本篇博文作者：Edith Yuh, Master of International Affairs, 2016, University of California-San Diego

Semester vs. Quarter System at U.S. Universities
Schools in the U.S. go by two main calendar systems—semester and quarter. In the more typical system, the semester, students take three to four classes for 15 weeks. In the quarter system, students take three to four classes for 10 weeks.

Which schools are quarter and which are semester?
Most schools in the U.S. are on the semester system, but many schools on the West Coast, including Oregon State, University of Washington, Stanford, and all Universities of California besides Berkeley and Merced are on the quarter system.

How does the calendar system impact my studies?
Under the quarter system, students can take more classes, allowing them to explore other fields and making it easier to double major or minor. Since students take more classes, a low grade in one class will not alter the GPA as much as it would under the semester system. From a financial standpoint, students pay the total tuition in three segments instead of two, so they do not have to pay as much each time.

However, the semester system allows for more in-depth study in each class. Unlike the quarter system, where midterms come every two weeks, the semester system gives students more time to study for tests, and more time to build strong relationships with their professors and teachers. Financially, students only have to buy textbooks twice a quarter instead of three times.

Which system is better?
Both systems come with their advantages and disadvantages. Before choosing a school, look up its calendar system, and take advantage of the opportunities such system offers to improve your study experience!