Many students from all over the world aim to study in USA for their under graduation or post-graduation. Universities in the United States are famous not just for their exemplary campus and research facilities but are also perceived by many students as an incubator for developing a global citizenship by communicating with people from different ethnicities.
Most undergraduate Indian students who wish to study in the USA always find themselves in the midst of some dilemma or the other.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to resolve all your doubts about the same.
US Intake cycle: Spring, Summer and Fall
Unlike India, US has three admission cycles during an academic year. The academic cycle, a US alternative for the semester systems in India, is broadly divided into three parts – Spring, Summer and Fall. For Indian students, these terms might seem alien with respect to education.
So, here, let us know what is Spring, Summer and Fall, and how important are they in your admission process.
In India, the registration process for higher education opens only once a year; however, in the USA, fresh admission can be taken in all the three semesters. Though, Fall is considered the most feasible US admission cycle for Indian students only because it syncs well with Indian academic cycle; the remaining two intakes do actually help candidates to take admissions as per their convenience and requirements. Here, it must be noted that not all programs may be available in all countries and in all institutions for the Spring and Summer, and neither do all institutions offer three seasons; many might just be offering only three.
In fact, Fall and Spring are the most popular time when admissions are open at US universities. The Summer intake, which is, generally, the shortest of the semesters, covers special programs by the universities.
Students must note that, though, the timeline may vary, the admission process remains the same.
The Fall Intake
The Fall Intake, being the first season, starts around August in the US academic year. It is a 13-week long semester which continues till late December or even mid-January.
Since the application process for Fall Intake begins one year before you join the course, this semester witnesses the biggest rush, especially from international students. In fact, most of the universities accept application only for Fall.
Students from India need to remain geared up if you wish to join their dream school in the USA in the Fall season.
Below is the complete application timeline for the Fall semester:
August/September: The application forms for Fall are usually out by August or September the previous year (it varies across institutions). Since the colleges and universities have the biggest bag of financial aid open for this intake, you can start looking for the forms and financial aid forms at this time; there are more chances of bagging financial support for the Fall admissions.
September to December: The deadline for submitting the forms is usually in December; some institutions might give an earlier date as well. You must arrange your Letters of Recommendation and also start taking the standardized tests which are mandatory for admission at the particular university you are applying to. You need to make sure that your scores of your academic performances as well as the standardized tests are submitted in time before the deadline.
April to May: This is the time when you start receiving acceptance or rejection letters from the universities. Applicants will also be offered financial aids. However, the most important task remains to decide on the program and submit any forms from your university of choice.
This is also the time to organize finances and show proof of funds to the university so that the concerned international student office can prepare your immigration form.
May to August- It’s time for the Applicants to start applying for student Visa. You should contact your college and confirm your arrival at this time.
The Spring Intake
The Spring semester starts in January and ends in May. Generally, it is a 16-week full term semester. After the Fall Intake, it is the second most popular semester among students taking admission to US universities.
The application procedure for Spring semester is more or less the same as the Fall Intake.
Below is the complete application timeline for the Spring semester:
September- The application process for the spring semester starts during this period which gives the student about 4 months before the commencement of the classes. It is around the same time that admission for the Fall Intake starts.
November: The deadline for submitting for the spring semester forms is usually November. Candidates should arrange their reference letters and get their score cards ready and well in time so as to submit the same before the deadline.
January: The orientation program is scheduled in January. From early January, the semester will last till mid-May. You should confirm your arrival dates with the university somewhere in December itself.
The Summer Intake
The Summer semester is the shortest of the three semesters in the US. Beginning in June, this semester lasts about two months. Intake for the summer intaker is restricted to a few universities.
