<p>I understand that semesters are 1/2 the year, while quarters are 1/4. How does this make a difference in scheduling? In a school with quarters, do I take different classes each quarter? If so, how many per quarter? Does this make a big difference in academic study?</p>
<p>my daughter attends a college that operates on the quarter system. most students at her school only take classes during 3 of the 4 quarters. she, and most of the students at the school she attends, take 3 classes per quarter. her fall term begins on about september 20 and her spring term ends on about june 5. each quarter lasts for about 10 weeks so the classes move at a rapid pace.</p>
<p>I agree with ursdad and would add that since 2/3 of the year comes after the Christmas break that second quarter will usually start ~Jan 2 rather than ~Jan 18 that a semester schedule school will have.</p>
<p>Does that mean that a school with quarters is less intensive? Will classes at a semester school be more educational?</p>
<p>Quarter systems might be more intensive because a class has to cram the same amount of material into less time.</p>
<p>quarters are definitely more intensive, but you take less classes per term.</p>
<p>At Dartmouth, the typical load is 3 classes per quarter, or 9 for the year; pace is extremely fast in those three classes. At the more traditional 'quarter' schools, i.e., UCs and UofC, a student takes ~4 classes per quarter. But, the difference is that those classes are slower than those offered at Dartmouth. Take Frosh chem, for example. At Dartmouth, frosh chem is compacted into two quarter terms, whereas at the UCs, frosh chem is completed over three quarter terms. Ditto frosh math, english, physics, etc. Thus, one takes a slightly slower pace, but has to balance more classes per term.</p>
<p>In a semester system, a student typically takes 5-6 classes per term -- and even slower pace, but even more classes per term.</p>
<p>After four years, eveyone ends up at the same place....</p>
<p>i had never thought about this before... i think i would do much better in a school that does a semester calendar... is there a list of schools that offer the semester calendar?</p>
<p>approx. ~80% of colleges are on semester system.</p>
<p>woot that's some lucky bananas</p>
<p>UCLA is quarter, just FYI.</p>
<p>This is an old thread and I don’t know if anyone would even see it, but I want to comment that a parent made an extensive list of 4-year and 2-year colleges that use quarters or the Block plan. Here is a link:</p>
<p>[Quarter</a> System and Block Plan Colleges and Universities](<a href=“http://www.planetbauer.com/colleges.htm]Quarter”>Quarter System and Block Plan Colleges and Universities)</p>
<p>Semesters are usually about 15 weeks, while quarters are usually about 10 weeks.</p>
<p>On a quarter system, three quarters makes a normal academic year; the fourth quarter is the summer session.</p>
<p>On a semester system, two semesters makes a normal academic year; the summer session is usually shorter, for example 8 weeks (with students typically taking half as many courses / credits compared to a normal semester).</p>