<p>how do you convert from 4-1-4 to semester?</p>
<p>Colleges with 4-1-4 usually start in late August and go until mid-December, than a short holiday break, then a 4-week January (or “J”) term beginning right after New Year’s Day, then the final 4 months start in early February and run until late May. The January term is usually used for a single intensive course that basically crams in as much in 1 month as you’d usually get in 4 months spread over 4 courses. But this varies; sometimes the J-term is shorter and counts only a half-credit. Lots of students at 4-1-4 schools report that they really like it: it’s a welcome change of pace, it gives you an opportunity to focus on one subject intensively and master it in a short time without distractions from other classes, and for many people it’s an opportunity to experiment with something new, outside their usual studies. Some schools also offer internship or travel/study options during this period. Friend of mine who teaches at a 4-1-4 LAC regularly takes a group students on a study tour of the Middle East during the J-term, a welcome break from winter for students and professor alike and an opportunity for hands-on learning about the art, architecture, geography, history, climate, literature, religions, politics, and contemporary conflicts of this region, all for college credit. Pretty cool.</p>
<p>Elon University in NC also runs on 4 - 1- 4. They start classes around or just before Sept 1 and finish mid-December, then winter term starts around January 4 and goes until around Jan 26. Then there’s a one week break before spring term, which ends in mid-May.</p>
<p>In order to graduate on time (if you have no AP credits), you’d need to take four 4-credit courses each fall and spring and do 2 of the 4 January terms. However I think 90%+ of students do the January terms. There are classes on campus, but Elon also runs a lot of their Study Abroad classes then - a group of students and a professor may do an intensive 3 week tour of a specific place. I’ve been told the kids love the January term, it’s really different and they offer different and unique courses then.</p>
<p>4-1-4 is one of several alternatives to the typical semester schedule. Chicago has quarters (more like trimesters really), Bates has 4-4-1, Colorado College has its “block” plan (3.5 week one-course-at-a-time terms followed by 4 day breaks), Dartmouth has its “D Plan”, and a couple of schools (Beloit, Antioch) in the past have had study-work-study plans.</p>
<p>St. Olaf’s 4-1-4 has a double meaning–not only does it mean 4 months-1 month-4 months, but it also means 4 classes-1 class-4 classes for a total of 9 classes per academic year. Great options for overseas travel in January, but also a chance to enjoy those fireplaces in the dorm lounges and have a quieter, more reflective start to the new year.</p>
<p>At Oberlin fall classes go 9/7 to 12/22. Jan. Term is 1/5 to 1/31 and Spring classes are 2/7 to 5/22</p>
<p>took an english lit class in the “J” term, the prof. did not want to cut quality because of the short term. we ended up reading 300 pages per day and reports on every book we read. Stressful? Yes.</p>
<p>Williams winter term is similar to Oberlin. D is looking forward to a month at school with less stress and to learn cross country skiing.</p>
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<p>But if in the 1-month J-term you’re taking only 1/4 the number of classes you’d take in a regular 4-month term (1 instead of 4), then you should be able to cover the same material in the J-term as you would in a 4-month course–but at 4 times the speed. Total amount of work on your plate should remain constant, right?</p>