JJC Blog

Winter break is finally here! And after all the hard work that went into this past semester, you deserve this time away from textbooks, exams and homework assignments. Even though winter break can be busy with holiday gatherings, family and work, we hope you'll have time to do a few things for yourself. We want you to feel refreshed before spring semester begins!

Here are 9 relaxing things you can do during winter break:

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, the gift giving season is upon us. Not sure what you want this year? Maybe you don't know what to buy/make your friends or significant other - or you're a parent struggling to come up with gift ideas for your son or daughter in college.

From just-for-fun to practical gifts and DIYs, here are a few ideas to get you in the gift giving spirit!

Ahhh, the sweet relief of the end of the semester. Pretty soon you'll be on break, enjoying well deserved time off. 

But it's not over yet - and you still have to make it through final exams! To help out, here's a fun list below - you may be surprised to discover how well you can pull off some of these strange (but useful!) study tips.

Let's be honest: it's hard to save money, especially when you're in college. 

The good news is, anyone can save money, no matter your age or financial situation - you just have to make an effort and change your habits. Below, we've outlined ten simple money saving hacks students and others can try. 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner (how did that happen?!), and a lot of our students are reflecting on the things they are most grateful for this holiday season. And why not be thankful for the things that we have? Studies have shown that gratitude improves happiness.

Are any of the things you're most thankful for the same as what our students have mentioned below?

Note: This article was published in 2016. In 2019, JJC opened the University Center, a a local, convenient, and cost-effective option for students to complete their bachelor's and master's programs either online or on one of JJC's campuses. Learn more about the University Center. Questions? Email UniversityPartnerships@jjc.edu.

Did you know that there are more than 2,600 four-year schools in the U.S. (and 119 in Illinois)? That's a crazy amount to choose from!

According to InsideHigherEd, 37 percent of all college students will choose to transfer to another school at one point or another during their time in college. So, as a JJC student, how do you even begin to start your transfer school search? With so many choices and so much to do, we've put together a few tips on how you can start your search right now. 

Coming back to school after having served in the military isn't easy. Not only are student vets diving into something they likely haven't experienced since they sat behind a desk in high school, but they're living in a different (and often lonelier) world than many of their fellow classmates.

Because veterans are the backbone of our local communities, we want our vets to go to college and succeed. At JJC, veterans have opportunities and resources to help them on their journey. Below we have outlined five resources vets can take advantage of as JJC students.

While we're all familiar with the concept of community college vs four-year school, and public vs private, some may not be as familiar with the difference between for-profit and not-for-profit schools. Whether you're in high school thinking about college or a JJC student debating transfer options, knowing this difference could be an important factor in your college search.

For-profit colleges have been making headlines in the past few weeks, especially after the unexpected closure of ITT Tech last September due to claims of false advertising and predatory lending. But does this mean you should completely rule out for-profit schools? What are the pros and cons of attending a for-profit or a not-for-profit?

Do you really know your professors at Joliet Junior College? Although you may see them on campus MWF, many of them have talents and interests outside of the classroom, too. 

Which professor had a recording contract in the 1990s? Who has been to six continents? One professor has 14 brothers and sisters - can you guess who? 

Discover these little-known facts about thirteen of your favorite JJC professors below.

With midterms right around the corner, we know you're starting to feel a little overwhelmed. It can be stressful, especially if you're taking multiple classes at once. 

So, as you skim through the notes you've been taking all semester and schedule study sessions with your friends, we thought we'd put together something fun to make light of the tests everyone dreads.

Do these seven memes describe your midterm experience accurately?