DePaul's Quarterly Academic Calendar?

Colleges and Universities A-Z DePaul University
1

How did you like DePaul’s quarterly academic calendar - pluses and minuses - particularly if you transferred from someplace that was on the semester system?

How does that “intersession” work? Do undergrad students leave campus for 5 weeks?

Thank you.

2

Pros-

  • Quarter goes by very quickly so if you don’t like your classes you get to change in a matter of weeks
  • You get to take more classes and learn about more things
  • Only taking 4 classes each quarter vs 5

Cons-

  • Quarter goes by very quickly so teachers pack a bunch of info in a shorter amount of time
  • Classes are 1.5 hours each vs 50 mins at semester schools
  • More classes = more textbooks you have to buy in a year

The intersession is just a fancy word for winter break and you do have the option to take classes during this time. The intersession classes give you credit for winter quarter so they are a good option if one would like to lighten his/her course-load for WQ. The freshman dorms are closed during intersession so everyone has to leave and if one is taking a class over the intersession he/she would have to apply for special intersession housing (they keep one of the dorms open for athletes/freshman taking classes). I’m not sure what buildings are open/closed during this time but generally campus is pretty dead.

3

Thanks for your insight. But overall, do you like the quarter system or semester system?

4

@ACMILAN95 i personally prefer the quarter system because of how quickly things move. i have never had experience with the semester system but comparing my quarter experience to my friend’s semester experiences, it just seems like a better situation.