Spring Intake in the USA 2024: Popular Universities, Available Courses & Benefits
The USA is the world’s leading country in providing quality and top-class education to Indian students. The country is well known for its world-class universities, research opportunities, and providing STEM OPT benefits. The academic calendar in the USA begins around late August and September every year, which marks the commencement of fall intake.
There is another intake that starts in January, known as the spring intake. In this blog, we discuss the spring intake in the USA, along with its benefits, popular universities, available courses, and more.
- Study Intakes in the USA 2024: Key Highlights
- What is Spring Intake in the USA?
- Benefits of Spring Intake in the USA
- Drawbacks of Spring Intake in the USA
- Popular USA Universities for the Spring Intake 2024
- Available Courses for Spring Intake in the USA
- Required Documents for the University Application Process
- Application Timeline for January Intake in the USA
- University Application Process for Spring Intake in the USA
- Key Takeaways by AdmitX
- FAQs
Study Intakes in the USA 2024: Key Highlights
There are 3 study intakes in the USA.
- Fall intake in the USA is the primary intake when universities offer major study programs like STEM courses, finance, business management, and social sciences.
- Spring intake in the USA is also known as secondary intake, which is when universities offer selected regular study programs.Â
- Not all main courses are available for newly admitted students during this intake.
- During summer intake, USA universities only offer short-term courses, bridge courses, and diploma programs.
| Intake | Commencement of Application | Application Deadlines | Duration of Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Intake | August/September 2024 | December 2024-March 2025 | September 2025-June 2026 |
| Spring Intake | July/August 2024 | October-November 2024 | January-June 2025 |
| Summer Intake | September/October 2024 | February-March 2025 | May-August/September 2025 |
What is Spring Intake in the USA?
The spring intake is the second most popular study intake in the USA and facilitates applicants to commence their study programs in the middle of the academic year. Depending on the university, the January intake in the USA lasts between January and May/June.
Benefits of Spring Intake in the USA
The following are the benefits of pursuing higher studies for Indian students during the January intake in the USA.
Alternate Chance
If they have missed the opportunity to apply for the fall intake or their application got rejected, they have an alternative chance to strengthen their profile and apply for the spring intake.
Less Crowded Classrooms
Although the spring intake in the USA is popular, it witnesses low admissions compared to fall intake, allowing students to have more personalised attention from faculty and better engagement in the classes.
Increases the Chances of Acceptance
The low competition for the spring intake can enhance your chances of admission to competitive universities or courses, provided that you have a structured and strong profile.
Drawbacks of Spring Intake in the USA
As we discussed the benefits of pursuing higher degree programs during the January intake in the USA, it is equally important to go through some of the challenges that Indian students face if they opt to study in this intake.
Limited Availability of Desired Course
It might be possible that you would not get the exact degree type or course that you are looking to pursue specifically in this intake. In such cases, you can choose an alternative program or wait for the fall intake.
Fewer Scholarship Opportunities
Most USA universities allocate their scholarships and financial aid to fall intake, leaving fewer options for spring intake.
Exposure to Limited Peers
If you are a constant chatter and fun-loving person, you might not get the same opportunities students get in the fall intake. With the presence of fewer students than in the fall intake, you will get limited exposure and networking opportunities.
Popular USA Universities for the Spring Intake 2024
Below, we have tabulated some of the popular USA universities for the spring intake and their QS World University Rankings 2025 and application deadlines.
| University | QS World University Rankings 2025 | Application Deadlines for PG Courses (Spring Intake 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | 4 | 1st November 2024 |
| Stanford University | 6 | December 2024 (date depends on the programs) |
| University of California at Berkeley | 12 | 31st July 2024 |
| Cornell University | 16 | 02nd December 2024 |
| John Hopkins University | 32 | 01st November 2024 |
| Columbia University | 34 | 01st October 2024 |
| University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) | 42 | 01st December 2024 |
| New York University | 43 | 18th November 2024 |
| University of Michigan- Ann Arbor | 44 | 15th October 2024 |
| Duke University | 61 | 1st October 2024 |
Available Courses for Spring Intake in the USA
Depending on the university, some of the common courses that are available during the spring intake in the USA are
- STEM Courses such asÂ
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Engineering Sciences
- Environmental Sciences
- Biomedical Sciences
- Business & Management
- Arts & Humanities
- Education
- Fashion Technology
- Language Studies
- Law & Polity
- Religion & Theology
Required Documents for the University Application Process
The following is a common checklist of required documents for the application process at the USA university. This may depend on the course and the university.
