It’s time again for Trivia Tuesday, our weekly examination of the policies and programs that influence the student experience at the leading business schools. This week we turn our attention to an important yet often overlooked feature of MBA programs: the academic calendar. Though not a factor most applicants take into account, a school’s academic calendar can impact the number of classes students take, the timing of the recruiting season, and when students need to begin and end their summer internships – not to mention how much downtime students have during the school year.
Most schools use a version of either the semester or quarter system to organize the academic year. For instance, Wharton’s academic calendar is based on the traditional semester system, with fall semester classes running from early September to mid-December and spring semester classes taking place from mid- January through late April. In addition to the extended break between the fall and spring semesters, students also have several days off in October and March.
MIT Sloan’s academic calendar is also organized around a semester system, but the school makes several distinctive adjustments. For instance, MIT Sloan breaks up each thirteen-week semester into six weeks of classes, a one-week “innovation period” and then another six weeks of classes. Moreover, an optional four-week January term between the fall and spring semesters provides an opportunity for students to participate in a variety of credit and non-credit activities.
Although the semester system is the norm at the majority of colleges and universities in the United States, many leading business schools have opted to use the quarter system instead. The quarter system is said to have been invented by William Rainey Harper, the first President of the University of Chicago, as a means of exposing students to more material than the traditional semester system allows. The quarter-based calendar is used by all schools at the University of Chicago, as well as business schools such as Kellogg, Stanford and Tuck.
Under a quarter system, the standard academic year takes place across the autumn, winter and spring terms; since most MBA students participate in an internship between their first and second years, enrollment in summer quarter courses is not typical.
As a result of the quarter system, the academic calendar at Chicago, Kellogg, Stanford, and Tuck differs from those of other leading business schools. Students in the quarter system tend to start classes later, often in mid-September, have more short breaks, and finish the academic year later than their peers in semester systems. Spring quarter exams typically conclude in early or late June under the quarter system, which is 2-4 weeks after the end of classes at schools such as Wharton or Harvard. The late end of the spring quarter can impact summer planning for first-year students, since many internships begin in mid-June.
Overall, the semester system allows for a slightly longer winter break and an earlier start to summer, while maximizing the length of time students spend in each course. On the other hand, the quarter system generally allows for a later start to the school year and, by increasing the number of terms in the year, increases the number of courses a student can take. Although most students will be successful under either calendar system, some applicants may find one of the designs a better fit for their personality, goals or work habits. For more information on the organization of the academic year and its impact on students, be sure to check out the Clear Admit School Guides!
Read the full article: Trivia Tuesday: Scheduling the Academic Year at Chicago, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, Stanford, Tuck, and Wharton