to the Faculty Film Series, taking a fun class, and maybe a few other things.</p>
<p>Last year I spent a week in DC and then came back for the Get a Life workshop, part of the Women's Narratives of Success Project.</p>
<p>The thing about Jterm is that people trickle in as their activities start, so at first it's empty but as the weeks pass more and more people come back. Many first-years don't come, but there's a lot to do here - I came back for two weeks my first year because I'm always bored at home, and I'll be on campus for the entire time this year.</p>
<p>First years are not that likely to spend j-term on campus, unless they are smart. THe majority of first years think how awesome it will be to be at home for a whole SIX WEEKS!! That is, until they realize that while they have grown and changed, their home lives have not, their parents are the same, and most of their friends have a shorter break than they do. </p>
<p>I worked while i was at home for J-Term my first year jsut to to get out of the freaking house! After first year, people learn that six weeks is way too long at home after a semester of freedom (no offense parents, but it's the truth), and usually they find a way to stay on campus or do something else during that time besides be at home (travel etc.)</p>
<p>LOL, S&P, about both students and parents adapting to changing roles and conditions. So true.</p>
<p>We've been fairly lucky I think.</p>
<p>I tried to convince D that she'll go crazy here for 5 weeks. Nothing doing. One the other hand, I bet she'll do J-term next year unless she can find an internship.</p>
<p>D took one J-term course in Humanities and another in Jane Austen. This year's choices are going to be more recreational, like Italian Cooking or something. I think D feels The End looming and wants to extract every last ounce of Smithiness from the experience.</p>
<p>As a Smithie who never spent J-term on campus except for senior year, to work on my honors thesis, I now can see the error of my ways! Maybe going back to campus for reunion in May reminded me of how wonderful it is to be at Smith with no academic pressure or stress whatsoever. Enjoying the company of friends, and expanding one's horizons with "just for fun" courses or activities -- priceless. For everything else, there's Mastercard.</p>
<p>Of course, being at Smith WITH academic pressure and stress is also a privilege, and priceless, unless you are the paying parent!</p>
<p>
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Of course, being at Smith WITH academic pressure and stress is also a privilege, and priceless, unless you are the paying parent!
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So true. It's a privilege AND it's priceless...but not without cost. (Whimpers...one last tuition payment and then the loans to pay off.)</p>
<p>I think D is looking at classes like Bridge (the card game, not the engineering statics class) and Italian Cooking for this J-term. I hope she takes advantage of the on-going seminars on women and finance.</p>
<p>Are there extra tuition fees for courses taken during J-term?</p>
<p>No, J-term is included in tuition, room, and board for the year. Some fun classes have a small fee for materials, though.</p>
<p>I took Bridge last year, "basic" cooking (didn't seem so basic to me! we made gourmet meals) and massage the year before - I'm hoping that there'll be some sort of movement/dance class offered this year.</p>