- Completed university application form
- Previous academic documents, such as
- Class X marksheet
- Class X passing certificate
- Class XII marksheet
- Class XII passing certificate
- School leaving certificate
- UG marksheets of all years
- UG degree certificate
- PG marksheets of all years
- PG degree certificate
- College/university passing certificate
- Migration certificate
- GMAT/GRE Scorecard (if applicable)
- Language Proficiency Test scorecard (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo etc.)
- 1 CV or Resume
- Statement of Purpose/Essays
- Letter of Recommendation
- University application fee (depending on the institute)
- WES Evaluation Certificate
- Certificates for extracurricular activities
- Work Experience Letter/Portfolio
- Passport
However, their preference might depend on the applicants and the availability of the particular course. Summer intake is best known for offering short-term courses that are beneficial to inculcate vocational skills.
Application Timeline for January Intake in the USA
- The application window for the spring intake in the USA lasts between July/August and December, depending on the university.
- First-time applicants desiring to enroll for this intake should start preparation at least 9-12 months before the commencement of the application process.
University Application Process for Spring Intake in the USA
The following are the chronological steps of the USA university application process to the USA universities in the spring intake.
- Start researching the USA universities providing the desired academic program.
- By considering some important factors like budget, location, academic and professional goals, etc., list at least 8-10 USA universities by visiting their official websites to fulfill the requirements or expectations.
- Check the important details on their websites, such as
- Fee
- Syllabus
- Entry requirements
- Career outcome
- Class profile
- Application dates
- Narrow down your list upto 5-6 universities.
- Based on the above research, find out the entry requirements and start building your application profile by consulting with an expert at AdmitX.
- If required, appear for the standardised test and English language proficiency exams.
- Arrange and gather the important documents as listed in the previous section. Visit the university websites for information on the additional document.
- Considering their application dates, start applying for the programs on their official websites.
- Complete the university application form.
- Upload the documents
- Pay the application fee.
- Review and submit the application form.
- Print out the confirmation receipt.
- Wait for the university’s response.Â
- Upon completing the application process, you will get an unconditional offer letter by email.
- To get a confirmed offer letter, send the financial documents such as the last 6 months’ income tax return and bank statement, depending on the university.
- You will receive an I-20 letter and a confirmed offer letter.
Key Takeaways by AdmitX
The spring intake in the USA is a popular study intake after the fall session, during which a diverse range of programs are available for international students.This intake is beneficial for those applicants who either missed their fall application deadlines or are looking for a second chance after their application was rejected.
However, it should be noted that some of the USA universities do not offer fresh admission in the spring intake to international students.
FAQs
When does spring intake commence in the USA?
The spring or January intake in the USA commences in January and concludes in the month of May-June, followed by summer holidays.
What are the disadvantages of spring intake in the USA?
The possible disadvantages of spring intake in the USA are
- Unavailability of desired course/degree type.
- As compared to fall intake, the number of scholarships and financial aid is less for international students.
- With low-class size, the networking opportunities are very limited.
Does MIT accept fresh admission in spring intake?
MIT does not accept fresh admissions of international students, including Indians, for the spring intake. It only accepts enrollments for the fall intake.
How much is the percentage required to study in the USA?
The average GPA or marks required to study in the USA depends on the course and the university. However, applicants must aim to score at least 65%-75% in their previous studies to fulfill the eligibility criteria of most of the USA universities.
What is the deadline for spring intake 2024 in the USA?
The application deadline for spring intake 2024 in the USA is around October-November, depending on the university and programs.
