Why is it quarter and semester?

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
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So traditionally, most schools offer either a quarter and semester sytem..and of course quarter means four separate terms, while semester is two, right? I suppose in a quarter system the four terms consist of Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. But with a semester school, they're only counting Fall and Spring..despite the fact that most of them offer summer sessions too. Shouldn't it be a tri-mester system?
 

summer does not count because most do not take the summer session, thus only taking 2 a year. Hence the name "semester"
 

leinadM

Senior member
Dec 13, 2002
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Well we HAVE to take the summer classes; many of them are only given during the summer.
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
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Originally posted by: FallenHero
summer does not count because most do not take the summer session, thus only taking 2 a year. Hence the name "semester"

Well what about quarter then? Not everyone takes all four terms..but rather just three.
 

nativesunshine

Diamond Member
Jan 6, 2003
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Wow...so weird. My uncle and I JUST had a conversation about this...and I come on here and I see a thread about it.


 

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
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Originally posted by: nativesunshine
Wow...so weird. My uncle and I JUST had a conversation about this...and I come on here and I see a thread about it.

maybe syringer is your uncle
 

LethalWolfe

Diamond Member
Apr 14, 2001
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As previously stated for most schools the summer session are optional so they don't count as another *mester. Some schools do have trimesters (fall, winter, spring).


Lethal
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
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Originally posted by: LethalWolfe
As previously stated for most schools the summer session are optional so they don't count as another *mester. Some schools do have trimesters (fall, winter, spring).


Lethal

But schools that designate themselves as being on the quarter system also have a summer session that is optional..