Having now been fully immersed in both systems of university schooling, it now feels like an appropriate time to assess which method of schooling is ultimately superior. This will be examined through the lens of various factors.
Factor 1: Workload
At the end of the day I would probably say the workload is about the same for both systems. Being that the semester system allocates more time and leeway to complete said tasks though, the semester system gets a point.
Semester: +1
Quarter: 0
Factor 2: Completion of Units
At the same time, being that the quarter system is 10-11 weeks (with the inclusion of Finals), the semester system is 15-16 weeks. This means, at the end of the day you’ll be able to complete three quarters in a year, as opposed to only two semesters. This means, if you want to graduate sooner and spend less money, the quarter system is a much more efficient mechanism by which to do so.
Semester: 1
Quarter: +1
Factor 3:Â Breaks
Depending on how you spin it, Semester students get roughly two more weeks of Winter Break than Quarter students. At the same time, they both have roughly the same amount of “summer break”, although the semester system does start roughly a month before the quarter students are in school. Being that I could subjectively care less when my break is, I highly prefer having more of it than less. Figuring out what to do in that time though, proved itself a hassle this summer with no ready source of income directly flowing in.
Semester: +2
Quarter: 1
Factor 4: Pacing
At exactly the same time, the quarter system is much better at pacing than the semester system. You’re constantly getting roughly the same amount of work week after week, constantly panicking about midterms and finals. The semester system on the other hand has an unequal pace, with the first half of the semester being extremely easy and lightweight in terms of workload, while the second half tends to pile up work in order to compensate. As a result, the quarter system is superior in maintaining a constant influx of stress.
Semester: 2
Quarter: +2
Factor 5: Stress
The final factor remains rather subjective in a sense that some people are more able to cope with stress in a shorter time-frame than a longer one. Being that I was able to more micromanage my stress in the semester system, able to balance a part-time job and past and present relationships with friends, I think the semester system for me is a much more adaptive and flexible system by which to personally deal with.
But enough about me, which system do you think is superior for college students?
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