With the Fall intake being the primary intake in the United States, Indian students usually aim for getting into a US university by July/August of any given academic year. While the US gets undivided attention every year from international students, the Covid-19 pandemic this year has disrupted many students’ study abroad plans worldwide.
This year (2021), many universities have made standardised admission tests such as SAT, ACT, or GRE optional, but it is yet to be determined whether Sept 2021 admissions will have that provision or not.
Understanding how to move ahead with your study abroad plan in the US can be somewhat confusing because of multiple intakes, cost of living, a different admission procedure, among other factors. Unlike a single intake in India, the US has three intakes: Spring, Summer and Fall. In this article, we will be discussing the timeline for Sept 2021 intake in the US, along with a list of the top US universities that would help you along the way. Here, we discuss the deadline for September 2021 Intake.
September 2021 intake in the USA
We have mentioned some of the details of the September intake of 2021.
- The most preferred intake among the Indian students starts in late August and ends in December or January.
- The September intake has a more diverse range of course options on offer that studies abroad aspirants can choose from.
- Unlike the Spring/ January intake, the fall (September) intake lets international students explore more part-time on-campus work opportunities as well as more teacher assistant or research jobs.
- There are more post-study work options available for students who start their programmes in Fall 2021.
- September 2021 would see more competition as many international students could not move to the USA due to travel restrictions.
- Many US universities might allow international students to complete their courses and earn credits from their home country.
- Class sizes for the Fall intake are usually much larger than the Spring or Summer intake.
Timeline for September 2021 intake
We have tabulated the procedure’s timeline to take admission into a university in the USA in the fall intake.
| Timeline | Activity |
| April 2020 to July 2020: Research Your Options | Scan through the list of US universities and settle on a list of selected universities you wish to apply to. Also, keep track of application deadlines specified by each university. |
| May 2020 to Sep 2020: Take Standardised Admission Tests | Take the required admission and standardised tests (s) such as IELTS, TOEFL, ACT, SAT, GMAT, or GRE, as specified by the shortlisted universities. |
| Sep 2020 to Dec 2020: Apply to Universities | Start applying to the universities that you have shortlisted along with the required documents. |
| Jan to March 2021: Wait for Your Admission Decision | Wait for your letter(s) of approval, to which you would be required to reply within the stipulated time. |
| April to July 2021: Finance Your Studies/Apply for Visa | Apply for available scholarships, financial aid and student visa. |
| Aug 2021: Prepare for Your Departure | Book your airline tickets and plan the journey accordingly. |
First steps: April 2020 to September 2020
The first step begins almost a year ahead of the beginning of the course. Here is what is to be done:
- Start early, and by August, shortlist 8-12 universities that you will apply to.
- By September, be familiar with bank loan options and scholarships to fund your studies.
- Begin by downloading admissions brochures from the university websites. Most brochures are out more than a year earlier.
- Do some initial research on various accommodation options.
Application Timelines for Top Universities in Germany
Crack the exams: June 2020 to December 2020
Appear and clear the entrance exam required. Here is what you can do next about the deadline for September 2021 Intake.
- Prepare for required standardised tests like GMAT, GRE, SAT, TOEFL, or IELTS – depending on the course and university.
- By June-July or three months before the test date, register for GMAT/ GRE.
- Register for TOEFL/IELTS at least a month before the test date.
- Take the required tests around September. Plan for buffer time in case you need to retake the test.
Application time: August 2020 to October 2020
Next, you have to start applying to universities. Here is the process:
- Shortlist the colleges and prepare for your application. Think hard about what makes you unique as an applicant and sketch out your strengths and self-assessment.
- Contact your professors and direct managers for the required 2-3 reference letters, at least a month before your application deadline.
- Begin drafting your SOP and essays. Give a month to structure these documents properly.
- Apply before the deadline.
What next: November 2020 to April 2021
- Do not delay replying to college e-mails.
- Appear for personal/video interviews. These are scheduled around January to March.
- Once you get acceptance letters, make your decision as soon as possible.
- Depending on the deadline, notify the universities of your decision.
- You will need to pay a non-refundable deposit to confirm your admission.
Visa and money matters: May 2021 to July 2021
For international students, this is a very crucial stage. All matters should be kept in mind.
- Search for and begin applying for external scholarships (if applicable).
- Apply for a student loan after you get your acceptance letter.
- Gather paperwork for your student visa. Check visa requirements.
- Apply for a student visa on time. Keep in mind the time taken for visa processing!
Get ready to fly: July 2021 to August 2021
This is the last and final step. Now you will directly be attending your university!
- Book airline tickets.
- Arrange for an International Debit/Credit card.
- Collect all the documents and their photocopies to take along.
- Check out the Pre-Departure Checklist for the USA.
Deadline for specific universities in the September 2021 intake
Below is a detailed list of universities and courses offered by them and the application deadline.
| University | Course | Term | Deadline |
| Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology | Electrical Engineering (Masters) | FALL | 03 Mar 2021 View |
| Edith Cowan University, Perth | Electrical and Renewable Energy Engineering (Masters) | FALL | 03 Mar 2021 View |
| HEC Paris | Management (Masters) | FALL(ROUND 3) | 03 Mar 2021 View |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Business Administration (Masters) | FALL(ROUND 3) | 03 Mar 2021 View |
| Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen | Physics (Masters) | TERM 1 | 03 Mar 2021 View |
| London Business School | MBA (Masters) | FALL(ROUND 3) | 04 Mar 2021 View |
| Vanderbilt University | Finance (Masters) | FALL(ROUND 3) | 04 Mar 2021 View |
| University of Bologna | Artificial Intelligence (Masters) | FALL | 04 Mar 2021 View |
| The University of Bologna | Electrical Energy Engineering (Masters) | FALL | 04 Mar 2021 View |
| University of Bologna | Electronic Engineering (Masters) | FALL | 04 Mar 2021 View |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Design (Masters) | FALL | 05 Mar 2021 View |
| University of Pennsylvania | MBA (Masters) | FALL(ROUND 3) | 05 Mar 2021 View |
| The University of Manchester | Advanced Computer Science (Masters) | FALL(ROUND 3) | 05 Mar 2021 View |
| Rice University | Business Administration (Masters) | WINTER(ROLLING) | 05 Mar 2021 View |
| University of Melbourne | Engineering and IT (Masters) | FALL(SCHOLARSHIP PRIORITY) | 05 Mar 2021 View |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Electrical and Computer Engineering (Masters) | FALL | 05 Mar 2021 View |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Electrical and Computer Engineering (Masters) | FALL | 05 Mar 2021 View |
| Emory University | Business Analytics (Masters) | FALL(ROUND 4) | 05 Mar 2021 View |
| Sorbonne University | Physics (Masters) | FALL | 06 Mar 2021 View |
| Arizona State University | Digital Culture (Masters) | FALL | 07 Mar 2021 View |
This was our complete guide on the September intake of 2021 in the USA. Furthermore, we hope we could resolve any queries you might have had about the deadline for September 2021 Intake.
Good luck!
At ForeignAdmits, we understand how important this decision is. We are here to help you every step of the way, from finding the right school to getting admitted and securing scholarships.
We have a team of experienced counselors who can provide you with customized guidance based on your individual needscontact us today to get started. We look forward to helping you achieve your educational and career goals!