Incorrect that students on the quarter system can’t have normal internships. Mine flew home at the end of May and started his internship the next week. He could also have had 6 weeks off now before returning to school, but he found that he is able to continue his internship (and continue getting paid) for several more weeks before having a long vacation with friends from school and then heading back to campus.

Parents and students who are concerned about the school calendar vs internships should talk to current students and admissions/advisors before making stupid assumptions about things not working out. Do the PPs seriously believe that students from UChicago, Northwestern, UCLA, etc., fail to get summer internships?! Such idiotic posts.

My Dd is the opposite. She left a week ago for a private and mostly all of her friends are still here (west coast) until mid-September!

Personally, I went to undergrad on semesters and grad school on quarters. Each have their pros and cons. Imagine that! But the east coast has to get out of the very provincial attitude that quarters are not normal.

Anonymous wrote: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.

I went to two of those schools (undergrad and grad) and loved the quarter system. At Dartmouth in particular it was nice to be there in late spring when the weather was nice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bigger issue seems to be the later start to summer break on quarter systems. Most internships have begun by June when classes end on the quarter system.

Is that really a problem? My organization doesn't hire undergrad interns, but we do have law clerks. It's no problem at all if one needs to start late and end late.

many banks have actual programs. the class comes in for orientation/training then moves into positions. they can't come in waves, that's not how they work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But they and maybe you too will love it when they are done at Thanksgiving but their semester peers have to return back to college after Turkey weekend. #Carleton

what kid wants to stay home after thanksgiving?

They do not stay home after Thanksgiving. Fall exams begin December 9, 2025 and end December 14, 2025.

https://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/calendars/academic-calendars/

Students on the quarter system take one less course per term than semester students, but take more courses per academic year due to 3 terms versus 2 semesters.

The pp who talked about staying home after Thanksgiving specifically referenced Carleton. So the Northwestern calendar is irrelevant.

My incoming freshman on a traditional semester system is disappointed that because exams start almost immediately after Thanksgiving, she'll probably be studying when home. Being done with the term by then would be great.

Incorrect. The poster above that poster referenced Carleton. The poster to whom I responded left the impression that it was true for all trimester & quarter systems when, in fact, it is not.

The posts on this topic, in order:

But they and maybe you too will love it when they are done at Thanksgiving but their semester peers have to return back to college after Turkey weekend. #Carleton


what kid wants to stay home after thanksgiving?


They do not stay home after Thanksgiving. Fall exams begin December 9, 2025 and end December 14, 2025.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But they and maybe you too will love it when they are done at Thanksgiving but their semester peers have to return back to college after Turkey weekend. #Carleton

what kid wants to stay home after thanksgiving?

They do not stay home after Thanksgiving. Fall exams begin December 9, 2025 and end December 14, 2025.

https://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/calendars/academic-calendars/

Students on the quarter system take one less course per term than semester students, but take more courses per academic year due to 3 terms versus 2 semesters.

The pp who talked about staying home after Thanksgiving specifically referenced Carleton. So the Northwestern calendar is irrelevant.

My incoming freshman on a traditional semester system is disappointed that because exams start almost immediately after Thanksgiving, she'll probably be studying when home. Being done with the term by then would be great.

Incorrect. The poster above that poster referenced Carleton. The poster to whom I responded left the impression that it was true for all trimester & quarter systems when, in fact, it is not.

Enjoy that month! Mine went back early to get a start on the internship they are doing this sweater! Wish I still had them another 3 weeks. I had a whole honey do list with them plus wanted to go to some concerts and theater and baking etc etc.

Anonymous wrote:The bigger issue seems to be the later start to summer break on quarter systems. Most internships have begun by June when classes end on the quarter system.

Is that really a problem? My organization doesn't hire undergrad interns, but we do have law clerks. It's no problem at all if one needs to start late and end late.

The bigger issue seems to be the later start to summer break on quarter systems. Most internships have begun by June when classes end on the quarter system.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But they and maybe you too will love it when they are done at Thanksgiving but their semester peers have to return back to college after Turkey weekend. #Carleton

what kid wants to stay home after thanksgiving?

They do not stay home after Thanksgiving. Fall exams begin December 9, 2025 and end December 14, 2025.

https://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/calendars/academic-calendars/

Students on the quarter system take one less course per term than semester students, but take more courses per academic year due to 3 terms versus 2 semesters.

The pp who talked about staying home after Thanksgiving specifically referenced Carleton. So the Northwestern calendar is irrelevant.

My incoming freshman on a traditional semester system is disappointed that because exams start almost immediately after Thanksgiving, she'll probably be studying when home. Being done with the term by then would be great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And you will have it on the back end when all of his friends are home working/having fun and he is stuck in finals in early June.

Something to consider when choosing a quarter system school.

Yeah, it's definitely miserable. I admit we didn't spend a lot time thinking about this. DC was excited for the idea of getting to take extra/shorter classes.

yep. My child is starting at Dartmouth and frankly they/we never gave the late start/late end a second thought but now is realizing that they wouldn't have picked the school for this reason. Too late now but it stinks.

Does Dartmouth still have the required summer at Dartmouth (I think after sophomore year)? That also seemed like a bad idea.

Yes they do - I didn't love the idea either until DC did it this summer and then I realized it's their best time of all. The class becomes very tight and teachers go easy on them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But they and maybe you too will love it when they are done at Thanksgiving but their semester peers have to return back to college after Turkey weekend. #Carleton

what kid wants to stay home after thanksgiving?

They do not stay home after Thanksgiving. Fall exams begin December 9, 2025 and end December 14, 2025.

https://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/calendars/academic-calendars/

Students on the quarter system take one less course per term than semester students, but take more courses per academic year due to 3 terms versus 2 semesters.

CalPoly is switching from quarter system to semester calendar to align better with other Cal State schools; however, the UC system (except Berkeley) will remain on the quarter system.

The later Fall start date allows for students to enjoy less crowded beaches & lower hotel rates before returning to school.

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.

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.

my kid found a lot of the top banking internships were off the table because of timeline

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But they and maybe you too will love it when they are done at Thanksgiving but their semester peers have to return back to college after Turkey weekend. #Carleton

what kid wants to stay home after thanksgiving?