<p>how is northwestern's academic calendar arranged? I heard something about a quarter system...</p>
<p>So it is a quarter system... thank you!</p>
<p>What kind of environment is that conducive to?</p>
<p>Any visitors or alums that have knowledge?</p>
<p>It's conducive to a really hectic quarter--midterms come quickly--but then leads to a relatively relaxed end of the quarter having a full reading week and then finals week.</p>
<p>The quarter system is really a trimester system. Fall quarter is mid-Sept to early Dec. Winter quarter is early Jan til late March. Spring quarter is late March to early June.
The lone disadvantage is purely social. The summer (especially before your freshman year) is rough because you leave for school 2-4 weeks after everyone else leaves, so you are all alone. Your winter break starts two weeks before everyone else and ends two weeks before everyone else. It's kinda hard to see old high school friends because the NU schedule is so unique. At the end of the year, you get back a month after everyone else, which kinda sucks.
But there are tons of advantages. First, you only take four courses, not five. Yes, the classes move a little faster, but it's still one less final to worry about, and three hours of class time you don't have to spend. You get more free time and fewer academic responsibilities. Also, you take 12 courses a year, not 10. This means that its easier to major-minor, double-major, etc. Especially if youre in Weinberg, you have tons of flexibility in terms of taking classes when you want. You also get three chances to register for courses annually. So if you get locked out of a prerequisite, you can still try to get in during Winter and Spring Quarters. The final edge is that during Spring Break you are in between courses. All other students at other schools have to study/write papers/prepare for finals/retain information. NU kids don't have any academic responsibilities.
The one thing you have to remember is that I don't know any better. I only attend NU and only take part in the quarter system. I'm doing my best to compare, but no one (except maybe some transfer students) can accurately differentiate the two schedules.</p>
<p>Great post CA, good analysis of advantages and disadvantages. Let me say that the calendar thing truly sucks, but... it's a small price to pay, IMHO. The quarter system is conducive to some AMAZING schedules. I can say that 4 classes is HIGHLY preferable to 5, having taken an extra class this past quarter and it sucking, a lot. You also get to take some quarters with 3 classes only, if you choose to do so, which is unbelievable. It is nice not having classes last as long (especially if you hate a class; if you like it, take another class with that prof or in that department) and taking more classes per year. And it is truly an advantage to have a "true" vacation without any work to do. I'm very pro-quarter system, and its rushed feel and wonky schedule are small downsides compared to the benefits, IMHO.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the quarter system allows ambitious students to squeeze more classes in one year without being super-human. I transferred from WashU to NU and I think taking 5 classes per quarter is still easier than taking 7 classes in a semester school (the equivalence). Chances are you can't take 7 in a semester system because of conflicting schedule anyway. I don't know how many students double-major at NU but among the ones from Hong Kong (where I came from), probably about 80% of us did that when I was there because it's quite doable in a quarter system.</p>