THE QUARTER SYSTEM AND WHY IT IS NOT LIKE A SEMESTER SCHOOL
Start writing a post
Student Life

THE QUARTER SYSTEM AND WHY IT IS NOT LIKE A SEMESTER SCHOOL

YOU SHOULD BE GLAD YOUR SCHOOL DOESN'T HAVE IT

306
THE QUARTER SYSTEM AND WHY IT IS NOT LIKE A SEMESTER SCHOOL
Quotefancy

Ahh, the quarter system, the drunk uncle to the semester system. A ten-week term created to simultaneously destroy your GPA and mental state. There are very few schools that employed the quarter system, and with good reason too. The schools who use the quarter system are mainly those who offer Co-Op to their students. Co-Op is a 6 month paid/unpaid job that you find through your universities resources. The quarter system allows you to work a "real" job while not in school, two terms of class, then two terms of Co-Op. This means you have no summer except after your freshman year. If you choose to do one Co-Op then you graduate in four years, but if you do three Co-Ops, then you graduate in five. Most students choose four years because they either want to get into the working world as quickly as possible or plan to just go to grad school right after and don't want to bother with an extra year of undergrad. While Co-Op is great it means we never get more than a week of break from either school or work, for four years straight.

Now I know what you're thinking, what's so hard about that it's less work in less time, it should all even out. Well, it doesn't. Semester schools start having exams around week 7. We start around week 3. That's a huge difference of time between exams. Even though we have less time, we still cover a lot of material. There's nothing like the stress of exams after you just finished settling into your apartment, there is just something about those two aspects of life that they shouldn't be so close to each other.

These ten weeks are the worst you will go through, but you still want to do it all over again.

There are good things about the quarter system, like Co-Op, and the ability to take more classes, but you really have to take everything into account when deciding where to attend school. Personally, I like it, I may complain about it a lot. However, I would never change it for a semester-based system. Semesters are long and drawn out, if I have the ability to quickly go through classes, in order to take more classes, then I want to take that chance. I like being busy. I like the ability to jam pack my days and feel productive every day.

When I approach each new term I know I need to plan out every aspect as much as I can. The key to this school system, I've learned, is time management. There is nothing more important when you have five entire courses crammed into ten weeks. Planning out when to study, work out, and what time you have for extracurriculars is the most important step before the start of each term. If you cannot plan out your schedule to fit in everything, you're not going to succeed each term.

You just have to remember it's a lot of work, but it's worth it, if you can make it threough the journey.



Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

54190
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

34878
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957225
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

182699
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments