Midterms, Midterms, and Midterms

In my high school, there was only one midterm period for most of my classes. Some classes didn’t even have midterms and went straight to finals. I am bringing up my good old days because I hope to explain the difference of “midterms” in college.

As much as it is important to enjoy the entire college experience and meet diverse groups of friends, there is a priority (in my opinion): academic learning and pursuing good letter grades. There are tests after tests after tests.

At the University of Rochester, like most other colleges, there are midterms, schedules of which vary from class to class (e.g., midterm in the middle of October or first week of November), and a final exam period. At UR, final exam period refers to a span of a week, preceded by a "reading period" of no classes for 2-3 days. For me, final exam period is my favorite academic event, because not only is it the end of a semester, but also it reminds me how much I have learned. 

Back to the main point of this blog: I just got out of an 8-week-long midterm period before Thanksgiving break. That is, somehow, each of my classes had a midterm or two after each other weekly for two months. I felt as if I was in the Himalayas, hiking mountain after mountain. Plus, like most of my friends, my sleep schedule has changed to that of a serious nocturnal owl. At least during this Thanksgiving break, I could take a short rest in my dorm room, like that hiker in the Himalayas stopping at a base camp before hiking another mountain. Even though I was tired most of the time, I am glad that I know more about financial economics and business and that my mandarin Chinese has improved!

I would like to define “midterms,” college version:

A period of time, depending on your course syllabi, varying from two weeks to two months.

Hence, high schools students, be ready for “midterms” in college!