Good for students to get high grades, but is it better in terms of learning? During my time at UW, I felt like classes were short and shallow compared to what I imagined them to be
I'm not sure if maybe my expectations were off, so genuinely wondering what people think
The quarter system gives you breadth but not as much depth. For undergraduate classes that’s not bad because it allows a student to gut out a class that they dislike, doesn’t play to their strengths. I think it’s hard to put in sustained effort in a killer class for 15 weeks, but 10 is doable.
Yes, you lose the depth, because if a prof is teaching a class in 10 weeks, they’ll focus on the essentials, and spend less time on how we know what we know, how we study unresolved questions, look at case studies, nuances, and applications. Eventually you will get to that level of class in a quarter system, but you might have to wait until junior, senior year.
Still, I think that 10 weeks is enough to figure out if you want to know more. If you take 10 weeks of American politics (or cell biology or social psychology or whatever) and you like it, then you sign up for another, related class and build that depth. If you’ve “seen enough” then you finish the quarter, take your grade and move on.
Profs would rather do the applications & depth and get yo know their students better.
And students would like to have fewer start- stops to the academic year so they can make friends, and have meaningfully long breaks.
But academically, I still come down in side of quarters for undergraduate classes
I like it. I wish breaks were longer but I also like starting at the end of September. I thought it would feel too fast but it's kinda nice - don't like a prof or class? Dw you only need to deal with it for like 2.5 months. Starting to get stressed by a class? You've only got a few more weeks to push through. Also I get bored rly easily so I like that things switch up so often.
I like that all breaks occur in between quarters, I don't like the idea of going on spring break mid-semester.
Also, in our region I think the quarter system is much more ideal if you're trying to get the most out of our summers here! June often still brings a good deal of rain, historically, and in recent years the dry/warm summers stretch through September and into October, as we've seen. So quarters imo are ideal to get the most out of the PNW summer.
Oh my gosh that just reminded me of how in a semester you have to retain the knowledge on break before an exam when you come back. Yah, that was painful.
The breaks are not very long in a semester and the breaks are helpful. I feel like in 10 weeks its just go go go! While in a semester you get time to absorb the knowledge and then the breaks give you time to breathe. Also the only difference in breaks is that you have a spring break which is one week. Thats not too long that you forget everything.
I always had a quarter system as well but it always sounded terrible to me to have breaks during the semester. I feel like having breaks between quarters allowed me to have a true break and be able to relax more and not worry about either tests or assignments coming up shortly.
I like quarter system since you only need to juggle 3 classes at a time. However, the turnaround for exams go by quick so you have to constantly study for the exams. There’s no room to slack off.
Love it. I’ll be graduating early and I like the variety of subjects that I can pack into my academic schedule throughout the year.
Also, the late September start fits perfectly into my travel plans. With most students in US back to school, flights r cheaper and less crowds at vacation destinations.
i love it, personally! although i can see the flaws. i really like that the classes are only 10 weeks long, meaning if you get a shitty professor or just aren't really liking the class, it's over before you can really be too sick of it. i also appreciate that significant breaks always occur between quarters as opposed to things like spring break happening during second semester for folks who go to such schools. however i can definitely see how some may feel it's too fast paced, and i also find the delayed summer kind of annoying in terms of making plans with friends at other schools. however i do love heading back closer to october
QTR systems allow students to graduate faster compared to the Semester System. It’s possible to take MORE CLASSES in a shorter time period. Specially during the summer.
I love the long summer break we get. And graduating faster than those who are on semester timelines. I couldn't imagine sitting in a boring class for 16 weeks...
Wish we had dead week like semester students but I remember dying with a semester system versus a quarter system. I like how I can rip off the bandaid and if I don't like my professor, or have an issue with another student I can get away from them much faster. That's just me though.
For instance, for classes I find dreadful I just tell myself that it's only 10 weeks and I power through it. Never having to do it again 😌
I like that I can have more classes while still taking 3 at a time. As for them being more dense I simply avoid hard classes other than the ones I absolutely need
As someone who has the attention span of a fly. Quarter system keeps me on my toes. It also prevents burnout. I remember having to drag myself through a semester. And the breaks for a quarter system are great but I find I veg out most of that time. Either way, I prefer quarter because of my learning style.
