<p>I was talking to my friend (from Yale) about when Penn's winter break is, and he asked me whether I had a final on the last day. Is this information available somewhere? He said for Yale, once they know which classes they're taking, they know their final schedule. If it's not already on Penn in touch or something, when will I be able to find out?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Have no fear, FightingQuaker is here!</p>
<p>[Final</a> Exam Information](<a href=“Office of the University Registrar | Penn Student Registration & Financial Services| Penn Srfs”>Office of the University Registrar | Penn Student Registration & Financial Services| Penn Srfs)</p>
<p>Note: Remember that some classes won’t have finals.</p>
<p>Thanks. Am I correct in assuming that writing seminars don’t have finals? (This seems obvious but I just want to make sure)</p>
<p>Correct. Writing seminars don’t have finals, and many humanities/social sciences courses don’t have finals either. Last year, out of eight courses, only two had sit-down finals!</p>
<p>So jealous, chris w.</p>
<p>Writing seminars have a final paper (if this is the first time you have had to hear the term “Judgmental Synthesis”, I’m so sorry) that is due right before Reading Days (the few days before finals where there are no classes).</p>
<p>Maybe you can answer this FightingQuaker. When making travel arrangements for Thanksgiving and Christmas break, should I assume my daughter will be in class on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and on 12/22? Should I arrange travel after her class times or do the professors routinely expect students not to show up for class that day?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Technically, classes are in session on Wednesday. Sometimes professors cancel those classes, sometimes they don’t. Mine didn’t last year, but the professor video taped her lecture and put it up online. Profs will obviously understand people missing out class on that Wednesday, so I wouldn’t hesitate on booking flights that day. I’m flying out late that afternoon so I can attend my earlier classes. </p>
<p>Even if your D does miss an information filled lecture, it’s not a big deal since she can easily go to the prof’s office hours or get notes from someone else in the class.</p>
<p>People usually “have” class on the day before Thanksgiving (still don’t understand why Penn’s calendar runs that way), but as has been said, many professors cancel the class, and almost all understand if you have travel plans. I would find a syllabus of any classes which meet on Wednesdays and look for notes about compulsory attendance. </p>
<p>As for final exams, students should wait until after their first week of classes to book travel home for the winter. Some classes which have exam slots on December 22 don’t have exams, and the heavy majority utilize the drop/add period to change around their classes, especially during freshman year. Penn’s policy is that you can never miss a final exam because of travel plans, though some professors are more lenient. Either way, it just helps to wait until you know your schedule.</p>
<p>Thank you both for your replies. I hadn’t even thought about final exams being held before the December break.</p>