The value of mini classes is often disputed.

In my eyes, mini classes are very beneficial.

Coming into college is a big transition, especially for those used to a grade system that was divided into trimesters or quarters.

My high school did everything by quarters – grades, the school day and even some classes.

When transitioning into college, I knew that classes and scheduling were going to be different.

However, when I saw that I had a mini class on my schedule, I was excited.

At first, I didn’t know what it was because going into college, I had the expectation that everything was done in halves.

When I went to class that first day, I didn’t quite know what to expect.

Would it be easier than a full semester?

Or just as hard with more work compacted into a shorter amount of time?

I found out very quickly that it could be both of those outcomes, depending on a variety of things.

In my experience with mini semester classes, I have had both the good and the bad, with the good outweighing the bad.

I’ve had more of them than most students as being an Intelligence Studies major, many of my classes are minis.

One complaint I have about mini classes is that it quickly becomes frustrating when you have so many classes you need to take and not enough credit space.

For the past four semesters, I have not been able to take six full three credit courses because of having a mini course each time.

Many mini courses in the intelligence program are only one or two credits, which can be very frustrating to schedule with.

However, sticking with my original point that mini semester classes are indeed beneficial, I’ve learned that having mini semesters can ease up the workload and stress once they end.

If you have a mini semester in the first half of the full semester, you have that time at the second half of the semester free to do other work.

If you have a mini semester the second half of the full semester, you have time in the early part of the semester to prepare yourself and practice your study habits before the new class joins your schedule.

Speaking from experience, I have heard both sides of the mini semester argument.

Some students dread the courses and some students continue to look forward to them.

Like I said, at first, I wasn’t too sure about taking them.

However, after taking a couple, I have realized the many benefits of being able to have that break for the second part of the semester, or the break for preparation in the first half.

Yes, this means that the schedule cannot be filled up to the desired 18 credits for some students.

But this also means that you are pushing yourself to do just as good in these courses because they are less credits and less time than other courses.

So, when the next advising day on April 2th comes up, you should consider taking some mini courses.

I can promise that you will either learn to love them or learn to hate them.

Either way, you are trying something new.