Spring or Fall 23 - Which is better?

Fall vs Spring has always been a debate for international students looking to pursue their higher studies. It’s the first constraint to be fixed for going to higher studies abroad. It really matters a lot in which intake we are joining. So, We have decided to provide a better understanding for every student by dealing with this question in depth. But before that, let’s understand what the Spring and the Fall semesters are:

Every year, most international universities offer two entrance intakes for all classes and courses. The Fall semester runs from September to December, while the Spring semester runs from January to May. Universities accept students in two separate intakes rather than simply one, for two reasons.
First, it is not easy to accommodate too many students in a single semester. Most universities receive thousands of applications every year, so obviously it will be quite a task to admit so many students at a time. Second, there could be various reasons for students not having the option to apply for the Fall season. It may be financial for some, can be health issues and can be for others. So universities accept students who couldn’t apply during the Fall season.
Let’s discuss which semester you should apply for and why.

1. Universities
The first and foremost thing one needs to check is whether the universities that they want to get into are taking the applications for spring intake too or not. This needs to be checked and verified through the university’s official website even before taking GRE and other tests. There are a significant number of colleges that don’t take students for spring semester.

2. Acceptance Rate
Most students in India graduate from their bachelors during the first half of the month and directly apply for masters or PhD. Due to this, there has always been a tremendous amount of applications filled out during fall intake. Due to that, the class sizes are much larger for the Fall Intake when compared to the spring, which means you might have a better chance of getting admitted then.

3. Courses
Universities often offer a larger selection of courses for Fall Intake candidates, so you'll have more options. It also implies that if you're searching for a unique subject that a small number of people are interested in, there's a good possibility it won't be offered during the Spring term. Some universities might roll out applications for spring intake but for limited courses only, So the candidate needs to confirm that too.

4. Summer Internship Opportunity
In the USA, You are required to complete a minimum of 2 semesters of education to be allowed to do your internship. So, If you go for Fall, you can study one semester in Fall, One in Spring and can appear for summer internship whereas If you go for Spring intake, You need to wait for 3 semesters to get into your first internship.

5. Job Opportunities
Job fairs and campus recruitment are most common in the second year, which means you'll have finished three semesters if you're in the fall semester and two semesters if you're in the spring semester. Those who have completed three semesters will have an edge over those who have completed two semesters since the extra semester will give you time to strengthen your profile and resume because you will have completed more projects, participated in more events, and so on. These minor bonuses will give you an edge over your classmates from the Spring semester.

6. Assistantships (TA/RA)
Since the academic year begins with the Fall semester, students will have greater options to get on-campus employment and internships, particularly for research-based courses. Many professors start their research at the beginning of the academic year and do not hire new assistants in the middle. During the Fall semester, there will undoubtedly be additional possibilities to work as research assistants or teaching assistants.

Adding to the above points, students need more time to settle down. If you feel you are not ready to start studies by September, then there is no point in hurrying your applications. One can gain a good experience and settle down financially and can then opt for higher studies.
The definitive answer is straightforward: it is totally up to you. It all relies on what you require and your long-term objectives. First and foremost, when applying for a job, be clear about what you want from your college experience, since you are the greatest judge of your own career. It's not a bad idea to apply for any intake season.

#masters #ms #spring23 #fall23