Semester vs Quarter: Which one is right for you?

The Semester System

I liked the semester system because it lasts about 18-19 weeks. The longer time I had meant that I had more time to finish my work before the deadline. In addition, I found that it is more relaxed compared to the quarter system since I had longer breaks such as Christmas break, spring break, etc. However, the longer time period also meant that my teachers can give me more exams to take and more papers to turn in. This can work with you or against you. How? If you messed up on exams or papers during the beginning of the semester, you will have more chances of doing better on projects that you will turn in later on.

From experience, I was also able to get to know my teachers much better. You're probably asking why this is important. This is important because you will be able to gauge their teaching style such as how they structure their tests, how they grade your papers/exams, where they take exam questions from (e.g. from class notes or textbook), do they give extra credits, etc. Knowing these things are important if you want to do better on future assignments.

If you take a longer time learning new material OR if you have to work part-time, the semester system can be great for you. Although I did feel, at times, that I procrastinated more on studying and getting started on writing papers when I knew I had extra time. This is normal for everyone but try to schedule your time so that you're not doing everything at the last minute. Instead, use the extra time that you have to do productive work.

The Quarter System

The first time I experienced the quarter system, I was blown away. Quarter systems usually last about 10 weeks and so it goes by very fast. This fast pace means that you will have quizzes on the first week or exams during the second week of school. This also means that If you miss a class or two, you can get really behind on school work and you may miss out on important material which you might get tested on. Compared to the semester system, you will have lesser chances to fix your mistakes in the quarter system because you will have fewer exams and papers/projects to turn in.

Some advice I can give you is to stay on top of things by keeping tab of your exams and deadlines and by scheduling your work ahead of time. Avoid procrastination because you really don't have time to do that. Also, Give each class equal attention relative to their number of units. For example, a 3-unit class will have 9 hours of study time per week while a 1 unit class will have 3 hours of study time etc. If you develop a system like this but you still want to socialize or party, make sure that you can work around your schedule without taking time away from studying.

The semester system can be great in certain situations. For example, many students find that if they are taking a class or teacher they don't like, the class will be over quicker so they won't be miserable for a long time. In addition, if you happen to have a difficult class, the class material/concepts are usually easier to remember during final exams since only a few weeks have gone by since you took your midterm exams.

If you are new to the quarter system, keep in mind that adapting to it may be difficult at first but once you develop a system, you will start to perform better in your classes.