So, I am starting at UCLA next week and I don’t know how I should be studying. I am transferring from a CC that has a semester system to UCLA’s quarter system. Does anyone have any advice on how to adjust? The new student orientation wasn’t as helpful as I thought it would be and as the date gets closer, my anxiety gets worse.
@Hopeful0821 . . . you’re almost there, so hang in. When you feel angst, just do your deep-breathing exercises: inhale slowly, steadily and deeply, then release it at the same or even slower rate. Reduce your breaths, provided you’re healthy, to around four breaths/minute. This calms the vagus nerve, and it might help you to achieve sleep also.
Nothing new as far as study habits: just stay on top of the material because you could be hit by a midterm just a few weeks in; buy books as early as possible if you know your schedule, and maybe even pre-study if you can.
What do you have, three classes? You took, what, five classes per semester at community college? The three will be more accelerated assuredly, but you’ll take less classes, so this is a mitigating factor.
You’ll be fine; it’ll be an adjustment, but I’m guessing you’ll learn to love quarters. Best of luck!
I studied under the semester system for undergrad, and the quarter system (at a well known demanding university) for graduate school.
I liked the quarter system a lot. One big advantage is that you get to take more classes during a year. You get to try more things out.
However, IMHO there is one big rule for the quarter system, particularly at a demanding university (which includes UCLA): Make a big effort to NEVER fall behind. Start doing your homework the day that it is assigned, or at worse the next day.
If you are always caught up the entire quarter goes a lot more smoothly. Before you know it the end of the quarter is approaching, and exams are coming up. If you are up to date, then this is not a problem at all.
Yes, you can fall behind very quickly if you don’t stay on top of things. Midterms and finals come upon you very fast. The quarter is 10 weeks and the 11th week is finals. Because the quarter system is so fast and intense, some coverage of course material might not be as in depth as coverage in a semester, but you still have to understand the material fully, especially if sequential to the next course, major or some professional exam.