Quarter system: how do you keep up?

[GoodEarth]

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For people of quarter system how do you guys keep up with the tremendous amount of work in a short amount of time without feeling overwhelmed?

 

[UbuntuGM]

It's not unbearable. I have no idea what it feels like to be on a semester system, where you have to take a class for 5 weeks more than you would in a quarter system. Now that's crazy.

 

[snorlax]

Um I get overwhelmed every time.

 

[tlaloc87]

When it's all you've ever known in terms of college-level academics, the quarter system won't tend to overwhelm. It's only when compared to the pace of semester system courses that people start to worry--"How can I take a midterm during the third week of class?!" That just means starting day 1 you can't slack off. All in all, I much prefer the quarter system.

 

[Corpsman Up]

I completely get overwhelmed. On a quarter system, it seems if you slack off for 1 day you get completely destroyed

 

[UncleAdam27]

You're taking fewer classes right? At my undergraduate institution, we were on the quarter system though students typically only took 3 classes each quarter. So while each class is obviously fast-paced, you had fewer subjects to focus on at once. I HIGHLY prefer the quarter system after experiencing the semester system as a grad student. I'd much rather take 3 classes in a 10-week period than 5 classes in a 15-week period. Even though the classes are more fast-paced, I feel like I can learn the material better without having to spread myself too thinly across several subjects. I'm sure there are people out there who prefer the semester system though - the quarter system is simply my preference.

For people of quarter system how do you guys keep up with the tremendous amount of work in a short amount of time without feeling overwhelmed?

 

[Superman DO]

I really do not think there is that much work involved, and this is coming from a guy who works full-time too. . .just do some work every day, and then really bust your ass the week of midterms/finals. My community college was a semester system, and it draggggeeeeddd on. I am much happier with a quarter system.

 

[Hifey]

hmmm am I the only one that feels that even 10 weeks is too long? lol. I like summer sessions b/c they're only five weeks. Take two classes per five week session and you still have time to relax and have fun. I've personally never found the quarter system overwhelming...then again its all I know. Just study every week, keep on your homework and learn how to cram. It's pretty easy 👍

 

[Janieve]

If you have any skill at all in time management, the quarter system is awesome. I'm currently taking six classes (about 20 quarter credits) and I'm doing all right. I actually go to two separate schools, and I volunteer and work. I still have some free time, too!

I actually love the quarter system because you get to take new classes sooner than with the semester system. I went crazy on the semester system after I finished all the readings and required homework - it was just weeks of sitting in lecture with my DS waiting for the teacher to finally give us our exams. (We actually had Mario Kart tournaments every class for three weeks at one point.)

And I like the pace of the quarter system. Everything is finite. There's very little leeway in my classes, so when you go in you know exactly what's coming. You have the same class a few times a week, so the professor is never stuck going, "does anyone remember where we left off? I meant to mark my notes. Well, since you're all so quiet about it I guess we'll start at this section two pages ahead of where we actually left off, though I won't realize it until you're all hopelessly confused!"

Like I said. If you manage your time well, you'll do great on the quarter system.

 

[tlaloc87]

You're taking fewer classes right? At my undergraduate institution, we were on the quarter system though students typically only took 3 classes each quarter. So while each class is obviously fast-paced, you had fewer subjects to focus on at once.

I never understood how other quarter system schools only required three classes each quarter. Four was the norm at my Uni--three per quarter wasn't enough credits to graduate. In fact, a good number of my friends would take five or six (sometimes even seven!!) per quarter.

 

[Janieve]

I never understood how other quarter system schools only required three classes each quarter. Four was the norm at my Uni--three per quarter wasn't enough credits to graduate. In fact, a good number of my friends would take five or six (sometimes even seven!!) per quarter.

Since full-time for a quarter system school is 12 credits, and since most classes are 4 credits, I can get how people think assume that's all. But let's face it - you take the bare minimum, you're not graduating on time. If you do that, it takes 16 terms - roughly 5 years without summer school - to get enough credits to graduate, assuming you take all classes that count for your degree.

The average quarter system student takes what, 16 credits? Four classes or so. Sometimes more. Like I said, I'm taking six classes (two of which are 2 credit classes; such is life!), and that adds up to 20 credits. I know someone who petitioned the dean and is taking 24 credits - twice the 'full time' standard!

So yeah, we barely ever take just three classes. 🙄

 

[tlaloc87]

Since full-time for a quarter system school is 12 credits, and since most classes are 4 credits, I can get how people think assume that's all. But let's face it - you take the bare minimum, you're not graduating on time. If you do that, it takes 16 terms - roughly 5 years without summer school - to get enough credits to graduate, assuming you take all classes that count for your degree.

The average quarter system student takes what, 16 credits? Four classes or so. Sometimes more. Like I said, I'm taking six classes (two of which are 2 credit classes; such is life!), and that adds up to 20 credits. I know someone who petitioned the dean and is taking 24 credits - twice the 'full time' standard!

