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<p>But it should be noted that in D’s experience a bell shaped curve in a class full of NU students is NOTHING like a bell shaped curve in a class full of mortals. ;-D</p>
<p>Alright, my mom is freaking out about the trimester system and thinks it will be too stressful for me. Input, anyone?</p>
<p>Our D hasn’t found the Quarter system even remotely stressful. She loves it, and the flexibility it allows her to sample more amazing professors!</p>
<p>S finds the Qtr system at NU far less stressful than the one he had at his high school (East coast), which in my opinion was insane with the cut throat environment…my personal view is that schools in east coast thrive in, and encourage such a culture…which is not healthy.</p>
<p>I myself went to Michigan State on a quarter system, and I liked it, although naturally I didn’t know any different. In my opinion, Positives: You got to take more classes during the year. Thus, if a teacher was not to your liking or you wanted to explore more subject areas, you have a greater opportunity in the quarter system. It was more intense, but I’m more of a short distance runner, so to speak, so I liked that. Negatives: More finals and/or final essays. Also, I have no idea if NU does this, but Michigan State had their fall trimester finals AFTER Thanksgiving, so I couldn’t ever relax during Thanksgiving break. Sounds trite, but I do remember it bothered me at the time. </p>
<p>By the way, Northwestern Dad, it does depend on the school. We live in South Jersey, and my D went to the neighborhood public school. It was not cut throat in the least. Indeed, that is about the top worry I have about NU–whether it’s cutthroat or backstabbing. Anyone?</p>
<p>hoveringmom,</p>
<p>agreed…shouldn’t have generalized about east coast schools…but many of my friends (we too are from South Jersey!) from different HS in NJ share similar sentiments; glad your D’s HS didn’t belong to this category. S has never once mentioned about NU being cutthroat or backstabbing; in fact, many of his projects involve team work (Engg and ISP) and he says they all help each other.</p>
<p>D has never mentioned NU students being cutthroat or competitive - quite the opposite. She has had only one class that she found really difficult and all of the kids worked together, commiserated and helped each other. In fact she met one of her roommates for next year in that class, so if anything the challenge brought the kids closer together.</p>
<p>I also agree with many of the posters above. My S never complained about the quarter system. And because the system lets him take more classes than the semester system, he can get a chance to experience some interesting classes that are not related to his own major and broaden his mind.</p>
<p>Thanks all–good to hear. It didn’t seem cut throat when we visited, but wanted to get your opinions.</p>
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<p>@mtldad</p>
<p>I was speaking more for the prof. grad schools (law, med and biz) rather than PHD programs.</p>
<p>Aside from the married students (who tend to be a small minority), the social scene is pretty much like HS where gossip abounds and word about people dating or hooking up spreads like wildfire.</p>
<p>mtldad, your own experience about LACs being a fishbowl are certainly valid, but as you say, it really depends on whether your kid participates in the drama or cares much about it. My D who is at a top LAC is 21 and a Sophomore (she started late). She doesn’t think the gossip (drama) spreads like wildfire at all; there are many different niches and plenty of people she doesn’t know a thing about. Of course, when she was in high school (a school about the same size as her college), she was much the same–she really didn’t care about the drama at all. So the LAC doesn’t affect her at all that way; in fact its small size is great for her in that it gives her a chance to interact closely & easily with fellow students and profs.</p>
<p>@hoveringmom…I only have one response to your most recent post…a student should do what’s best for that student…I don’t look for victories in these discussions, only information and perspectives.</p>