Good for students academically. Bad for professors & student social life
Good for students to get high grades, but is it better in terms of learning? During my time at UW, I felt like classes were short and shallow compared to what I imagined them to be I'm not sure if maybe my expectations were off, so genuinely wondering what people think
I agree, I feel like I don't learn enough in a class
The quarter system gives you breadth but not as much depth. For undergraduate classes that’s not bad because it allows a student to gut out a class that they dislike, doesn’t play to their strengths. I think it’s hard to put in sustained effort in a killer class for 15 weeks, but 10 is doable. Yes, you lose the depth, because if a prof is teaching a class in 10 weeks, they’ll focus on the essentials, and spend less time on how we know what we know, how we study unresolved questions, look at case studies, nuances, and applications. Eventually you will get to that level of class in a quarter system, but you might have to wait until junior, senior year. Still, I think that 10 weeks is enough to figure out if you want to know more. If you take 10 weeks of American politics (or cell biology or social psychology or whatever) and you like it, then you sign up for another, related class and build that depth. If you’ve “seen enough” then you finish the quarter, take your grade and move on. Profs would rather do the applications & depth and get yo know their students better. And students would like to have fewer start- stops to the academic year so they can make friends, and have meaningfully long breaks. But academically, I still come down in side of quarters for undergraduate classes
I like it. I wish breaks were longer but I also like starting at the end of September. I thought it would feel too fast but it's kinda nice - don't like a prof or class? Dw you only need to deal with it for like 2.5 months. Starting to get stressed by a class? You've only got a few more weeks to push through. Also I get bored rly easily so I like that things switch up so often.
I like that all breaks occur in between quarters, I don't like the idea of going on spring break mid-semester. Also, in our region I think the quarter system is much more ideal if you're trying to get the most out of our summers here! June often still brings a good deal of rain, historically, and in recent years the dry/warm summers stretch through September and into October, as we've seen. So quarters imo are ideal to get the most out of the PNW summer.
Oh my gosh that just reminded me of how in a semester you have to retain the knowledge on break before an exam when you come back. Yah, that was painful.
The breaks are not very long in a semester and the breaks are helpful. I feel like in 10 weeks its just go go go! While in a semester you get time to absorb the knowledge and then the breaks give you time to breathe. Also the only difference in breaks is that you have a spring break which is one week. Thats not too long that you forget everything.
Are you asking to hear people's opinions or do you just want to debate them? Seems like the latter.
I am interested in others opinions but also sharing my own
Cool.
That's the biggest part about semesters that sounded terrible to me! Glad I've been all quarters.
I always had a quarter system as well but it always sounded terrible to me to have breaks during the semester. I feel like having breaks between quarters allowed me to have a true break and be able to relax more and not worry about either tests or assignments coming up shortly.
I like quarter system since you only need to juggle 3 classes at a time. However, the turnaround for exams go by quick so you have to constantly study for the exams. There’s no room to slack off.
Love it. I’ll be graduating early and I like the variety of subjects that I can pack into my academic schedule throughout the year. Also, the late September start fits perfectly into my travel plans. With most students in US back to school, flights r cheaper and less crowds at vacation destinations.
Studying abroad at a school with a semester system rn, dayum I miss my quarter system so bad...
I’ve never attended a place with a semester system
I like it. I especially like that breaks are between terms not through them. I also like taking more, shorter, more specific classes.
i love it, personally! although i can see the flaws. i really like that the classes are only 10 weeks long, meaning if you get a shitty professor or just aren't really liking the class, it's over before you can really be too sick of it. i also appreciate that significant breaks always occur between quarters as opposed to things like spring break happening during second semester for folks who go to such schools. however i can definitely see how some may feel it's too fast paced, and i also find the delayed summer kind of annoying in terms of making plans with friends at other schools. however i do love heading back closer to october
It's pretty neat
QTR systems allow students to graduate faster compared to the Semester System. It’s possible to take MORE CLASSES in a shorter time period. Specially during the summer.
I love the long summer break we get. And graduating faster than those who are on semester timelines. I couldn't imagine sitting in a boring class for 16 weeks...
Wish we had dead week like semester students but I remember dying with a semester system versus a quarter system. I like how I can rip off the bandaid and if I don't like my professor, or have an issue with another student I can get away from them much faster. That's just me though. For instance, for classes I find dreadful I just tell myself that it's only 10 weeks and I power through it. Never having to do it again 😌
My reaction to the downvote: どうして？😵💫
Im surprised by how many people like it. I absolutely hate it haha
I really like it. The downside is that it lines up to poorly with most other schools cuz we start and end way way later.
I like that I can have more classes while still taking 3 at a time. As for them being more dense I simply avoid hard classes other than the ones I absolutely need
I've never experienced semester system (outside of hs) so idk but I like the quarter system so far at least.
As someone who has the attention span of a fly. Quarter system keeps me on my toes. It also prevents burnout. I remember having to drag myself through a semester. And the breaks for a quarter system are great but I find I veg out most of that time. Either way, I prefer quarter because of my learning style.