Do Quarter Grades Matter for College Admissions?

Hey there, I'm a little confused about how quarter grades factor into the college admissions process. Do colleges look at them or is it just the semester grades that really count? Thanks in advance!

Regarding quarter grades, it's important to note that different high schools structure their academic year differently. Some schools use a semester system, others use a trimester or a quarter system. Normally, the grades that colleges care about are the ones that appear on your transcript, which usually include final grades for semester or year-long courses. However, some schools (depending on their academic calendar) do report quarter grades on student transcripts.

If your school only reports semester or end-of-year grades on your transcript, then those are the grades colleges will primarily consider. But that doesn't make your quarter grades irrelevant. These grades contribute towards your overall semester or year-end grades. So to some extent, they do matter in that they'll ultimately influence your cumulative GPA and class rank.

For early decision or early action applications, your first quarter grades of senior year could be important. Some colleges might request your first quarter grades or a mid-year report to be included in your application materials, depending on the timeline.

Bear in mind, though, that consistency in your academic performance is crucial. One bad quarter isn't likely to significantly hurt your college application if you demonstrate improvement or consistent high performance in other quarters. However, a trend of declining grades over multiple quarters could raise concerns in the admissions committee. Thus, aim to do your best at all times and show continuous growth in your academic efforts.Also, remember that grades are just one piece of the puzzle. While keeping your grades up is important, so are other aspects of your application such as test scores (where required), essays, and extracurricular achievements.