Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

Anybody have pros or cons about either system? Is the quarter system or semester system better (in your opinion), and why? Any information at all is appreciated!

By Nj777 (Nj777) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 11:53 pm: Edit

hmmmm... from what i can think of quarter keeps u busy throughout the year......then in a quarter system u can slack off for 1 quarter and still come back and improve your gpa while slacking off for an entire semester can be disastrous

By Mikemac (Mikemac) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 01:17 am: Edit

the quarter system is rushed and I would prefer the semester. Look at it this way; today is July 18th. Can you remember what you were doing the week leading up to 4th of July? Doesn't seem very long ago does it? But on a quarter system that was 3 weeks ago so in several of your classes you would be having midterms already this week!

Its a rushed pace and there's little time to relax and contemplate what you're learning; its like running a sprint each quarter.

By Mikemac (Mikemac) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 01:17 am: Edit

the quarter system is rushed and I would prefer the semester. Look at it this way; today is July 18th. Can you remember what you were doing the week leading up to 4th of July? Doesn't seem very long ago does it? But on a quarter system that was 3 weeks ago so in several of your classes you would be having midterms already this week!

Its a rushed pace and there's little time to relax and contemplate what you're learning; its like running a sprint each quarter.

By Drusba (Drusba) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 09:47 am: Edit

Do not consider either better than the other. Semester system spreads out the pace somewhat and subjects you to only two final exam times per year as opposed to three on the quarter system (assuming you do not go summers). Quarter system gives you less time to forget for an exam what you learned early in the quarter and usually fewer courses at one time -- one thing many learn in college is that it can be easier to take a lot of credit hours with fewer course subjects than taking a smaller number of credit hours with a lot of course subjects; in other words having 4 courses at 4 credit hours a piece for a total of 16 can be easier than having five courses at 3 credit hours a peice for a total of 15. The fewer subjects you have to study at one time the easier it is to manage the time.

By Stanfordrulez (Stanfordrulez) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 04:44 pm: Edit

The quarter system allows you to mess around with classes-- you can try a lot more new classes in a quarter system, since you get to choose thrice a year instead of twice.