<p>I'm definitely going to be applying to UCSD next year (I'm a junior), and I was wondering what the difference is between the quarter system vs. semesters? So, if someone who attends UCSD, or someone who knows what the quarter system schedule is at USCD, can explain it, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>At a school on a semester system classes are about 15 weeks long I believe, plus a week of finals. At a school like UCSD on a quarter system, classes are 10 weeks long, plus a week of finals. This usually (but not necessarily) means that classes go at a faster pace during a quarter system than a semester system.</p>
<p>Personally, I like the quarter system because it pretty much forces you to keep on top of your studying. My high school was also on a quarter system so I’m pretty much used to it, but most students need some adjusting to the new system their first few quarters I’m sure.</p>
<p>Here’s some interesting info:</p>
<p>Pepperdine Academic Calendar (semester system): <a href=“http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/academics/calendar/[/url]”>http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/academics/calendar/</a>
Fall classes start on August 30th, 2010.
Finals week starts December 13th, 2010.
Spring classes start January 10th, 2011.
Finals week starts April 25th, 2011.</p>
<p>UCSD Academic Calendar (quarter system): <a href=“http://blink.ucsd.edu/instructors/resources/academic/calendars/2010.html[/url]”>http://blink.ucsd.edu/instructors/resources/academic/calendars/2010.html</a>
Fall classes start on September 23rd, 2010.
Finals week starts December 6th, 2010.
Winter classes start on January 3rd, 2011.
Finals week starts March 14th, 2011.
Spring classes start on March 28th, 2011.
Finals week starts June 6th, 2011.</p>
<p>Here’s some interesting info:</p>
<p>Pepperdine Academic Calendar (semester system): <a href=“http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/academics/calendar/[/url]”>http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/academics/calendar/</a>
Fall classes start on August 30th, 2010.
Finals week starts December 13th, 2010.
Spring classes start January 10th, 2011.
Finals week starts April 25th, 2011.</p>
<p>UCSD Academic Calendar (quarter system): <a href=“http://blink.ucsd.edu/instructors/resources/academic/calendars/2010.html[/url]”>http://blink.ucsd.edu/instructors/resources/academic/calendars/2010.html</a>
Fall classes start on September 23rd, 2010.
Finals week starts December 6th, 2010.
Winter classes start on January 3rd, 2011.
Finals week starts March 14th, 2011.
Spring classes start on March 28th, 2011.
Finals week starts June 6th, 2011.</p>
<p>Oops, sorry for the double post (originally triple). My browser has been freaking out today!</p>
<p>In a quarter system, ur behind in ur classes even before you start -_-</p>
<p>Also, on the quarter system you will likely only have 4 classes at one time. On the semester system, you will have 6 classes at one time.</p>
<p>^Ehhh I donno about that, my friends at semester schools still take only 16 units (4 classes) per semester on average</p>
<p>^ agreed. (i currently attend a semester-based school)</p>
<p>30 weeks of a class is 30 weeks of a class no matter how they split it up. You should also be thanking the quarter system from not allowing you to be abhorrently lazy. You SHOULD have enough free time and still do well.</p>
<p>Oh never mind, sorry. So then if you’re on the quarter system, you would take four more classes per year than those at a semester college? Hmm</p>
<p>well yeah, but it doesn’t really matter more. the only significant differences that i can think of between the two systems are that you have either 2 or 3 rounds of finals each year, and classes last either 10 or 15 weeks. </p>
<p>let’s say you’re taking a full year each of writing, calculus, and chemistry. on the quarter system, this would be 3 quarters of 3 classes x 10 weeks each = 30 weeks of 3 classes. on the semester system, this would be 2 semesters of 3 classes x 15 weeks each = 30 weeks of 3 classes again. at any given point in time during the school year you’re still taking 3 classes, regardless of the system.</p>
<p>Somehow it all works out, but 6 classes even on the semester system would be brutal</p>
<p>This helped me understand it a lot better! Thanks for your comments everyone!</p>
<p>Quarter system = more exams and a faster pace because professors need to cram material to make up for class time lost due to exams. For example, some classes at UCSD have 2-3 midterms and a final. But semester classes also have 2-3 midterms–not 4-5. Because exams take up a bigger proportion of class hours, more material has to be covered in the time that’s NOT exam time.</p>
<p>But I’m still a huge fan of quarter system because it allows you to not become trapped in a class/sequence/major/etc you don’t enjoy for more than 10 weeks : ) This is more advantageous of non science/engineering majors that have more freedom to chose their curriculum, but even for sci/engineer, it helps for squeezing in random GEs/etc.</p>
<p>Enjoy UCSD : ) Transfers are getting a shi*-ton of new buildings/facilities, so I think you’re going at a good time.</p>
<p>^ it’s becoming more popular for professors to schedule their midterms for non-class hours, like late weeknights, so lecture time isn’t disrupted. these modified exam times also have the added benefit that you can usually reserve a larger lecture hall than the one you normally have, allowing students to sit in every other seat instead of being crammed like sardines.</p>
<p>i don’t really get the “faster pace” thing though. you cover 30 weeks of general chemistry per academic year. whether this is split as 3 x 10-week quarters or 2 x 15-week semesters doesn’t make a difference.</p>
<p>^As far as faster pace, I think they were referring to the fact that some days were lost to testing. But I agree with you anyway, and yeah, scheduling midterms outside of class completely solves the problem.</p>