Quarter system at Northwestern

[Anonymous]

Does it feel rushed? Does short class terms mean less likelihood to get to know professors and get undergrad research? Is it harder to manager your course load when it is so rushed and constantly drinking from a fire hose with exams?

[Anonymous]

It’s terrible and a massive pressure cooker. Can’t ever be sick. The worst are matching times for internships and other activities.

[Anonymous]

Yes to all. But a quarter system also allows one to take a larger number of different classes compared to at a semester system (roughly 48 classes vs 40). This benefits those with an interest in double majoring. That was Northwestern's selling point when we toured.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s terrible and a massive pressure cooker. Can’t ever be sick. The worst are matching times for internships and other activities.

Companies will wait for student interns on the quarter system like UChicago, Stanford, NU and Dartmouth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes to all. But a quarter system also allows one to take a larger number of different classes compared to at a semester system (roughly 48 classes vs 40). This benefits those with an interest in double majoring. That was Northwestern's selling point when we toured.

Just take an extra class? I never get why this gets brought up as a benefit when you can just take one extra and balance your schedule better in a semester system. DS is a physics major and takes 6 classes a semester with 2 Physical Education classes, a piano lesson course, and a research 1/2 credit course each semester and is fine.

[Anonymous]

I went to NU as a STEM major and winter quarter (shortest quarter) can be tough. One year I did literally have a midterm every single week. That was the same year I had mono and it definitely wasn't easy, but I locked down and got through it. My now spouse and I spent a lot of our time together studying.

I didn't personally have any problems getting undergrad research or getting to know professors. I did also really enjoy the variety of classes and was very close to a double major (I ended up prioritizing research and didn't finish it).

It is a tough school, particularly in STEM, but if I had to do it all over again, I would still pick NU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s terrible and a massive pressure cooker. Can’t ever be sick. The worst are matching times for internships and other activities.

Companies will wait for student interns on the quarter system like UChicago, Stanford, NU and Dartmouth.

Ours doesn’t. If you can’t start on our date, you don’t get the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s terrible and a massive pressure cooker. Can’t ever be sick. The worst are matching times for internships and other activities.

Companies will wait for student interns on the quarter system like UChicago, Stanford, NU and Dartmouth.

Ours doesn’t. If you can’t start on our date, you don’t get the job.

That’s cool. Your company’s loss. Most are lining up at these schools to recruit interns.

[Anonymous]

The quarter system has really worked for my DC. Yes, it’s faster than a semester system, but semesters drag on—they ebb and flow. Quarters have a much more consistent pace. it hasn’t impacted my child’s ability to get to know his professors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s terrible and a massive pressure cooker. Can’t ever be sick. The worst are matching times for internships and other activities.

Northwestern has jobs/internships on its handshake that no other school has - other than quarter schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s terrible and a massive pressure cooker. Can’t ever be sick. The worst are matching times for internships and other activities.

Companies will wait for student interns on the quarter system like UChicago, Stanford, NU and Dartmouth.

Ours doesn’t. If you can’t start on our date, you don’t get the job.

That’s cool. Your company’s loss. Most are lining up at these schools to recruit interns.

It’s a buyer’s market. This is not 1997 and no one is waiting for kids from Northwestern when they can choose from MIT, CMU or even UIUC they know will be as good as NU

[Anonymous]

OP, I found it easier to manage course load in quarter system. Quarters do have a more consistent pace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s terrible and a massive pressure cooker. Can’t ever be sick. The worst are matching times for internships and other activities.

Northwestern has jobs/internships on its handshake that no other school has - other than quarter schools

I never had trouble getting internships at NU. You start later but you can stick around longer.

[Anonymous]

The academics are great. My daughter loves the pace of the quarter system. The social side of thing sucks. Her friends are coming home or otherwise starting their summers as early as next week (!) and she's in school for almost another 2 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it feel rushed? Does short class terms mean less likelihood to get to know professors and get undergrad research? Is it harder to manager your course load when it is so rushed and constantly drinking from a fire hose with exams?

They are not ideal for some. Was a turn off for my kid.