As the winter quarter at CSU Bakersfield draws to a close, and as the school continues to prepare for its transition into the semester system, current students bid farewell to one of the school’s worst pastimes: a phenomenon known as the super semester.
Almost 22 solid weeks of classes created by the mashing together of the winter and spring quarters, with only one merciful week in the middle for spring break. The super semester can tend to feel like a belligerent affront to students after the tender, loving embrace of an almost month-long winter vacation.
Many college students can barely be expected to brush their teeth every day, let alone attend classes for 22 straight weeks.
As a result, any attendance during the entire spring quarter tends to feel like accepting some administrative dare — a noble rise to the challenge of spending hours in a classroom when there are still so many adventures to take, Frisbees to throw, and sunburns to receive. One week off simply cannot fill those youthful voids.
Thankfully, the impending semester system promises to usher in a new era of much more forgiving academic schedules. With only two 16-week semesters per academic year, the ratio of class time to eating-an-entire-pint-of-ice-cream-in-one-sitting-while-watching-Netflix time will feel much more balanced.
This upcoming fall semester will last from Aug. 22 to Dec. 6, and the spring semester from Jan. 23 to May 10, leaving a precious gift of time in between.
The semester system is likely to be a much more relaxed arrangement all around, with shorter class periods and six more weeks per term to understand the material.
Therefore, students of CSUB, congratulations on making it through another quarter, and halfway through your last super semester. Finish strong, and enjoy your spring break — you’ll need it.