<p>I'm just wondering what the implications of Chicago's 10-week quarter system are. I've always thought that typical schools have a 13-14 week SEMESTER system. Does this mean that students at uchicago study for 40 weeks while those at semester shools study for only 26-28?</p>
<p>The quarter system is, by definition, made up of four quarters. However, one of those is in the summer, and most kids don't do summer session. So the quarter system is really more of a trimester system. </p>
<p>PROS OF THE CHICAGO SYSTEM</p>
<p>-- it allows you to take more courses (4 a quarter = 12 a year, versus 5 a semester = 10 a year)
-- if you end up not liking a course, it will be over soon
-- the classes change quicker, ensuring a brisk pace and fresh study</p>
<p>CONS OF THE CHICAGO SYSTEM</p>
<p>-- though some 14-week courses are rewritten as 10-week courses, most of the time you simply have to squeeze more information in
-- you take three sets of finals
-- if you make a mistake early on, it can count against you since you have less time to make up for your grades
-- it also makes it somewhat more difficult to find summer internships, as the summer comes for you after everyone else</p>
<p>The Chicago system also changes the academic calendar somewhat. It starts and finishes later than most schools. Here is the U of C calendar for next year:</p>
<p>2008 AUTUMN QUARTER
College Orientation Sat Sep 20
Registration Wed Sep 24
Quarter Begins Mon Sep 29
Thanksgiving Thu-Fri, Nov 27-28
Reading Period Thu-Fri, Dec 04-05
Convocation Fri Dec 12
Quarter Ends Sat Dec 13</p>
<p>2009 WINTER QUARTER
Quarter Begins Mon Jan 05
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Mon, Jan 19
College Break Fri, Feb 13
Reading Period Thu-Fri, Mar 12-13
Convocation Fri Mar 20
Quarter Ends Sat Mar 21</p>
<p>2009 SPRING QUARTER
Quarter Begins Mon Mar 30
Memorial Day Mon May 25
Reading Period Thu-Fri, Jun 04-05
Convocation Fri-Sun, Jun 12-14
Quarter Ends Sat Jun 13</p>
<p>A couple more pros (I'm a big quarter system fan)
-- 3 or 4 classes at a time, more free time in the day (if you're an athlete or an actress or otherwise expect to have a busy quarter, you can down your load to three classes. Even though those three classes might be pretty intense, you'll still be in class for much less time than your buddies on the semester system, who are taking 4 or 5 classes!)
-- Winter and spring break are AFTER FINALS... no homework during either!</p>
<p>Another con:
--No real "shopping" system-- if you don't think you fit in a class, you have to act fast.</p>
<p>I agree with all of the above, but I don't think the quarter system makes it more difficult to find summer internships. If you're looking for a summer job like working at a bookstore or grocery store and wait until you're home for the summer to apply, then you're at a disadvantage. With internship applications due in the winter and early spring, though, it's not much of an issue. There are probably some places that want you to work May-August, when our system is more June-September, but most places are flexible enough to let you start a few weeks late and stay a few weeks late.</p>
<p>I really like the quarter system. I think it feels more intense than a semester system, but I love being able to switch classes every quarter. I also think that if you're taking 5 classes at a semester school, you have to concentrate on some of the harder classes and slack on other classes, but with only 3-4 courses you can better devote yourself to all of them more equally.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>That's also true.</p>
<p>Another minor consideration is that winter break is out of phase from many of my friends. Our winter break is something like Dec. 7- Jan.7, while my friends' winter breaks are more like Dec. 20-Jan 20.</p>
<p>It's hard to say for sure, because I've never been at a semester system college, but I feel like the courses are paced well and are sized for the course. A lot of my Dartmouth/Stanford friends (two schools that are also on a similar system) say that the prof announces at the beginning of the course that they are going to do in 10 weeks what other schools do in 15... but to be honest I don't really feel rushed through the material here. I do feel, however, that every class counts, and if I miss a class, I miss a lot. (It stinks if you get sick!)</p>
<p>I don't go to the U of C (but I hope to be able to say so, in April), but I imagine that the quarter system would be better for me, for the reason Corranged said above. The only time I have trouble in school is when I feel spread too thin -- my high school has us taking nine classes at a time. The Chicago system, in contrast, seems wonderful.</p>
<p>Nine classes at a time? That's disgusting.</p>
<p>^I've got 10.</p>
<p>what's wrong with you people :D i know people with 5 classes who got into harvard and stuff...WOW! </p>
<p>lol, is 5 courses very difficult to do at Chicago?</p>
<p>It's not normal. Most students take 3 or 4. You need special permission to do more, and it costs more money.</p>
<p>too bad :(</p>
<p>actually not so much, since iwould probably die if i did..</p>
<p>how many credits needed to graduate though? 180?</p>
<p>You don't want to take five classes. I mean, I guess if you suddenly recall in Spring senior year that you never fulfilled your arts requirement but also need to take three classes for major requirements and such it makes sense, but I'd do everything possible to avoid that. </p>
<p>Chicago doesn't really do "credits." They count courses, and they're all counted the same. You need 42 minimum to graduate, which would be taking three courses half the time and four courses half the time. You can get some credit coming in through AP tests and placement exams, which can reduce that number to 36, which would be taking three courses every quarter. Look at the Degree Program Worksheet for the general set-up: Courses</a> & Programs of Study.</p>