Summer holidays

<p>I'm in the class of '10 and I was looking through the 2006-2007 academic calendar and it says that summer holidays are only 5 weeks long. 5 weeks??? I thought summer was supposed to be at least like 2 months long. Are the dates not applicable for all of us, or is there something I'm missing? Please tell me this is some sort of sick joke.</p>

<p>Don't worry TheBravery you are missing something :P
Here go to this website <a href="http://registrar.stanford.edu/academic_calendar/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://registrar.stanford.edu/academic_calendar/&lt;/a>
As you can see only if you are taking summer courses do do you get around 5 weeks otherwise we get a good deal more.</p>

<p>Thats relieving. But now I'm confused - we don't have a summer quarter? So its only like 3 quarters? I thought that all 4 quarters were compulsory. So in that case why does Stanford call its calendar a quarter system? Or I am still missing something?</p>

<p>Nonono TheBravery don't get confused :D. Ok from what I understand (I'm pretty sure of it) we have to take 3 quarters and you can if you want to take the summer one. :)</p>

<p>Thanks a lot. Do many kids take the summer quarter?</p>

<p>I think some people take the summer quarter but I doubt the majority does. Really we'll have to wait and see.</p>

<p>The normal "academic year" is three quarters. If you need/want to take classes over the summer, it's up to you (but it is not included in your tuition, and will cost extra tuition and room&board)</p>

<p>Your summer holiday if you do not take the summer quarter will extend roughly June 16 to Sept 22, as it did this year. Although you may get out earlier depending on when finals are.</p>

<p>Could you tell me roughly what proportion take the summer quarter? Is it a common thing to do, or is it just sort of a last resort thing people do when they need to do a few more courses to complete their major?</p>

<p>Not very many kids do it.</p>

<p>Those who want to stay on campus do research, usually.</p>