Fall vs Spring admissions has always been ongoing confusion in every student who is considering studying abroad. Both the intakes have their pros and cons, and it is up to the students to decide which is worth their time.
In most cases, students have always preferred the Fall over the Spring at the time of applications.
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Fall and Spring Semester
Spring Months: February, March, April
Fall Months: September, October, November, December
The universities in the U.S. have two intakes for admission purposes – Fall and Spring semesters. The fall semester starts in late August and ends in late December or early January, whereas the Spring semester begins in January and ends in early May.
Most students apply for the fall intake as their undergraduate program finishes in June and Fall semesters begin in September, making it convenient for Higher Education unless they break off from the typical pattern for specific reasons like work experience or personal issues.
The US has over 3000 universities, but a candidate doesn’t look beyond 70 to 100 universities at the time of application. Out of these, around 35% of universities do not offer Spring admission. So, an applicant who has decided to go for the Spring misses some universities, which s/he could get in Fall season.
Every university offers Fall admission as well as Spring admission.
Intake
Chances to get into any college, be it India or abroad, is always proportional to the intake. Spring admissions have a low intake, and thus, only the best of the profiles get in. Spring intake is one of the common reasons which deters a student not to go for this season.
A similar profile, which has brilliant chances in the Fall, maybe rejected in Spring.
Internships
Many applicants are unaware that once you complete nine months (some universities allow after two semesters while some follow 18 credits) of the Master’s course, you’re allowed to do an internship. Now, that’s the law, and you can’t play with it. This means when you enter the Spring (January), the internship phase – June to August – becomes ‘useless’ and hence, most applicants settle with some Assistantships or Project building sessions that do not fetch you any money. Winter internship isn’t a popular trend, and companies do not recruit any student at that time.
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Moreover, an internship is an essential phase in the Masters’ journey because
You make some noteworthy dollars in those three months, which is an asset to fund your last 1/2 semesters.
There exist chances of the final placement offer (if not, at least an interview opportunity) from the same company.
Course Options
Most core courses are offered in Fall. So, if you enrol in a Spring session, you may find it a little challenging to plan your coursework which will indirectly affect your performance during the Master’s course. Finding the right projects, ideal internships, and final placements depends on the kind of subjects you choose.
Campus Jobs
Most of the on-campus jobs are filled in the Fall since most students leave the University by graduating in Summer or Spring. Also, new positions may be available due to the expansion of any facilities that kick off in the Fall.
Deadlines
Spring deadlines, generally, hover around July/August. If you’re looking for recommendations from your undergrad college professors, make sure they’re in and around the college in May/June. Some teachers might go on a holiday while some will be extremely busy with the semester exams. The same goes for the transcripts.
If you manage all the paperwork before time, then you’ll get around the Fall vs Spring muddle.
Adjustments
This section is broad and vital. Some of the notable factors here are:
Weather
While it’s good to romanticise about snowfall in the States after watching a couple of Hollywood flicks, the fact is that when you enter the country in Spring, you’ll be facing one of the coldest months. The temperatures drop to as low as -30 degrees in the Northern regions like Michigan and Minnesota. Weather in other areas, too, looms over -8 to -12 degrees which are VERY cold for Indian standards. Acclimatising is a must. There have been cases where students have come back to India because they could not adjust to Spring’s sheer cold weather.
Groups and Projects
This is similar to First Year students and Diploma Entrants but not as weird as Indian colleges. Students who commence their course in Fall have already spent six months till Spring arrives, and thus, adjusting to new faces, and a unique set of people becomes weird. What gets worse is choosing partners for projects, seminars and presentations as the Fall ones are already booked.
Rapport with Professors
Students who enter the Spring season lose out on one of the most crucial factors – Rapport Building with Professors. American culture is exceptionally modern, and professors are equally excited to meet new students. Fall applicants may have built a stable heart-to-heart connection which might lead to a good recommendation. This is followed by some research assistantship and project guidance. Spring entrants might be treated ‘second hand’ unless, of course, they charm their teachers.
If you’re one of those who are looking for Spring admissions, do not be discouraged after reading this article. Know your university, respective department, interact with seniors, and you might be able to mingle with them easily. For students who come under ‘I-don’t-know-what-to-do-after-college-and-let’s-go-to-the-States-in-Spring’, I’m sure this post will make a difference.
We hope we could help you choose which intake to apply for between Fall vs Spring. We hope this blog helped you make the right decision regarding your application to the dream university in the United States.
ForeignAdmits provide you with world-class mentors and counsellors from around the globe. Make full use of the opportunities coming your way and contact our mentors for expert opinion and professional help.
Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the distinction among admissions in the spring and admissions in the fall?
Ans. Students are sometimes perplexed by the distinctions among Spring and Fall admissions. The Fall semester begins in late August and concludes in late December or early January, meanwhile the Spring term starts in January and concludes in early May.
Q2. Is it preferable to pursue a master’s degree in the spring or fall?
Ans. The availability of additional courses is a big benefit of enrolling during the autumn intake. Since the range of applicants is large during the autumn season, as does the intake, colleges offer a wide range of programs to entering students.
Q4. Is summer consumption beneficial?
Ans. It is not applicants’ first choice because the spring and autumn intakes have more institutions and programs available. Many candidates lose an entire year after failing either the autumn or spring admissions. Nevertheless, if your selected programs are accessible, the summer intake may be a suitable option.