<p>how many classes do kids take each quarter? do you guys think quarters are better than semesters/</p>
<p>It depends. Core academic classes are typically 3-5 units. You need to take at least 12 units a quarter, and can take as many as 20 units. It's typical to take around 3-4 classes a quarter, plus perhaps a couple of activity units. For example, this quarter I'm taking three 5 unit classes and one 2 unit academic class. Most quarters I've also had a 2 unit activity class, often a dance class. </p>
<p>Quarters go by very quickly. They allow you to take more classes each year. In most semester-system colleges 4 classes a semester is typical, and often 5 classes is a difficult load for a semester. With the quarter system, 3 classes a quarter is very typical, whereas 4+ classes a quarter is seen as a difficult load. (Of course this depends on the classes you plan to take. Many advanced classes, especially in math, physics, engineering, etc. can be incredibly challenging and take a significant amount of time each week on their own.) You have a slightly different summer break with quarters, which could get in the way of some internships, but might allow for others if they want you to be in town in September. The quarter system doesn't line up perfectly with semester-system study-abroad programs, although in the fall it wouldn't be a problem. I haven't heard of anyone having problems with this at Stanford though. </p>
<p>Pros: more courses, more flexibility in courses, more flexibility in different levels of difficulty between quarters
Cons: moves quickly, possible conflicts with some study-abroad and internship opportunities</p>
<p>Dartmouth, Stanford, Northwestern, Chicago, Carleton and one other LAC are the only quarter/tri-mester schools that I know. Dartmouth students take 3 courses per term. Do you know of any other quarter or tri-mester system schools?</p>
<p>University of Washington, Union, Caltech</p>
<p>Chicago students take 3 or 4 classes at a time, usually one quarter out of the year will be a 3-class quarter.</p>
<p>I thought a lot of UCs are on quarter system (but I could be wrong).</p>
<p>You're right. All UCs except Berkeley and Merced are on quarters.</p>
<p>its not really a quarter system, its more of a trimester system. The fourth quarter is during the summer, and most students leave during the summer. it's funny how people tend not to mention this</p>
<p>Union, Lawrence and Knox all have trimester calendars.</p>