Fall or Spring: Which Semester Is The One For You?

The fall admission cycle for universities lasts from late August to well into the last weeks of December, whereas the spring cycle lasted from January to the first few weeks of May. There is no significant difference between the two cycles, with absolutely no variation in the quality of education rendered.

Should you go for the Spring cycle?

Across most countries, students finish up with their undergraduate programs by the later weeks of June/early July, which leaves them with very limited time to give their best while preparing their applications (and all its related components) for their Master’s. Since the fall admission cycle starts in September, it is not enough time for you to consolidate everything and do it thoroughly, so it is generally not advisable to rush things that shall very well decide your future.

Other reasons that students have for pursuing the spring cycle include jobs or internships that they may want to try out for practical experience, which has its own advantages in the long run. Some people may like to take some time off, or even utilize the time away to take up a new skill or pick up an old hobby. All these reasons are as good as any to pick the spring intake for their masters program.

So, to sum it up, there is no need to hurry things along if all parts of your application are not ready to your liking--including the GMAT/GRE score, because your scores combined with your transcripts and essays is the only way inside your dream school, and you want to make sure everything is the best that it can be.

In such cases, people might want to hurry up for the fear of losing an entire year without doing anything, and that is where the spring admission cycle comes in to save the day. By and large, the admission cycle for the Spring remains the same as the Fall admission cycle.

Some important points to note here are:

1.Application procedure - The first step is to fill and submit an online application along with all the required documents-like letters of recommendation, all necessary scores like GMAT/GRE/IELTS/TOEFL, transcripts as well as essays. These process remains the same for the spring and fall admission cycles alike.

2.Internships opportunities - Universities also provide students the option to speed along the process and finish the entire degree in three semesters. This not only helps you save time, but also save tuition money on the fourth semester.

3.Visa- A common misconception is that it is easier to obtain a visa during the fall admission cycle than it is in the spring admission cycle, but that is not true. Your chances of obtaining a visa have nothing to do with the admission cycle and everything to do with your overall profile. Also, once you have an admit from a university, it exponentially decreases the chances of a rejection.

Points to think about before you apply for the spring cycle:

1. Financial Aid- Universities put limited resources for financial aid, and chances are, those resources might be exhausted by the time the spring admission cycle comes to a close. However, there are several scholarships that students can earn based on the merit of their profile, which may be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To ensure that you can obtain the financial aid you are in need of, keep close tabs on the websites of the college you are applying for.

2. Courses- Since more students join the universities during the fall admission cycle than the spring admission cycle, the number of courses taught in the fall are more than those taught in the spring. Again, the best way to ensure that your course of choice is available during the spring cycle is to contact the university personally and check with the admissions committee.

3. Jobs after graduation- Again, due to the large number of students in the fall cycle, most companies plan their recruitment according to that. However, companies also recruit according to the spring admission cycle, so landing a job or an internship is equally easy for students of both cycles.

To conclude, there are pros and cons to applying in the spring admission cycle, but depending upon your preparation and your profile, they can be easily managed.