Spare a Quarter

Graduating late at the University of Arizona is pretty run of the mill. It is not unusual for seniors to take a victory lap whether that is during the summer after graduation, a semester the next year or even an entire year later. Some students take a little longer, but that is not as commonplace. There are different reasons for graduating late, but usually it can be attributed to a change of heart. Most students change their major at least once if not multiple times. This presents problems at schools on the semester system because it is challenging to take all the required classes by the time graduation rolls around.
            Alternatively, the quarter system exists at some schools, which allows for more class exploration. Schools such as UCLA and the University of Oregon have four academic quarters, including summer, which is optional. To give some context, 1.5 quarters is equivalent to 1 semester. This is a faster paced schedule because quarters are shorter. By the time a collegiette has memorized her classes, it is time for midterms and then finals. Schools such as Santa Clara University start later in the year and end in June. There are pros and cons to each system but as SCU student Hannah Henderson puts it, “I could probably graduate early if I wanted to. They tell us to take classes just to take them because you have a lot of flexibility. It’s easier to get classes because there are three opportunities to do that in a year.” In contrast, the only way to graduate early from a school like U of A is if a student comes in with a bunch of credits from high school or if they take upwards of 19 units.
 
            The semester system is beneficial for people who like to take their time and have a clear idea of what they want to major in. There is more room for error when it comes to grades because there are plenty of opportunities for redemption. In the quarter system, “If you miss one class you’ll probably be far behind. You never have time to screw around.” The best part is definitely that if you don’t like a class it’s over before you know it.” Students at the U of A might appreciate a more rapid semester because they don’t have to waste their time in classes with professors they dislike. On the other hand, there are opportunities to take more classes with teachers they like later on in the year.
            There is nothing more frustrating than leaving an appointment with an advisor only to learn that you will not be able to graduate by the end of senior year. It is difficult to know if a major is a good fit without taking at least one required class. For example, a student might think business is a safe major but after barely making a C in MIS they decide to switch to a Spanish major. If he or she does not like Spanish, they are probably almost half way thru college and don’t have enough time to follow their real passion. Ultimately, the quarter system versus the semester system depends on the student. Some people like to explore their options, others are right on track and most will probably say they don’t mind graduating late because they are not ready for the real world quite yet.