<p>It looks like the course booklet for Winter Term 2013 is not out yet - but was looking at the booklet for last year - and honestly did not see many good options that my son might want to take. He needs to take Spanish 122 at some point - and it was listed as a winter class last year - but I think that might be a bit much - to have Spanish 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. He is thinking of majoring in sport and event management - and I see a class on Managing a Sports Franchise - that might be interesting. But that was it. The other classes seemed to be upper level or not things that would appeal to him.</p>
<p>For parents of sophomores and up - what winter term class did your students take?</p>
<p>What is winter term, and do all students take classes during that time? I am assuming it is what we used to call “mini-mester” back when I was in school – a month long break where you can either have a vacation or take accelerated classes?</p>
<p>Well I think most kids do take that winter semester. The cost is included in the yearly tuition whether you take it or not. It is a very laid back time on campus. Not a lot going on . Many kids study abroad or domestic then.</p>
<p>95% of freshmen return to campus for Winter Term. Most upperclassmen are also either on campus or doing one of the 2 dozen WT study abroad classes. </p>
<p>Elon tries to encourage kids to take something unique and different during winter term. Get outside your major. There are some classes that are only offered during Winter Term, because they fit well into the 3 hour/day, 5 day/week time slot (for instance, film-based classes or field-trip heavy classes like the ever-popular Business of NASCAR). Freshmen are the bottom of the heap for choosing, but there should still be some options left.</p>
<p>My advice - let your SON pick the class he wants to take. Wait till the booklet comes out, you never know what they will offer. (One year they had 2 classes I would have loved: “Old Times There Are Not Forgotten: The Culture of the South”, and one called “Harry Potter for Muggles” or something to that effect). </p>
<p>(Despite Elon’s advice to take something “different,” both WTs so far my D has taken a “special topic” elective in her major. This year she’s going abroad though.)</p>
<p>My son took Managing a Professional Sport Franchise last year. Although he was(and is) undecided he thought it looked interesting. He loved the class, and is leaning toward the Sport and Event Management major. The class went to a Carolina Hurricanes hockey game, and another time they went to a minor league ballpark. The teacher kept it interesting from day one. Winter term is not mandatory, but since it is included in the Fall tuition bill most kids participate. I think most kids take something out of their comfort zone or something that sounds different. Originally my son really wanted to fulfill his lab science requirement but wasn’t able to find a class, so he took a chance on a class he knew little about and loved it. I think they can’t go wrong. This winter my son is going to Turkey and Greece for the Euromed program.</p>
<p>Actually you can look on OnTrack(don’t need a log-in) and search for sections. You can see all the classes for Winter 2013. Pre-registration start in November. If I remember correctly from last year, the afternoon classes fill up the quickest!</p>
<p>Thanks for that tip. I absolutely like the idea of picking something different or unexpected. My son actually WANTS my suggestions on picking classes, so that’s why I am trying to educate myself on the options.</p>
<p>I am trying to book the plane tix for my daughter for Xmas break. I see that classes for winter term start January 3 but registration is January 2. If they register for WT classes in NOvember, is there any reason they have to be on campus on January 2?</p>
<p>My understanding is that the January 2 registration is only for those who were not students in the fall and were not able to register in November, like transfer students and spring admits.</p>
<p>It’s a tough call–no guarantee she will be able to get an afternoon class! My son really wanted the afternoon class(not a morning person) but was not able to get one. Is she a freshman? If so, there may not be many afternoon options left…But no, they do not need to be on campus Jan. 2nd.</p>
<p>Advice: unless you are travelling from warm weather to warm weather for Winter term, do not wait until the last day to get your student back to campus.</p>