Winter Study

Winter Study is the span of weeks between the two semesters at Williams. The courses offered during winter study may seem silly and frivolous in comparison to the academic rigors of semesterly courses, but nothing could be further from the truth. Many people find that the freedom from the usual constraints allows them to study whatever strikes their fancy, with no concerns about getting credit towards a major or dropping GPA (not that you all care about that). Winter Study also frequently features courses that include trips abroad, which are highly popular.

Winter Study for the 2023-2024 school year begins on January 3rd and ends on January 26th. (Spring classes don't start until the following Thursday, February 1st.)

Outside of Class

You have a lot more free time during Winter Study because you're only taking one so-called class. Keep yourself busy; idle hands are the devil's tools, right?

Get out side and play in the snow. If you don't you're pathetic. Go learn to ski or build snow people. You have a chance to enjoy winter in full at this time. Take advantage or you will turn into a white and pasty whale.

The Free University is a collection of classes and activities taught and run entirely by students on any number of interesting things.

Williams Trivia is a fun way to kill the second Friday night (and Saturday morning) of Winter Study.

KAOS: Killing as Organized Sport is about paranoia, showering with a fake gun nearby and never sleeping in the same place twice. It's also totally awesome.

The Williams Outing Club sponsors classes for many outdoor winter activities, such as sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and also organizes rides to and lessons at downhill skiing mountains (primarily Jiminy Peak, no?). You pay a $10 bus fee for the regular classes and then go play in the snow for a couple of hours a few times a week, learning how to do the skill better, and in the case of sledding they even give you your very own sled that you get to keep. The downhill skiing is more expensive, but can include lessons and equipment rentals as well as transportation.

Broomball is like ice hockey, but with shoes instead of skates, "brooms" instead of sticks, and a ball instead of a puck. So, essentially, all it has in common with ice hockey is the ice.

It is a little-known fact that the main purpose of Winter Study is to fall in love.

However, falling in love with Perl, or any other computer language for that matter, does not count. But Winter Study provides just about the right amount of time to do just that.

Registration

From an email sent to students:

"The first phase of Winter Study registration in PeopleSoft/SELFREG will take place Wednesday, 19 October, 9:00am, through Sunday, 23 October (closing at 8 a.m. Monday, 24 October). You will sign up for your FIRST CHOICE only at that time. IT IS NOT ON A FIRST COME/FIRST SERVED BASIS. For overenrolled courses, instructors make the selections."

If you don't get into your first choice, you'll be notified and have another opportunity to submit a selection.