Quarter System vs Semester system

[mattm]

Hello,

What are the major differences between the workload in a quarter system and the regular two semester system most Law Schools use?

One of the schools i'm looking at is Baylor but I'm not sure if that would be the right fit for me due to the expedited speed of the quarter system....I have a Solid GPA and LSAT so I feel confident about Law School in general but not sure if the quarter system would be good due to the rushed pace....I think by working hard just like in undergrad in the two semester system while it would be fast given that it is law school, I would be able to review and understand the material in a better way.

( if you do not know about Baylor specifically that s fine, ...I just would like to know about the quarter system compared to the semester system to see whats the right fit for me)

Thanks!

[Nikki Siclunov]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for your question! It's a tough one, because I don't know you personally, and so I'm unfamiliar with your study habits. Quite frankly, most students find it difficult to predict if they will fare better or worse in a quarter vs. a semester system. No studies have been done in this regard, so all you have to rely is anecdotal evidence. The better you know yourself, the more informed decision you can make.

Here are some of the pros/cons of a quarter system:

Pros

You get to take more classes during the year, and meet with more professors, than you would under a semester system. Greater exposure to a wider variety of legal issues early on is never a bad thing, career-wise. Classes are shorter, which will keep you more engaged in the subject matter, which might make exam prep easier.

Cons

Yes, the pace will be quicker, and you'll have to study a bit harder (at least in the beginning). You need to hit the ground running, as they say, early on. Some students report that it might make it more difficult to find 1L internships, but I'm not sure how accurate this is. Here's a link to an awesome blog post by a 1L who goes to Chicago, which also has a quarter system:

http://uchicagolaw.typepad.com/adayinth ... r_sys.html

What other schools are you considering, besides Baylor? I think that would be a much more important consideration than the quarter vs. semester distinction.

Hope this helps!

[mattm]

I currently live in Texas, so in addition to Baylor I am looking at SMU, Houston and UT if i got a high enough LSAT Score for UT....I may apply to a few out of state as well to keep my options open.

I did not do so well on my first LSAT exam in June ( I had the test day decline from practice test scores to test day that often happen)....and I received a 154....I think I will retake as I know I'm capable of more and a few more points on the LSAT opens up many more doors...I only improved one point on test day from my second practice exam in March and I know I improved more than the one point between March and June reflects as I have shown a constant upwards trend in practice exam scores.

[Nikki Siclunov]

Hey Matt,

You should definitely retake if you believe the June test score is not indicative of your potential. In your score bracket, even 3-4 points would make an enormous difference in terms of the caliber of law schools you'd be competitive at. Keep your options open, and definitely look into out-of-state law schools, assuming they are located in regions where you'd be comfortable practicing.

Here's a 3-month study plan we've designed awhile back for repeat test-takers who have prior experience with the Powerscore method:

http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/275 ... until-june

Best of luck!