by Jesse Sparks
While some students are already back in the classrooms, many others — myself included — are still waiting for their chance to step foot on campus. At times like these, students can easily think back and question why they chose the quarter system in the first place.
When you’re college-searching, the wonders of the mythical quarter system seem endless. At least, they did to me. After hearing countless times of how much students “relish the opportunity” to take more classes than they would be able to on a semester system and how students enjoy the quarter system’s pacing, I was convinced that this new system would be a godsend. For those unfamiliar with these seemingly strange academic terms, the quarter system divides the calendar year into four seasonal academic terms.
Here are five things I wish I’d known before diving into the school year.
1. The quarter system moves quickly.
Sure, it sounds simple and blatantly obvious. But, surviving the quarter rests on your abilities to manage your time.
At first, everything will feel laid back, but when professors start letting you know that you’ll have midterms after you’ve been in the class for what feels like 15 minutes, you may feel a little pressed for time. One of the best ways to cope with this: buy a planner and actually use it.
2. Midterms come quickly, but never seem to leave.
Unlike some semester-based classes, ones on the quarter system will likely have you taking midterms from the second or third week through the week before finals.
The best way to handle this: Talk to your professors. Find out when the midterms are, ask about their formats and the best way to prepare. Often, this will be covered on syllabi, if so, take note. If not, don’t hesitate to ask, but do so respectfully. While it can be a little nerve-wracking to do so, you’ll find that the dangers (er, midterms) you know about are better than the ones you don’t.
3. Be prepared to be on differing schedules with many of your friends on alternate academic term systems.
As you may now know, the differing schedules can be brutal, especially when you’re one of the few college students that has yet to leave for school.
Since this is pretty much out of your hands, put the free time to good use by using it to develop yourself before stepping onto campus. Rather than spending another six hours on Netflix, work on teaching yourself a new skill or a new language using Codecademy or Duolingo, respectively. You could even begin looking at the coursework you hope to take and what skills and materials would be required so you can hit the ground running.
By doing these, you’ll appreciate the self-improvement and people won’t judge you as harshly as they would have if you’d told them you spent the equivalent of three straight weeks watching Netflix and eating your weight in Oreos. It’s a win-win.
4. Be prepared to explain what the quarter system is and its associated trials and tribulations.
While it can get a little exhausting, repeatedly explaining the quarter system can help you take stock of the benefits of your school’s schedule, whether they be longer-feeling summers or the pacing of coursework. After a while, you’ll start sounding just like the students who wooed you into enrolling. You’ll even find yourself believing it.
5.The best way to manage the quarter system is to just embrace it.
The quarter system can be a great thing, so long as you prepare for it! Don’t take it for granted. In a single year, you’ll have the freedom to get right into your major classes more quickly, while also having the freedom to take courses outside of your interests. You’ll get a chance to fall in love with different aspects of your coursework and befriend students that you would not have normally had the chance to meet.
Although it can be a burden to explain why you’re still at home and assure people that you were, indeed, telling the truth about going to college, life on the quarter system definitely makes up for any of its cons.
