1. What are the classifications of American university semesters?
1, semester system (semester):
It is the academic system adopted by most schools. In the traditional semester system, the nine-month school year is divided into two semesters, the longest 16 weeks, and some schools offer the longest 18 weeks. Usually, each semester has about fifteen weeks of teaching time and a week of final exams. The first semester begins at the end of August, and there is usually a freshman orientation week, which ends in the middle and late June of that year. The second semester begins in early January and ends in late May. After the formal semester, students can also participate in the "summer school" freely.
Yale University, for example, is a typical semester school. Taking the 20 10-20 1 1 school year as an example, it is explained that during the 20 10/20 1 school year, the dormitory will be opened on August 25th and September/kloc-0. The spring semester starts from 20 1 1, and the spring break is held from March 4th to February 1, and the final exam lasts from May 3rd to 1 1. The summer vacation officially began on May 23rd. After that, there will be three months of summer vacation. Many students will use the summer vacation to practice, work or take summer credits.
Credits are calculated according to semester credits, and one hour of class per week is one semester credit (1 semester credits or 1 semester hours). Usually three hours a week, students can get three credits. In a school with one semester, the average student needs 120- 128 semester credits to apply for graduation.
2. Quarter/Term:
Most universities in California adopt the academic year system. In addition, some schools in the east also adopt this academic system, such as Dartmouth College and drexel mentioned below. The academic year system divides a year's curriculum into four seasons, namely spring, summer, autumn and winter. Every season has a $ term, and each semester is only two and a half months (ten to twelve weeks, and about eight to ten weeks in summer) The curriculum is very tight. Foreign students studying in institutions that adopt this system must attend at least three academic seasons (pay tuition fees three times) each year to maintain their student status. If they are not registered in any academic season except summer, they must report to the school authorities.
Summer school offers formal courses, but they are optional. One hour of class per week is one academic quarter credit (1 academic quarter credit or 1 academic quarter hour). Students study 14- 18 credits per semester on average, and generally need 180- 192 credits to apply for graduation. Due to the short class time and frequent exams (after one-month mid-term exam and one-month final exam), students have to get into the state as soon as they start school, and they have to be able to adapt to constant tension.
The calculation method of academic quarter credits to semester credits, usually four academic quarter credits can be used to offset three semester credits, and the conversion method is roughly as follows:
Semester credits multiplied by 0.667 = semester units.
Term credit multiplied by 1.5 = quarterly unit.
For example, another Ivy League school, Dartmouth University, adopts a typical academic year system, which divides the whole year into four academic years, and each $ Term is 65,438+00 weeks. Generally speaking, three courses will be taken in a school year. Students can graduate after completing 35 courses. Interestingly, one of Dartmouth's graduation requirements is that you must complete a 50-yard swimming test.
Take the 20 15-20 16 school year as an example: 20 15 summer semester: start on June 24th, end on August 25th, start on August 28th and end on August 30th. Autumn semester of 20 15: the school starts on September 22nd, the exam starts on February 4th, the exam ends on February 8th, 65438, and the holiday begins. 20 16 1 winter semester: 65438+10.4, March/kloc-0.2, March/kloc-0.6, the exam ends, and it is officially a holiday; 20 16 spring semester: the school starts on March 28th, the exam starts on June 3rd and ends on June 7th, with official holidays.
3. Four months:
The three-semester system divides the school year of 12 months into three equal parts, lasting 16 weeks. The first semester (autumn class) begins in late August or early September and ends before Christmas. The second semester (winter class) starts from the beginning or middle of 1 month and ends in April. The third semester begins in late April or early May and ends in August.
The third semester is divided into two semesters, namely, spring class (April to June) and summer class (June to August). Credits are semester units. Less institutions adopt this system in the United States, but more in Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Colleges and universities that adopt such courses require foreign students to study at least in autumn and winter every year, while classes in spring and summer are free to choose. There are four registration opportunities a year, so students studying in this academic system have the opportunity to graduate early.
Schools that currently adopt the three-semester system, such as Northwestern Polytechnical University.
4. Early semester system:
The early semester system divides a school year (nine months) into two units, each with 15 to 18 weeks. The first semester (autumn class) is slightly shorter than the second semester (spring class). The first semester begins at the end of August and ends around1February 20th. The second semester begins in mid-January and ends in mid-May. You are free to attend summer school. Credit calculation and graduation credit requirements are the same as the semester system.
In recent years, many schools have adopted the early semester system. At present, schools that use the early semester system include, for example, the University of Southern California. China students apply for a master's degree in accounting, and South China University is more popular. There are two seasons for admission: summer and autumn. For some students who lack many prerequisite courses, they can start studying in the summer and make up the prerequisite courses.
