<p>I know that most colleges have two semesters, and then sometimes an optional summer session. Are there any schools that have a more original set-up (i.e. trimester...four quarters...?) Are there any schools where you take a different number of classes at a time then normal? Just wondering...</p>
<p>I know MIT has a winter IAP period, so their scheduling is something like 2-1-2 with the 2's being semesters and the 1 being the IAP period. IAP is awesome.</p>
<p>Oregon State and University of Oregon are on the quarter system, as are some of the public universities in Ohio. Based on your username, that might not be the schools you're looking for, though....?</p>
<p>a lot of schools are on the quarter or trimester system...but most are semester. you'd have to check at each school. my friend from Oregon says that a lot of schools on the West Coast are not on semester. specifically she said mostly pac-10 schools, but it could be and probably is more than that.</p>
<p>Union College in NY is on trimester - the average student takes 3 courses a trimester. Also, Colorado College and Cornell College in Iowa (not Cornell University) are on the block system - you take one course at a time.</p>
<p>northwestern has a quarter system</p>
<p>Cornell College lets you take one class at a time.</p>
<p>Carleton College has three 10 week trimesters, where you take 3 classes/trimester.</p>
<p>It also has a 6 week winter break, from before thanksgiving to after new years. Which is awesome</p>
<p>Some top schools on the trimester system include Stanford, Dartmouth, and Northwestern. I'm sure there are more.</p>
<p>Colorado College has a very unique academic system.</p>
<p>Cornell College (in Iowa) and Colorado College both have block plans, where you take one course at a time for 3-4 weeks.</p>
<p>Dartmouth has a unique modification of the quarter (aka trimester) system called the "D Plan", which is based on four 10-week terms per year (spring, summer, fall, winter). Students must have 12 terms of schooling to graduate, but they can pick these terms themselves, within some limits. It's somewhat confusing at first, so check the Dartmouth</a> website for more details.</p>
<p>Worcester Polytech has four semesters int he regular school year. 7 weeks per course. </p>
<p>Ohio University, Rose Hulman, and Rochester Institute of Tech all have three semesters to their regular school year.</p>
<p>Referring to posting #5 - Union's trimesters are pretty unique. Fall trimester is Labor Day till Thanksgiving. Winter trimester is jan 2 - 3rd week in march. Spring trimester is April 1 - mid-june.</p>
<p>Colby has two normal semesters, with "Jan Plan" in between. You have to do Jan Plan 3 out of 4 years. 2nd semester starts early Feb.</p>
<p>U of toronto has classes that go all year
u usually have 5 classes at a time
most people have 3 year long classes, and 4 half year long classes (2 at a time)
equaling about 5 courses at any given time</p>
<p>Dartmouth has the "D Plan" with 10-week quarters/other things thrown in.</p>
<p>Union, Chicago, Northwestern, University of Washington, Stanford, Caltech, etc. are all trimester</p>
<p>Smith has a "J Term" in January where students either take classes or do internships. Oberlin and Bates, I think, have similar programs.</p>
<p>Williams College offers a pass-fair "Winter Study" term that breaks the school year. Grades are pass fail and students are encouraged to take experimental or non-academic classes (a friend said things like carpentry and basic auto maintenance are offered). This period lasts from 1/3 to 1/26 with the academic curriculum on a semester system. He sounded enthused and it certainly sounded unique.</p>