Semester vs. Quarter System: What’s the difference?

Posted August 26th, 2008. Categorized under College. 28 Comments

Typically, colleges will divide the academic year using either the semester system or a quarter system. The two are very different, and if you’re not ready for the switch, it can be very tough on you.

Most high schools use the semester system: you receive one set of permanent grades after the first semester ends (around Christmas) and one set of permanent grades at the end of the school year. Between semesters, you might switch a few classes around.

However, some colleges opt for what’s known as the ‘quarter system’ instead. The quarter system is far more fast-paced than the semester, and getting used to the difference can be a bit tough.

So what’s the essential difference between the two? Is one better than the other? It really comes down to your study habits as a student and your own preferences.

Semester System

Different systems for academic terms can take some getting used to.

The academic year is divided into two large blocks, called ‘semesters’. One semester is usually about 15 weeks long plus one week for finals, so that puts you in school for 32 weeks.
In one semester, you’ll take usually around five classes, give or take. With two semesters in a year, that’s about 10 classes a year.
Most colleges on the semester system start earlier — around mid-August — and get out earlier as well. You’ll usually have a major break around Christmas.
The length of a semester gives you more time to make up class work and get the hang of things. It also means if you don’t like a class, you’re stuck with it for a lot longer, plus if you like to procrastinate, the amount of time makes it even easier.

Quarter System

While colleges offer four quarters in a year (fall, winter, spring, summer), only three are actually needed to make one academic year. So even though it’s called ‘quarters’, your year is actually divided into thirds instead of fourths, unless you choose to take summer classes.
A quarter is usually 10 weeks long plus one week for finals, keeping you in school 33 weeks (about as long as your semester friends).
With only ten weeks, if your class meets only on Tuesday and Thursdays, then you’re only in that class twenty times. Think back to high school where twenty times going to a class was only four weeks. Now twenty times makes up a whole class.
What this means is that the pace is MUCH faster. In those few meetings, you have to cover a whole topic. Missing a class can leave you way behind. If you have a lot of work, you’re going to need to work hard to get it done in time. The quarter system is much less-forgiving and, as a whole, more challenging than the semester system.
However, because the length is less, if you hate a class, you don’t have to suffer through it as long as you would on a semester system.
In one quarter, you’ll usually enroll in three or four classes. With three quarters, that ranges from 9 to 12 classes in a year.
Colleges on the quarter system tend to start later — mid-September — and stay in school until around mid-June. Typically, you’ll have a nice break in December and a brief break in late March.

And what about the trimester system?

Though not as typically as used as the semester or quarter system, the trimester system is worth mention. Basically, your year is divided up much like with the quarter system: you go to school for three terms. Only it’s more similar to “year-round” school: you don’t have one big block of time off, just a month or so here and there. Trimester terms are typically 10 or 11 weeks long.

Which is best for me?

Well, that’s up to you to decide. The best way to decide is to think of your strengths and weaknesses during high school, as well as what system your high school used.

If you’re a heavy procrastinator that has a hard time being motivated, the quarter system will quickly leave you in the dust. You need to be prepared to work hard and keep on top of assignments to avoid falling behind.

On the other hand, if you do your best work under pressure and are always eager to move to the next big thing, the quarter system might actually be up your alley. You might find that the semester system makes things too long, draining you of motivation.

Deciding the school for you

You shouldn’t base your college decision much at all on what system the school uses. A college’s reputation, opportunities, and other aspects are much more important, but the system is still worth taking into account, especially if you know that you will not be able to make it in one of the systems.

Both systems definitely have their merits, but both can also take some getting used to.

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28 Replies to “Semester vs. Quarter System: What’s the difference?”

Comments:

1. Imp

April 27th, 2009 7:54 pm

Great site, and great article. Very helpful for those who aren’t completely familiar with all the differences between the 2.

2. Mark from Gochi

June 11th, 2009 11:09 pm

I myself have done my Bachelor in Business Administration in a quarter system which we used called the trimester. I think it puts less pressure on the student because at a time you will be doing less courses than of the students doing in the semester systems. This gives you more chances to get higher grades.

3. admin from london escorts

June 14th, 2009 1:11 am

for me the only difference between the two is, the vacation days allotted for a quartersem is much shorter compared to semester. the rest would be the difference between the payments of the tuition fees.

4. Nick from taux hypotheque

June 16th, 2009 8:08 pm

In my case, we are on a trimestral school, but our school attempted to go quartersem and all students in our school disagree. It just mean that you gonna pay more tuition fees.

5. Fig from assurance hypothecaire

June 25th, 2009 6:45 am

This is a very good article. But, I’m more comfortable with the Semestral set-up. At least you’ll know where you stand ever end of the semester. Thanks!

6. Gabby from replica handbags

June 29th, 2009 7:56 am

Well it is trimestral for us here at our school . As mentioned by one of the reader, our school tried to implement quartersem, however due to huge amount of protest against the school managment for such a drastic change, they had to go back to the basic :)

7. Charles from Police Exam

June 30th, 2009 1:04 pm

I prefer the semester. You can’t get far enough into a topic with quarters.

8. Henry

July 6th, 2009 12:18 am

very good article. My favorite is semester system. Because I don’t have to feel like as in a hurry as in quarter. I would love to take long vacation two times in a year…

9. jay from london escorts

July 11th, 2009 5:31 pm

Quarter system is more stressful. my friend studied in University college of London hey have quarter system over there . he used to complain all the time and stressed. my university middlesex university, we had semister system which is less stressful .