However, no matter what kind of American university system, most schools start their $ TERM in autumn. Although some schools accept applications for admission in any semester, there are many basic courses to choose from at the beginning of autumn classes, and briefings will be held for freshmen. In addition, most scholarships will be for students who apply for admission in autumn. Therefore, autumn classes should be a better choice for admission. What I have described above is the difference of vacation time in American universities according to different systems, but no matter which university, the following holidays must be taken.
Second, American universities introduce traditional festivals during holiday time.
American students have begun to prepare for their long vacation, right? American college holidays have four holidays: Thanksgiving, winter vacation, summer vacation and spring break, which last for three months. In addition, some countries have public holidays.
American college holidays and winter vacations;
Winter holidays include national holidays such as Christmas and New Year, which last for three weeks to one month.
In America, winter vacation usually begins two weeks before Christmas and ends in early January. The holiday lasts three to five weeks. Every school is still different, but they are all the same. However, returning to China for such a short holiday may become a problem. In case of heavy snow, flight delay and staying at the airport for a few days, it is better to have a wonderful holiday in the United States.
If you stay in the United States during the winter vacation, you can invite two or three friends to join a group tour, which will save money and broaden your horizons. You can also stay in the dormitory to study and lay a good foundation for next semester. If you want to work in the United States for a few years before returning to China, you can also take advantage of the winter vacation to get a driver's license, which not only enriches your holiday life, but also helps your future life.
Tip: If you are on vacation in the United States, you should be aware that most universities will close their dormitories and restaurants during the winter vacation and ask students to leave school with all their luggage. Some schools will provide dormitories for students who stay in school during the holidays, but they will charge a fee. Only a few schools offer holiday apartments free of charge, such as Monte Holyoake College. If you feel tired of living on campus, you can also help students arrange a host family for a school or an American company.
It is particularly emphasized that the host families are basically strictly screened. Because the location is different, the cost is different. The cost is about 180-280 dollars, including accommodation and catering. However, if you choose to eat out or decide to travel temporarily, this fee is generally non-refundable. Of course, students can stay at relatives and friends' houses with the prior consent of the school.
Thanksgiving Day in American College Holidays;
Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of 165438+ 10 every year lasts about five to seven days, which is shorter than winter vacation, summer vacation and spring break. Due to the short holidays, international students usually do not choose to return to China.
Tip: Before Thanksgiving, many clubs in American universities organize special Thanksgiving dinners for international students or help them spend Thanksgiving with American families. Let us students studying abroad feel the strong American holiday atmosphere and integrate into this new environment more quickly. At the same time, the beginning of Thanksgiving holiday is equivalent to the beginning of "Black Friday" shopping spree. If you can't choose to go home, then it is also a good holiday experience to choose to go to the supermarket to "grab" what you need.
American college holidays and summer vacations:
Summer vacation is the longest of all holidays, about 3 months.
International students can have two choices: returning to China for vacation or staying in the United States for vacation. If students are on vacation in the United States, the school or the American company at that time will generally help students arrange host families.
Tips: It is suggested that some senior high school students in the United States can take advantage of the summer vacation to attend summer school, on the one hand, to avoid the long vacation and neglect their studies; On the other hand, you can also review previous courses and preview next year's courses, especially American history, biology, English and other courses that are relatively difficult for China students; Or strengthen the course of mathematics and physics, which will help you to take the honor course of high school or AP course of pre-university in depth after the start of school, and add points for applying for university in the future. You can also attend language training classes, prepare for the SAT, or work during the summer vacation to complete volunteer service. Being a community volunteer is very popular in America. College students can use their vacation time to practice and accumulate work experience.
Spring break of American college holidays;
In addition to the normal winter and summer vacations, American universities arrange spring beaks in the middle of the spring semester every year, usually for one week, and some schools arrange two-week holidays, basically in March.
Tips: Spring break is almost designed for college students, especially after enduring an unbearable winter and attending an intensive class for half a semester. Just after the mid-term exam, the arrival of spring break is a godsend. For many students studying in the United States, they will choose to put down their books, put aside the cold in winter, look for sunshine, or travel to resorts together, where you can get a tan, relax and have a party. For example, many people will choose to go to the beaches in Mexico, and the islands in the Caribbean are also ideal destinations, and both places are in the United States, and no additional visas are needed. At the same time, we can do some meaningful community service activities. Even if it's only a week or so, you can do a lot of things and experience a lot.