Trimesters / Quarter System

<p>I would love to hear current students/alum perspectives on trimesters, but any opinions are welcome.<br>
Im curious about maintaining high school friendships/ relationships, rigor, academic pros/cons, other social pros/cons, and anything else.</p>

<p>If you use the system correctly, it truly is a year-round quarter system. Many non-sophomores stay on during the summer in order to take off during another term–which I think is very strategic. Is a relationship with one person difficult? You bet–especially if it’s a romantic one. If your d-plans don’t align properly, you may not see each other for a year or more, which obviously puts a damper on things. So long as you make plenty of friends though, it’s not like you’re going to be lonely and friendless during certain terms. I love the quarter system. I’ve been able to secure fantastic internships during the school year, and even when taking classes, you focus on fewer subjects (3 classes is typical, 4 is max)… and if you hate your class, it’s over in 10 weeks max–so not much harm done. You learn a lot and get exposed to a lot, and the time really flies by. That’s why Dartmouth is considered such a “work-hard-party-hard” atmosphere… once you get through a horrific, tumultuous week of constant work, you are DYING to let loose.</p>