<p>What exactly is Winter Term? D has Oberlin at the top of her list, and is planning to visit on an admitted students day, but she is already a bit concerned about academic pressure there, and seeing a mandatory winter term has ramped that up. What exactly do you do with those? Is it just a project over break? How is it graded?</p>
<p>My son graduated from Oberlin in 2010. Winter term is an opportunity for students to study something intensely for one month. It is required for 3 of 4 years but it is not graded and does not figure into the GPA. Students can pursue projects either on or off campus. My son was a bio major. His first year he spent winter term studying Greek. His second year he was involved in a theater project. His final 2 years were spent in biology research that he was involved in all year long. This past winter we hosted a student at our house who was experiencing research at our local university. </p>
<p>Students who stay on campus for January term can stay in their rooms at no additional costs but they have to pay for meals. No fees are charged for Winter Term classes. It is an opportunity for students to really explore something without worrying about grades. I don’t think there is no down side.</p>
<p>@inatiga: Just to echo Shennie’s post: part of the point of Winter Term is to <em>relieve</em> academic pressures. Students spend the month of January exploring a subject that interests them, individually or in a group, on or off campus. They need to take it seriously and devote a certain amount of time to it, but they are not graded, and the only important measure is that they should find the month educationally and personally valuable. Projects range from scientific research to going to Mexico to learn Spanish, from interning in a Congressional office to learning to knit, from acting in a play to writing a novel. Students tend to love Winter Term–it’s one of the best opportunities Oberlin offers. Hope that’s helpful.</p>
<p>Some students go abroad; some students do internships.</p>
<p>I know someone who worked on an organic chocolate farm in Costa Rica for a January term. Fun, but not academic. Then went to the beach for a few days.</p>
<p>Inatlga - Winter term is awesome! Winter term is designed for students to explore academics in a more relaxed manner. My son who is now a junior has done 3 different winter terms. One he did research at home, another he went to Mexico and studied Spanish and lived with a family and the last winter term he stayed at Oberlin and did a creative writing project part in English and part in Spanish. He is now debating about what he will do next year. He and his friends all seem to look forward to winter term. Have her look at Oberlin’s facebook page. There are some great photos of what students did over the last winter term.</p>