Strange situation: transferred from quarter system to semester midyear

[tewpac]

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I'm in a bit of a weird situation with my physics pre-reqs and would like to know if anyone else has been in a similar circumstance. I was originally in a quarter system school where I was completing Physics I. It was the Fall Quarter and I transferred to a semester system school directly after. So I came in to the new school as a Spring transfer student where I finished off with their Physics II.

Basically, I have Physics I (quarter) and Physics II (semester) now. I know schools consider 3 quarters=1 year and two semesters=1 year, so I guess I'm in between?

I tried calling some schools but I don't think they understood what I was asking 🙁. So has anyone been in a similar situation or thinks it will be a problem? Worst case I can retake Physics I if I need too.

 

[plumhill]

I'm in a bit of a weird situation with my physics pre-reqs and would like to know if anyone else has been in a similar circumstance. I was originally in a quarter system school where I was completing Physics I. It was the Fall Quarter and I transferred to a semester system school directly after. So I came in to the new school as a Spring transfer student where I finished off with their Physics II.

Basically, I have Physics I (quarter) and Physics II (semester) now. I know schools consider 3 quarters=1 year and two semesters=1 year, so I guess I'm in between?

I tried calling some schools but I don't think they understood what I was asking 🙁. So has anyone been in a similar situation or thinks it will be a problem? Worst case I can retake Physics I if I need too.

You're in the same situation as a large number of students in Ohio. You might actually be a little short :/ Usually 1 semester = 1.5 quarters, so it looks like you have 2.5 quarters of material covered, rather than 3. But I think in your situation there's no way to take half a quarter's worth of material, so I'd say that schools should be understanding of your situation, as long as you feel you learned all of the material. If you're really worried, see if there's a physics elective you can take.

 

[Arkaine]

As a student from Ohio, I can attest to your troubles. The statewide quarter to semester transition has been a nightmare for a lot of students looking towards graduate or professional school. While you may not have taken years worth of physics classes, you may have successfully completed the "series" so to speak.

Check to see how your Physics I (quarters) class was transferred on your transcript. If it transferred to the semester equivalent, you may actually have a years worth of physics. Otherwise you can show documentation from your Physics I syllabus and Physics II syllabus to petition that you have covered all material in the series. This proof can either be shown to your current school (so they could adjust your transcript accordingly) or to medical schools in the future (to show you have successfully completed a years worth of physics as determined by your school).

 

[plumhill]

Also, check to see if your school offers bridge courses between quarters and semesters. I don't know where you go but at OSU there are bridge courses between Quarter 1 to Semester 2 for all sequence classes (Physics, Chem, Math, etc) that cover the first half of material from Quarter 2 so that students can make up the missed material and go onto the 2nd semester, and I think they'll be offering the bridge courses for at least another or year or so.

 

[tewpac]

You're in the same situation as a large number of students in Ohio. You might actually be a little short :/ Usually 1 semester = 1.5 quarters, so it looks like you have 2.5 quarters of material covered, rather than 3. But I think in your situation there's no way to take half a quarter's worth of material, so I'd say that schools should be understanding of your situation, as long as you feel you learned all of the material. If you're really worried, see if there's a physics elective you can take.

As a student from Ohio, I can attest to your troubles. The statewide quarter to semester transition has been a nightmare for a lot of students looking towards graduate or professional school. While you may not have taken years worth of physics classes, you may have successfully completed the "series" so to speak.

Check to see how your Physics I (quarters) class was transferred on your transcript. If it transferred to the semester equivalent, you may actually have a years worth of physics. Otherwise you can show documentation from your Physics I syllabus and Physics II syllabus to petition that you have covered all material in the series. This proof can either be shown to your current school (so they could adjust your transcript accordingly) or to medical schools in the future (to show you have successfully completed a years worth of physics as determined by your school).

I had no idea about the switch from quarter to semester systems in Ohio, I guess there are going to be many students in my situation, hopefully schools will understand. I did make a note of it in my secondaries wherever possible though. I did great in both courses so that may help.

When I transferred I was not given credit for Physics I from the new school, however, I did have to speak with the head of the department about permission to enroll in Physics II. He did look over my syllabus for Physics I and said it was okay, then allowed me to enroll in Physics II. So I might try to see if I can get my transcripts updated with credit for it.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[tewpac]

Also, check to see if your school offers bridge courses between quarters and semesters. I don't know where you go but at OSU there are bridge courses between Quarter 1 to Semester 2 for all sequence classes (Physics, Chem, Math, etc) that cover the first half of material from Quarter 2 so that students can make up the missed material and go onto the 2nd semester, and I think they'll be offering the bridge courses for at least another or year or so.

That would be perfect but I'll have to look in to that, I doubt my school offers it though. If anything they should be giving me credit for Physics I because I would not have been able to enroll in Physics II if the head of the physics dept. didn't give me the go ahead.

 

[plumhill]

I had no idea about the switch from quarter to semester systems in Ohio, I guess there are going to be many students in my situation, hopefully schools will understand. I did make a note of it in my secondaries wherever possible though. I did great in both courses so that may help.

When I transferred I was not given credit for Physics I from the new school, however, I did have to speak with the head of the department about permission to enroll in Physics II. He did look over my syllabus for Physics I and said it was okay, then allowed me to enroll in Physics II. So I might try to see if I can get my transcripts updated with credit for it.

Thanks for the replies!

Even if your new school didn't give you credit for it, it'll be on your old school's transcript which is all that matters.