<p>jazz/shreddermom, schools use all sorts of methods to report grades. My S’s school only posts final year grades (no semester or quarter) on the final transcript sent to colleges. I think they do this as a kindness to those seniors who are prone to “itis”. 
But in any case, if a student has earned very high grades all 7 semesters–which they most likely have done in order to get admitted to USC in the first place, and as long as they avoid the dreaded Ds (although maybe one D in one course for the second semester wouldn’t unhinge the world) for second semester, there shouldn’t be any trouble. I think earning a D may trigger a warning letter, though.</p>
<p>More serious would be dropping down from APs to non-AP after 1st semester or other major lessening of rigor in courses taken; getting an F, or dropping a core class and not graduating!</p>