Updated: Thursday, January 9, 2025
January Term (J-Term), Winter Term, Jan Plan, Winter Study — all these terms refer to the 4-1-4 academic calendar offered at some colleges and universities. The 4-1-4 academic calendar is an innovative approach to structuring the academic year, designed to enhance student learning and flexibility. But what exactly is the 4-1-4 academic calendar, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of this system?
The 4-1-4 system divides the year into two standard semesters, each approximately four months long, with a unique one-month term in between. This one-month term falls in January, allowing students to focus intensively on a single course, pursue an internship, engage in independent research, or travel abroad. This structure allows for an educational break between semesters during which students can build new skills.
The 4-1-4 academic calendar offers several advantages, making it an appealing option for many students and institutions. However, you also have some disadvantages to consider, which highlight the importance of careful planning when participating in a J-Term.
Enrolling in a college that offers a 4-1-4 structure can benefit you in many ways:
While a J-Term offers a lot of benefits, it’s not without its disadvantages:
Whether a 4-1-4 or more traditional academic calendar is the best fit for you depends on your individual preferences, learning styles, and academic goals. You may enjoy a 4-1-4 calendar if you’re self-motivated, flexible, and enjoy experiential — and often eclectic — learning opportunities. Because it’s an intensive, focused program, you need great time management skills.
If you prefer a consistent, steady pace throughout the academic year, you will likely benefit from the more traditional academic calendar. It’s also important to consider the additional fees for J-Term courses and programs and whether that’s a concern. If you’re considering a school with this calendar, it might be helpful to talk to current students to get a better sense of how it might work for you.
While researching colleges for your balanced college list, you may find that a variety of schools across the U.S. run on a 4-1-4 calendar. Here are just a few:
If you’re interested in schools that offer a 4-1-4 calendar, it’s important to check their policies. Colby College, for example, requires students to participate in three Jan Plans; however, 90% of students complete all four. At Middlebury, first-year students are required to enroll in a Winter Term course and must also complete a second Winter Term.
You may not be required to complete a J-Term all four years — but think of it as an opportunity to participate in unique activities you may not have time to do during the semester. At MIT, for example, you can enroll in such sessions as hat making, Japanese flower arranging, stand-up comedy, karate, private pilot ground school, and more. Prefer to travel? Elon University’s recent Winter Term offerings include programs in Barbados, Japan, Panama, New Zealand, Miami, Los Angeles, Ireland, Ghana, and Germany, among others.
Grading policies vary from school to school. Williams, for example, grades January courses on a pass/fail basis. Other schools issue a letter grade that is factored into your overall GPA. MIT’s IAP offerings are non-credit — students are meant to be playful and have fun while learning and can even create their own IAP session to share with the community!
With thousands of colleges across the U.S., it can be hard to identify which ones are the best fit for you. IvyWise counselors work with students to find the colleges that align with their preferences, needs, and goals, ensuring they have a list of schools they would be thrilled to attend. Then, we help you submit the most compelling and competitive application to gain admission to these schools. Schedule an Initial Consultation today to get started.
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