Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 08:04 pm
I'm finding the quarter system a bit odd after having been on semesters for my undergrad degree decades ago. Back then, an "exam" happened periodically (perhaps every few weeks) while a "midterm" was a much bigger deal, occurring halfway through the semester -- a couple of months into the class. Here, a "midterm" is any exam that isn't the final. There are two rounds of them, yet they're still called "midterms", and each covers maaaaaybe three or four weeks' worth of work. I just got caught up on stuff like cooking after the last week of "midterms" and next week we have them again.

Tomorrow: physics quiz and biology lab exam 1 (this lab exam is in the middle of the term and there's only one of it before the final)
Tuesday: biology "midterm 2" lecture exam (may move to Thursday)
Thursday: physics "midterm 2" exam
Friday: chemistry "midterm 2" exam

Oh yeah: this weekend, go call a square dance. Studying had better substitute for sleep. And keep up with that Lyme disease stuff: make sure you get lots of sleep. Don't neglect the clinic work either. Yeah. :-)
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 12:28 pm (UTC)
Here I've noticed a "midterm" can be either a big half-way test or any test before the final, depending on the professor.
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 02:58 pm (UTC)
I'm so used to "midterm" meaning something big that I'm reluctant to use the word now, as if by using it I'd be exaggerating the importance of what I'm doing.
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 03:05 pm (UTC)
I hate when they line up all the tests one after the other.
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 03:18 pm (UTC)
Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 06:15 pm (UTC)
it's funny, i was always on the quarter system in school and had the hardest time with my horticulture class because there was too much time between when i learned something and when i was tested on it. guess i'm more of a sprinter than a distance runner.
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 09:07 pm (UTC)
Yes, that may be helping me now, too -- I'm sprinting instead of having to get anything into long-term memory. Whether or not I'll remember any of this in a year, of course, remains to be seen! :-)
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 09:08 pm (UTC)
Yes, likewise! Two more days! I always enjoy the Barn weekends.
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 09:09 pm (UTC)
It's sneaky and mean! Of course, if all the instructors want three exams in a quarter, they sort of have to line up. But boy, I want a maid and a chef for that week.