The College of California, Los Angeles is a public institution heart of Westwood Village. Founded in 1919; it offers 121 undergraduate programs for students. The campus is open to cultural and ethnic diversity so it encourages creativity, art, debate, criticism, and international research. UCLA encompasses a positive demeanor because of not only the shining sun but moreover due to astounding accomplishments just like the participation of its alumni in the development of the Internet. UCLA is one of the most competitive universities in the world and the best in the United States. The University follows education, research, and excellence as daily mantras. Does UCLA use Semesters or Quarters? Lets find out does UCLA use semesters or quarters?
Quarter System in UCLA
Like many other American systems, most American colleges and Universities follow a quarter system rather than semesters. UCLA University relies on four ten-week terms in fall, winter, spring, and summer. The fall quarter is from September to December, the winter quarter lasts from January to March (Spring break), and the spring quarter is from March to June. If you are enrolled in summer classes so you will have a summer quarter. UCLA’s law and medical school are the only ones that switched back to the semester system in 1978.
Students usually take 3 to 4 courses per term for a total of 9-12 credits. The quarter system goes fast so you have to respect your deadlines and prepare yourself for midterms and finals. Being enrolled in a quarter system demands a high level of self-discipline and time management; you do not only have to respect academic deadlines but also personal deadlines like papers, projects, essays, readings, and extracurricular activities. Another problem is that students do never get the chance to establish personal connections with professors.
In the quarter system, you have to start revising one week before your finals or midterms, for example, one week before your exams you should start gathering your notes, and outlines to get ready for your tests. Even if your preparation for the exams will burn you out, it will be worth the effort. The spring quarter is the best one at UCLA because of the bright sun, and outdoor activities, and it is directly followed by summer. If you want to succeed in a quarter system, so never miss a class and keep your home works updated.
The Benefits of a Quarter System
- It allows the student to take different courses in a fast-paced environment;
- It makes you meet new professors and classmates;
- The quarter system will teach you to be organized;
- It prepares students for the fast-paced environment of the real world;
- It gives the chance to explore your interests and increase your motivation;
- The diversity of classes makes the quality of education higher;
- Students take fewer courses per quarter, so they can focus correctly on each course;
- There are small breaks between each quarter to enable students to rest;
- It is a contribution to the low cost of tuition fees because the quarter system does not require professors to work constantly so UCLA pays them less.
The Negative Side of the Quarter System
We cannot deny the efficiency of the quarter system; however, it can sometimes be overwhelming for students. The worst consequence of the quarter system is depression; students find it hard to make a balance between their academic, personal, and extracurricular life at the University. The committee discussed changing to a semester system in 2002 but never came to a final decision. Some students at UCLA want to switch to the semester system because their mental health is decreasing and they are finding it hard to cope with this system. In a semester system, students have 2-3 months to prepare for their midterms. Whereas in the quarter system they have only 5-6 weeks to be prepared.
The quarter system does not give students enough time to work on hard and complex projects and if you like, a class and want to discover more about it, it will be too short and you will find yourself already at the end of the quarter. It is also negative for students conducting research or a thesis.
Why is UCLA the best public University in California?
One of the major reasons is financial resources; the University offers one of the best graduate school programs in mathematics, English, education, sociology, art, and psychology. UCLA does even include a budget for hospitals; it is home to 4 hospitals and 200 clinics. It is the most applied school in the country regarding athletics and academic level; it is home to sunny days, magnificent beaches, and mountains. This is what makes it one of the most prestigious universities in the United States of America and the best in the state of California.
How long does it take to graduate from UCLA?
Generally, it takes up to 4 years to graduate from UCLA; it highly depends on the number of classes you take per quarter and your field of study. Transfer students, on the other hand, may have to spend another 2 or 1 year because the university does not transfer all class credits. Psychology students are the ones who graduate more easily; they graduate within 2-3 years. Master students need 2 years to graduate and Ph.D. students graduate within 3 to 4 years depending on their majors.
Put in mind that you may face some delays in your graduation if you face financial problems. UCLA requires a budget of 70.000$ per year for non-Californian residents and 37,000$ per year for the resident of California
To end up with UCLA represents the American dream for many students throughout the world and specifically in the U.S. It follows a quarter system to challenge students and make them discover different topics through various courses that change each quarter. They also can improve their academic level because they constantly have deadlines to respect and exams to prepare for. One should not forget that mental health is also a priority and students should be able to study in a peaceful and healthy environment free from stress and anxiety.
