<p>I’m not sure if it’s like this at other quarter schools, but at UCLA, a full time schedule which is anywhere from 12-18 units is usually 3-5 classes. At a semester school, 12-18 units is usually 4-7 classes. At UCLA, I think most students take 3-4 classes on average, while I imagine at a semester school 5-6 is the average. I think the difference in time 10 weeks for a quarter vs 18 weeks(or is it 16 or 20?) for a semester works out equally. 3-4 classes(depending on the subject) on a semester schedule is arguably a very light load. I think the fact that students take more classes in a longer amount of time is reasonable and comparable to the full time schedule(which is less classes) at a quarter. If anyone were to take 5-6 classes(or the equivalent of over 20 units in one quarter), then it could be unmanageable for some. That is why you have 3 quarters vs 2 semester in each system. In the end it all adds up. 3-4 classes for each 3 quarters=10-12 classes. 5-6 classes every semester for 2 semesters =10-12 classes. </p>
<p>I think the main difference between quarter vs semester is that you arguably have more free time out of the class per week(you only have to go to 3-4 classes in the week) but that extra time is used for studying, planning schedules, enrolling, midterms, assignments and finals which all happen very fast vs in the semester system where you have less free time out of class, but your midterms/finals/assignments are more spread out and thus aren’t as pressured to always be on top of everything that is going on.</p>
<p>If we are defining rigor by intensity and the short amount of time per quarter, then consider the smaller amount of classes one does take in a quarter. If it’s a matter of learning your material sooner in the short amount of time, I think it becomes a matter of perspective. I’ve been in both, and the benefit to quarters is that if you really don’t like a class, but you have to take it, or if you really don’t like a professor, you don’t have to stress out as much because you spend less time dealing with the stressful situation that time enhances in a semester system. Obviously perspective can also make the opposite scenario, where you like the class or professor, seem like a con.</p>