Ten to Fourteen

Fall of 2012, Wright State will join the rest of Ohio universities on the semester school schedule. Nearly 90% of Ohio’s higher education institutes are on the semester schedule. With everyone on the same school schedule, transferring credits will become easier. A semester credit hour weighs more than a quarter’s credit hour. Wright State is doing everything they can to ensure that the students who will be affected by the semester change don’t fall behind. It is encouraged to meet with university advisers to create a plan to stay on track. I have my own transfer story.

I began my college career at Miami University Middletown, a semester school. When I made the decision to transfer to Wright State I had a year and a half of credits earned. My parents and I were highly concerned that I would lose some, if not all, of the credits I had just earned. Luckily for me, I did not lose a single credit and kept on track for graduation. I didn’t mind the semester schedule. I actually really enjoyed the semester schedule. Being in a class for 14 weeks allowed me to really get to know my classmates and feel comfortable with my professors. I felt like I had all the time in the world to accomplish work and things were slower-paced. Once I transferred to Wright State it was a huge shock. I had been used to having four extra weeks to accomplish work and get used to my classes. Now I was down to ten weeks to do everything I was used to doing in 14. But after one quarter I was hooked on the quarter system. I felt like time flew by, my classes never felt as though they were dragging on and just as they began to, it was time for finals and either winter, spring, or summer break.

Although he won’t be affected by the change, senior John Parkinson said “I think  overall the change to semesters will help Wright State University. It will allow transferring to be done more smoothly as well as making classes not so rushed. Students will be able to breathe and not always rush to get things done.”

But for sophomore Michelle Coale, an education major expected to graduate in 2013 the semester   switch is a bit fearful. “I absolutely am fearful that the semester switch will affect my grades. I care a lot about my academic performance, and I try to keep my grades high. However, I’ve often found myself in a class where I’m slowly slipping farther and farther towards a lower grade. I feel semesters will only worsen this habit.”

Watch out Ohio, all of the college kids will be away at school and back at home during the same time soon! Brace yourself!