So yeah, we barely ever take just three classes. 🙄

I take back my previous statement. Really what I never understood was this whole 3 credit classes stuff. At my Uni it was 1 credit per class (sometimes 0.5 credits for music or dance classes, I think). It's a pain if you have 3 hours of lecture and 10 hours of lab per week for just one class, but it simplifies all this credit hour nonsense.

 

[DocMakey]

What time management strategies work? I'm 17, and I've been dreading to be a master with my time management skills for a while. Every day, I usually stay up until 2 am just to complete my work with AP Physics and AP Calculus Bc (Calc 1 & Calc 2). I've been wanting to be a "superman" with time management like the person above "Janieve". Is there any method I could use/develope overtime to reach this goal?

 

[amazing tekkers]

I use a basic planner. Plan out your week sunday night. Sleep early, wake up when your alarm goes off etc etc.

 

[Aerus]

You never really keep up; you just roll with it. Time management is key.

 

[allantois]

IMHO AP classes taught me good time management I still use today (at least for academic purposes).

 

[AlteredScale]

For people of quarter system how do you guys keep up with the tremendous amount of work in a short amount of time without feeling overwhelmed?

Do your readings early. You have to be ahead of the game constantly in order to on time. For me I will do a first reading of material 1-2 days out of the day that material is tested. I always try to do a second in depth read after the first read but sometimes that doesn't happen.

Unfortunately, there will simply be quarters where no matter what you do you will feel overwhelmed because the courses themselves are much more intensive (eg taking a UD lab course and 2 UD science courses)

 

[Shirafune]

You never really keep up; you just roll with it. Time management is key.

This. Pretty much sums up my quarter system life so far.
Here's some of my personal tips:

1) Make a study strategy for yourself that you know works for pretty much every class. It'll help when you're swamped and need to focus.
2) Take breaks and have fun! It's important to keep yourself from burning out by letting loose with your friends. Personally, going to special interest clubs and organizing events as an officers is socially fulfilling and hits the leadership "check box," if your thought process is so inclined.
3) Take a heavy course load when you start. Yes, people will tell you to take it slow when you start, just so you can adapt to college life. I think if you force yourself to keep up when you first start, you're all that much more prepared for your upper division coursework and every other thing you want to fit into your hectic schedule. And if you need to lighten your courseload, you don't have to worry about graduating later. Know the kind of person you are, this is no reason to start college off on the wrong foot. If you know 100% you aren't this kind of person, don't do it.
4) I make small goals to accomplish everyday so that I am not totally overwhelmed by all the due dates. Of course, I still procrastinate on somethings and you have to learn to be okay with that. Nobody is ever on schedule all the time. Be flexible with yourself. If you have a paper due in a week and your friends want to go out somewhere special, GO OUT! The paper can wait a day, and I am always more productive after a great night.

These are mostly general study/college tips, but #3 has definitely helped me the most. I am prepared to tackle all my more challenging upper division courses and take fewer classes to spend time on other ECs.

 

[Aerus]

This. Pretty much sums up my quarter system life so far.
Here's some of my personal tips:

1) Make a study strategy for yourself that you know works for pretty much every class. It'll help when you're swamped and need to focus.
2) Take breaks and have fun! It's important to keep yourself from burning out by letting loose with your friends. Personally, going to special interest clubs and organizing events as an officers is socially fulfilling and hits the leadership "check box," if your thought process is so inclined.
3) Take a heavy course load when you start. Yes, people will tell you to take it slow when you start, just so you can adapt to college life. I think if you force yourself to keep up when you first start, you're all that much more prepared for your upper division coursework and every other thing you want to fit into your hectic schedule. And if you need to lighten your courseload, you don't have to worry about graduating later. Know the kind of person you are, this is no reason to start college off on the wrong foot. If you know 100% you aren't this kind of person, don't do it.
4) I make small goals to accomplish everyday so that I am not totally overwhelmed by all the due dates. Of course, I still procrastinate on somethings and you have to learn to be okay with that. Nobody is ever on schedule all the time. Be flexible with yourself. If you have a paper due in a week and your friends want to go out somewhere special, GO OUT! The paper can wait a day, and I am always more productive after a great night.

These are mostly general study/college tips, but #3 has definitely helped me the most. I am prepared to tackle all my more challenging upper division courses and take fewer classes to spend time on other ECs.

It's amazing how much our philosophies align. I took huge loads of core and prereq courses my freshman and sophomore year. Right now, I could take my entire senior year with only pass/fail general ed classes and still graduate early if I decided to suddenly drop my "for fun" minors.

 

[Lawgiver]

pretend the quarter starts 2 weeks before it actually does. You will always be 2 weeks ahead of teh class...duh. 🙂

 

[Kochanie]

By the time I open the book, it's midterm week. 😀