Quarter system bummer

[Anonymous]

As someone who went to school on the quarter system and has taught at Unis with both quarter and semester—Quarters are the absolute best. Students take fewer courses so are more focused. If you love a subject you can take the next in the series; if you hate it you are almost done by the time you decide that. I wish way more schools were on quarters.

[Anonymous]

People, stop harshing on OP. Her son misses his friends and feels left behind. Even if it’s temporary, OP is lamenting that.

DCUM runs on this kind of venting. Lighten up, people!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is sitting here waiting for college to start. All friends have left already. My socials are filled with happy drop off posts. My kid doesn't even know what classes he's taking. Yeah it's a month and it'll go by, but it's pretty darn annoying.

I went through this last year. It was a drag. Your kid should get a job to fill time. The upside is once they go, they are ecstatic and jump right in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who went to school on the quarter system and has taught at Unis with both quarter and semester—Quarters are the absolute best. Students take fewer courses so are more focused. If you love a subject you can take the next in the series; if you hate it you are almost done by the time you decide that. I wish way more schools were on quarters.

Quarters are the absolute worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who went to school on the quarter system and has taught at Unis with both quarter and semester—Quarters are the absolute best. Students take fewer courses so are more focused. If you love a subject you can take the next in the series; if you hate it you are almost done by the time you decide that. I wish way more schools were on quarters.

Quarters are the absolute worst.

Yes, I prefer nickels and dimes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who went to school on the quarter system and has taught at Unis with both quarter and semester—Quarters are the absolute best. Students take fewer courses so are more focused. If you love a subject you can take the next in the series; if you hate it you are almost done by the time you decide that. I wish way more schools were on quarters.

Quarters are the absolute worst.

Ironic that Dartmouth is on quarters as they play a lot of quarters there - I'm assuming the summer session is non-stop quarters.

[Anonymous]

On FB, DD asked HS acquaintances, "Hey, who's still around?" A group of girls (on the quarter system) went to the beach together. Most had known each other, somewhat, for years. Just not in the same friend group in HS. It worked out great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who went to school on the quarter system and has taught at Unis with both quarter and semester—Quarters are the absolute best. Students take fewer courses so are more focused. If you love a subject you can take the next in the series; if you hate it you are almost done by the time you decide that. I wish way more schools were on quarters.

Quarters are the absolute worst.

+1 for my dyslexic kid. We ruled out quarter system schools because there’s no way DC would be able to keep up with history or lit reading loads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On FB, DD asked HS acquaintances, "Hey, who's still around?" A group of girls (on the quarter system) went to the beach together. Most had known each other, somewhat, for years. Just not in the same friend group in HS. It worked out great!

Facebook? You must be kidding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who went to school on the quarter system and has taught at Unis with both quarter and semester—Quarters are the absolute best. Students take fewer courses so are more focused. If you love a subject you can take the next in the series; if you hate it you are almost done by the time you decide that. I wish way more schools were on quarters.

This -- I went to two colleges. One with semester and the other with quarters. Quarters are better. My kid is at a school on quarters. Sure, s/he left a little later than peers, but it was fine. Once they are in their second year of college and beyond, it doesn't matter much because many kids aren't coming home for the summer because of internships, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who went to school on the quarter system and has taught at Unis with both quarter and semester—Quarters are the absolute best. Students take fewer courses so are more focused. If you love a subject you can take the next in the series; if you hate it you are almost done by the time you decide that. I wish way more schools were on quarters.

Quarters are the absolute worst.

+1 for my dyslexic kid. We ruled out quarter system schools because there’s no way DC would be able to keep up with history or lit reading loads.

My dyslexic kid chose a school with quarters because he'll take fewer classes at a time. Granted he's a stem major, but taking 3 classes at a time for 7 weeks is easier for him to manage than 5 classes for 15 weeks. Accommodations, including audio books, help too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is sitting here waiting for college to start. All friends have left already. My socials are filled with happy drop off posts. My kid doesn't even know what classes he's taking. Yeah it's a month and it'll go by, but it's pretty darn annoying.

It does not sound like your dc is "sitting here waiting for college to start"- it sounds like he is working. Also, it is such a great opportunity to do stuff he won't have time for once schools starts - take a trip, write a play, learn a new sport, whatever. Stop obsessing about your "socials." You shouldn't want your kid to choose a college based on how soon you can post on Instagram. Quarter system schools are not for everyone - but leaving late/getting home late is the silliest reason to have regret over that decision, IMO. Also, are there no other kids from his HS going to Chicago, NU, Stanford, UCs, etc etc. There are so many quarter schools. My dd is at a semester college but starts significantly later than most of her HS friends and she really loved having that few weeks before freshman year. Also, MANY kids do not know what classes they are taking until they get to campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who went to school on the quarter system and has taught at Unis with both quarter and semester—Quarters are the absolute best. Students take fewer courses so are more focused. If you love a subject you can take the next in the series; if you hate it you are almost done by the time you decide that. I wish way more schools were on quarters.

Quarters are the absolute worst.

+1 for my dyslexic kid. We ruled out quarter system schools because there’s no way DC would be able to keep up with history or lit reading loads.

My dyslexic kid chose a school with quarters because he'll take fewer classes at a time. Granted he's a stem major, but taking 3 classes at a time for 7 weeks is easier for him to manage than 5 classes for 15 weeks. Accommodations, including audio books, help too.

Yup, it just depends on the kid and what works best for their particular situation. It’s great that there are options!

[Anonymous]

Stanford, U Chicago, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Caltech, Carleton College, U Washington, UCLA and most U California schools (except Berkeley) are on the quarter system.

I love the quarter system as I prefer to stay focused and enjoy just taking 4 courses (3 at Dartmouth) per term.

Semester system has too much free time.

[Anonymous]

Also, don't students engaged in Fall sports start early at quarter system & trimester system schools ?