Will Semesters vs. Quarters sway you?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>I've been wondering this a lot lately. So, I'm not sure if any community colleges are on the quarter system, but I must say I'm intrigued! Semesters are so long, and everyone on the quarter system who I've spoken with says they really like it. I found this article on UCLA's Admissions Blog, and thought I'd share! Very interesting!</p>

<p>"It’s a cold, rainy, morning and the UCLA campus is quiet. The students outside seem to shuffle from dorm room to library to lecture hall with everyone keeping their heads down focused on what they have to do in the next few days. It is finals week at UCLA, also known as “Dead Week,” and the normal hustle and bustle of Bruin walk is nowhere to be found. Everyone is snug with their noses down in the books, reviewing notes, studying slides, or like many others, catching up on weeks-worth of class material. However, UCLA students do have something to help them in climbing this mountain, and that, dear readers, is the quarter system.</p>

<p>So you’re thinking, “Grreeaaaattttt… the quarter system. 10 weeks of class and then BAM! Finals week!” No time to catch your breath or to relax. Not to mention the fact that you can anticipate a midterm, paper, or assignment every two to three weeks. So you ask, “Why would I want to do that?” Well take a step back and let’s compare and contrast the semester and quarter systems. There are three things that immediately stand out.</p>

<p>First, other universities that follow the semester system typically have 15 weeks of instruction with a midterm somewhere in the middle and a finals week at the end. So in that time you have a lot more time between midterms and finals, meaning more time in between to study, right? But if you are a little guilty of procrastinating, like myself, then that means more time to put off studying, and playing a whole lot more catch up later. With the quarter system, having a midterm/paper three weeks before a final ensures that the information stays fresh in your head so you don’t have to remember too far back. Sure, t is a fast pace, but I appreciated how much it kept me on my toes.</p>

<p>Second, spring break is a time for relaxing, traveling, enjoying the beach, or skiing. [Yep, that is right, in Southern California, we can do all those things.] For students on the semester system, many of you would have to enjoy your weeklong spring break in the middle of the semester. However, on the quarter system, spring break is between the Winter and Spring Quarters. Therefore, there is no need to study during Spring Break so students can truly enjoy their time off without needing to return to the same coursework to finish up finals. It’s a great way to enjoy your breaks without reservation and it’s nice that the quarters are all neatly packaged together.</p>

<p>Finally, the largest benefit of the quarter system is its added flexibility. It’s a harsh reality at every large public university that there is no guarantee that you will get EVERY single class you want and/or need EVERY single term. Because of that, having 12 quarter terms versus 8 semester terms over the course of four years means that you have more options to get the choice of classes that you need for your degree. On the semester system, if you don’t get the class you want, you have to wait a longer period of time, in some cases as long as a year. But, on the quarter system, if you don’t get the class you want, you can wait until next quarter or the quarter after. Also, if you don’t like a class, it’s only 10 weeks long. If you love a class, you can take more classes in that field in a variety of different topics offered. It’s definitely something that comes in handy among the myriad of other things that you can do at UCLA [ i.e. work, research, extracurricular participation, internships, intramural sports, social life, etc.].</p>

<p>Bottom line is that there are pros and cons of both systems and it’s a matter if finding the best fit for you. Students are successful in both and it’s a matter of rising to the challenges that each system brings. If the quarter or semester system makes a difference in your college selection process, keep an eye on what kind of system would best allow you to reach your goals."</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

2

<p>yeah its a great article, i read it a few weeks ago and after i was seriously thinking about doing the quarter system.</p>

<p>for me Winter and Summer intersessions at my CCC gave me an opportunity to raise my GPA, they were short intersessions (5 Weeks) and sometimes i’d do two in the summer and I just did way better.</p>

<p>the shorter quarter system is a faster pace and that is good for me because i thrive on meeting deadlines, if i have too much time on my hands i procrastinate. I love being rushed and I also love moving fast.
If I get accepted to Cal and UCLA, the quarter system gives UCLA the upper hand.</p>

3

<p>YES!!</p>

<p>I hate the semester system!!! Too long! Gets boring so fast! High School was a drag man! I’m on the quarter system now at UCI and I’m lovin’ it like no other! Quarters go by fast and you get to take more classes! Plus you can boost your GPA faster ;)</p>

4

<p>Jane and Sandaboy, my thoughts exactly! I’m really looking forward to the quarter system! </p>

<p>I loved the bit about spring break being right after the quarter ends! I hate stressing during spring break… for once I’d actually like to not have any work to do during that week! ha ha.</p>

5

<p>In my opinion, the biggest con to the quarter system is having to pay that much more for another set of textbooks but it’s not too big of a deal.</p>

6

<p>That’s why I love Chegg!</p>

7

<p>Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! dont tell them about Chegg!!!</p>

<p>hahahaha, i am actually a promoter, if anyone needs a discount PM me!</p>

<p>;)</p>

8

<p>De Anza, Foothill, and Lake Tahoe community college are three on quarter system. I prefer semester but of my two top schools (UCLA and Cal) I prefer UCLA, the quarter system school. But I’d be so so so happy with either, so in the end, no not really for me.</p>

9

<p>@jane - Are you serious?! Ahahah. I’ll hold you to it! :P</p>

<p>I think semester and quarter systems have their pros and cons. I think quarter is great, but it’s just so fast that you need to keep up. I’m a huge procrastinator so… Hahaha. There’s also tests/quizzes much more frequently. But you get to meet so much more people and engage in so much more activities. I love that.</p>

<p>Semester… I like that we learn more but it’s such a drag. 16-18 weeks seems like forever, and if you really hate that class then you’re screwed. Hahaha.</p>

10

<p>My community college is on a semester system. It’s dragging…everything goes so slow…and seem never ending.
I got to take classes during winter intersession (3 weeks ! ). The pace is superfast and intense but I love it !
I feel like the quarter system will make u concentrate more because it’s going by fast, whereas the semester system makes you think "Oh I have time…! " but then you procrastinate and when finals come, you = dead ! :slight_smile: lol</p>

11

<p>yes absolutely I would procrastinate wayyyyy to much for semesters I need some structure in my life</p>

12

<p>I don’t know if it will sway me…should it be that big a determiner??</p>

<p>How do the credits work out?? If 90 quarter credits are the equivalent of 60 semester, the 10 weeks can’t REALLY be compressed at all, instead it must just be less material, right?? So really the semester system is better. ?</p>

13

<p>3 quarters=2 semesters (essentially) 18+18=36, 11+11+11=33. So really its only 3 weeks left and the classes are slightly longer.</p>

14

<p>less* not left</p>

15

<p>i think its 12+12+12 (minimum to be full time student)</p>

16

<p>As a business major, I can tell you that it’s better to BUY a book and then resell it on either ebay or amazon marketplace…don’t let THIS secret out ;)</p>

17

<p>i’m on the quarter system at de anza now, and while i wouldn’t mind keeping it, i’d like to try the semester system just for a change, i’ve only taken one class on the semester system which i hardly remember lol, though i know i liked it</p>

18

<p>the days drag on… I can’t WAIT for quarters.</p>

19

<p>Yeah quarter system would put a little more pep into my step.</p>

20

<p>What many people don’t realize about the quarter system is that while quarters are shorter than semesters, our academic years tend to be longer. By the third quarter you just want it to be over. All your friends are done with school while you still have six or seven weeks left even though you start a month or less later than them.</p>