<p>At some colleges (i.e. Williams) the "1" in the 4-1-4 schedule is used as a somewhat relaxed term when students take "alternative" classes that do not fit the mainstream core of English/Math/Science/Language/Social Sciences. Some colleges also make this term pass/fail to remove almost all of the stress any course duringh this term might create.</p>
<p>For those current students, what is the J-term like at Middlebury? What are the choices like for classes during this term? How difficult are the classes? Are they generally difficult or easy A's to help your GPA? Could anyone just give a brief overview of the J-term?</p>
<p>The idea of J-term is that it fits a semester's worth of material in one month. Pre-med majors often take organic chemistry, which is a required class, during J-term; it's hellish, but they get it done. If you start a new language at Middlebury, you are required to take that language during J-term, which is also intense. The only exception that I know of is Italian; if you continue Italian into your sophomore year (having begun it your freshman year), you are required to take it during your sophomore J-term. Students are required to spend only two J-terms on campus; their freshman one and then seniors usually spend their J-term doing work for their thesis. J-term classes are not pass/fail, they are graded just like any other class. Every department offers J-term classes; it is possible to take fun classes, however. My freshman year I took a class titled Renaissance Zoography in which we went to special collections in the library, put on white cotton gloves, and studied books printed in 1607 to see what ancient and renaissance scholars thought of animals both real and fictional. For my sophomore J-term I took a poetry writing workshop. A couple other classes that interested me come to mind: East Asian Religions and Food; and Witchcraft and Witch-hunting (a history class about the witch persecutions; those are just approximations of the course titles, I can't remember the exact ones). J-term is always fun, your schedule depends on what class you take. Both my J-term classes met four days a week for three hours in the afternoon. Many people ski during J-term, too. Also, student-led workshops are offered through the College Campus Activities and Leadershop office during J-term; everything from ice fishing to car mechanics to knitting to dancing to baking with chocolate. If a student knows how to do it and wants to teach other students during J-term, they can. Overall, J-term is fantastic.</p>
<p>J-term is God's gift to Middlebury students. J-term is the best time of the year on campus. There are a wide variety of classes to take, some really easy and some extremely hard. You can really make what ever you want out of it. Also there is a wide variety of courses offered that break away of the mainstream core classes. A lot of professors will offer classes that involve their particular research. </p>
<p>When I decided to go to Midd I saw jterm as a negative aspect of the school. In hindsight, Jterm is one of the best parts of college.</p>