5 REASONS TO NOT SKIP JANUARY TERM

Reasons to Do the J-Term

• Form Bonds
• No Limits
• Multiple Options
• Mental Break
• Unique Classes

The January term offers some unique options for college kids today. Though not all schools offer this option, those that do provide students with more freedom and flexibility. Also called the J-term, it usually runs around the first of the year and can last all the way through the month. Students will find five important reasons to do the J-term offered by their schools.

1. Form Bonds

Though some people think that all college students are wild and crazy kids, a large number of students today are more introverted. They have a hard time making friends and forming bonds, but those who attend J-term sessions will have an easier time forming those bonds. As there are fewer students on campus and in study abroad programs, they have the chance to speak up and chat with people they normally would not, which can lead to some lasting bonds.

2. No Limits

Even the biggest colleges in the country limit the number of classes available during each semester. With the J-term, students will find no limits as to what they study. Some opt to take a course that seems really hard because they can focus on that single class without needing to do homework for any other class. Others prefer taking fun classes that they wouldn't normally take like acting or film. Though students can take courses relating to their majors, most use this session to take classes they never planned on taking.

Read: 30 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the South, Ranked by Return on Investment (ROI)

 3. Multiple Options

The January term gives students a number of options in regards to what they might do during their break. Students always have the option of staying home and extended their Christmas vacations to spend time with their families and old friends. They can also take classes on the university campus with their peers. Many schools run study abroad programs during this session that allow students to spend a week to a month in a foreign country. Students can sign up for service learning programs in other cities and states or do an internship during this term too.

4. Mental Break

Though some people think that college kids have it easy, people who think that way are often those who did not go to college. College students have a number of things going on every semester. Full-time students take five classes or more each semester. They need to make time for doing group projects, preparing for upcoming exams, doing readings and getting ready for class. These students also have commitments with their friends and may work a job on top of all that. As the J-term lets them take just one class, they have the chance to get the mental break that they need before the next semester starts.

5. Unique Classes

According to USA Today College, one of the top reasons to do the J-term is because it provides students with access to some unique classes. Instead of just taking a course on literature, they might take a class on young adult literature or study a popular writer like J.K. Rowling or Stephen King. Many colleges allow students to do independent study projects during this term too, which lets them study something the interests them but isn't available through the college.

Colleges offer the J-term for students who want to spend more time studying and working and those who want to take a short break. Though students have the option of skipping the January term, some of the top reasons to do it are because of the unique opportunities and classes available during the session.