10. taislim

July 11th, 2009 11:19 pm

I never knew about quarterly semesters until I read this article. I thought before that it’s just the same with trimesters. This certainly helps especially to prospective college students know ahead of time on the advantages nad disadvantages of each. This also gives them more option depending on which works to their advantage.

11. Paul

July 12th, 2009 11:02 am

@Jay: The trade-off is in how many things you have to juggle at a time. if you can keep up in the quarter system, you’re fine and you’ll enjoy more downtime. However if you struggle already with classes, the quarter system will just make it harder.

12. David from assurance vie temporaire

July 30th, 2009 2:46 am

Great article sometimes it is good to bring this kind of topic to refresh our mind also for student also to add more knowledge to them.

13. quinn

September 2nd, 2009 11:46 am

I am on the semester system here at SMSU, Marshall, MN and I do not like it because the classes drag on forever.

I am transfering to SPSCC in olympia, WA which is on a quarterly system.

14. Tim from Outdoor Storage Cabinet

October 22nd, 2009 10:10 pm

My only college experience is with semesters only. I think quarters are too short. I guess it just depends on what you are used to. I think some of my friends who did quarters would disagree with me.

15. Damon from Debt Settlement

October 29th, 2009 11:01 pm

I initially went to college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. That was my first take on the quarter system. I initially hated it because I was used to semesters all through highschool. However once I settled into the groove of it, I actually enjoyed it more. I felt that I was getting through classes and material faster. By the time I was getting bored with a class it would seem to be over. So overall I think the quarter system suits my learning style better.
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16. Mark from Escorts Surrey

February 6th, 2010 6:21 am

A school on the quarter system offers three quarters per standard academic year (late summer to late spring), each lasting ten weeks apiece. A school on a semester system usually offers two semesters per academic year of fifteen weeks a piece.

17. sara

March 13th, 2010 3:37 am

In my opinion semester must be ,at least, of such duration as is mostly acceptable by the students. Quarter sem is not suitrable

18. view the trackbask

April 12th, 2010 5:28 pm

Most CSUs are on the semester system, not the quarter system

19. KK

April 27th, 2010 11:49 am

If I could do it all over, I would not chose the school I am currently at which happens to be on the quarter system. Quarters move fast, and I feel like sometimes the teachers are rushing through material and I am not learning as much as I should be. The place I’m at is boring, and doing all this work doesn’t leave me anytime to have the little fun I could be having. It’s especially hard now in the spring because all my semester friends are getting out of school and I still have a good six weeks left. My bias against the quarter system may be partially due to the fact that I feel like I am not going to school in the right place, but I still think I would prefer semesters no matter what. Also, going into the quarter system, no one really explained it to me properly. I thought that each class was a semester long, but you had finals after each quarter. Boy, was I surprised when I found out how it really works. Of course, that was just my stupidity.

20. Leah

May 31st, 2010 9:41 pm

This was great! Thank you so much!

21. James Smith

June 16th, 2010 1:23 am

I prefer quarters myself. I attended my first college under quarters and loved it. There are pros and cons to both.
Pros for Quarters is that you are not burdened with sooo many classes at a time. For example I was a chemical engineering major and I took a lot of 1 credit hour labs that took 3 class hours. So I had to still be at 12 hrs to remain full time so I would have to take 4 other classes as well. On the quarter system you only take 3 or 4. If youre lucky and are taking two science course that would equal 12 hours. So its a much lighter load. The cons to it is the fact that the classes are much much faster and you have to do your homework that night. No procrastination. Finals and midterms are done like on the 5 and 10th weeks so it is still very fresh in your head and wont be as hard as remembering 16 weeks previous. So pros is lighter load and seemed to be alot easier to study for finals and midterms. The cons is the fact that everything is much faster and you cant afford to miss a class.

Pros for the semester system is the fact you can have all your classes on MWF…or Tues Thurs and have alot of free days in the week. You can have more time to study and do your homework as well as the option to miss class without that much of a burden.

Cons however deal with the fact you have to take soo many courses to be fulltime. Quarter system a biology class and a chemistry class was counted as 12 hours including thier labs. Semseter they are each 4 hours so that would be only 8 total semseter hours. So you will have to take another 4 hour course or take 2 three hour courses to stay at the full time status. Second..with all these classes you have alot of material to catch up on for all the finals and midterms along with the fact you have soo many classes to take.

Personally I prefer and wish more schools were on the quarter system.

22. Helen from Bolton Escorts Manchester

July 6th, 2010 4:43 am

I’ve always been used to quarters so I don’t think I could handle going to a semester system tbh, it would seem to long. Quarters break the year up nicely imo.

23. Richard from How To Videos

July 22nd, 2010 11:57 am

I went to a “quarter” system, Santa Clara University, and liked it very much. There are fewer quarters so you fewer classes each time and fewer weeks–easier to remember everything from the beginnings.

But your suggestion at the end is best–don’t let this dictate your school choice.

Richard

24. Sean from london escorts

August 3rd, 2010 1:56 am

Semesters with a quarter break, that’s my opinion.

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Semester vs. Quarter System: What’s the difference?