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Ankita Rakshit Content Curator
Content Curator | Updated On - Sep 30, 2024
Students choose to study in USA for its amazing infrastructure, excellent faculties and great learning experience. USA has over 5,300 universities including the world's best institutions like MIT and Harvard University as per QS World ranking. More than 26 lakh Indian students join the USA universities every year. Unlike India, USA universities and colleges have three major intakes: Fall, Spring and Summer. All these intakes follow different timelines for applications:
- Fall Intake- Between September to December
- Spring Intake- Between January to May
- Summer Intake- Between May to August
Among these intakes, the fall intake is the most popular as it offers you a variety of course options. Spring intake follows next and you can have a lower competition level in this intake. Summer intake has less program availability and limited opportunities.
USA Intake for International Students
As an Indian student, you must start your application process at least 12-18 months before the academic year begins. After the September intake, you will get another chance to apply for January intake in USA. The table below states the application duration for intakes in USA for international students:
Intakes in USA | Applications open | Duration |
---|---|---|
Fall Intake (September Intake) | November- May | September- December |
Spring Intake (January Intake) | July- December | January- April |
Summer Intake (May Intake) | January- March | May-August |
Fall Intake in USA
Fall intake can be called September intake in USA and is the most popular intake. You must apply in November to get admission to this intake. This fall intake period ends in December. You can get enough time to prepare for standardized tests (GRE/GMAT, SAT/ACT) and the application process to apply for this intake. Due to excess enrollment, most of the USA universities offer all their courses during this intake.
Benefits of Fall Intake in USA
Students choose to study in fall intake in USA to avail great opportunities. Given below are the benefits of fall intake in USA:
- Numerous scholarship opportunities like Tata Scholarship and Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships for Indian Students.
- Universities offer maximum program choices. Most popular programs are MBA, Computer Science, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Robotics and AI.
- Higher chance of getting admission as the US universities accept more students in this intake.
- Great opportunities to build networks with faculty, peers and recruiters.
- Variety of on-campus job scopes and internship opportunities.
- You can follow the standard academic calendar of the university.
Universities Offering Fall Intake in USA
In USA, most universities offer admission in Fall (September intake). The table below shows the top universities in USA and their deadlines for graduate and undergraduate programs:
QS Rankings 2025 | Fall Intake | Undergraduate Deadlines | Graduate Deadlines |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | MIT | Early Action: November 1, 2024 Regular Decision: January 6, 2025 |
December/January |
#4 | Harvard University | Early Action: November 1, 2024 Regular Decision: January 1, 2025 |
Master’s: December 1, 2024 PhD: December 15, 2024 |
#6 | Stanford University | Early Action: November 1, 2024 Regular Decision: January 5, 2025 |
November to March (Varies for each program) |
#12 | UC Berkeley | November 30, 2024 | September to March (Varies for each program) |
#10 | CalTech | Early Action: November 1, 2024 Regular Decision: January 3, 2025 |
November 15 to December 15 (Varies for each program) |
#79 | Brown University | Early Action: November 1, 2024 Regular Decision: January 3, 2025 |
Varies for each program |
#154 | Texas A&M | December 1, 2024 | Varies for each program |
#=203 | University of Minnesota | Early Action I: November 1, 2024 Early Action II: December 1, 2024 Regular Deadline: January 1, 2025 |
Varies for each program |
#311 | North Carolina State University | Early Action: November 1, 2024 Regular Decision: January 15, 2025 |
March 1, 2025 |
#=501 | Colorado School of Mines | Priority Application Deadline: November 1, 2024 Regular Application Deadline: January 15, 2025 |
March 1, 2025 |
Spring Intake in USA
Spring intake is the 2nd most preferred intake and is also recognized as January intake. In this intake, you will get a chance to complete your study in a shorter period. This intake starts in January and ends in April. The number of intakes in spring is less which is an advantage but it also limits the number of courses.
Benefits of Spring Intake in USA
The benefits for spring intake in USA are as follows:
- You can attain a smooth admission process in this intake.
- The competition rate is lower in the spring intake USA.
- You can complete a degree in less time.
- You can do part-time jobs and internships during summer breaks.
- You can get accommodation easily.
- You can make good relations with faculty due to having smaller class sizes.
Universities Offering Spring Intake in USA
The table below states the top January intake universities in USA along with their deadlines for graduate and undergraduate course study:
QS Ranking 2025 | University | Undergraduate Deadlines | Graduate Deadlines |
---|---|---|---|
#116 | University of Wisconsin - Madison | October 1, 2025 | May 10, 2025 |
#=141 | Rice University | January 4, 2025 | October 1, 2025-October 15, 2025 |
#=215 | University of Florida | Early Action: November 1, 2024 Regular Decision: January 15, 2025 |
Varies for each program |
#248 | Vanderbilt University | Early Decision: November 1, 2024 Early Decision II: January 1, 2025 Regular Decision: January 1, 2025 |
Varies for each program |
#=574 | Florida International University | October 1, 2025 | October 1, 2025 |
#651-660 | University of Houston | October 1, 2024 | November 1, 2024 |
#1001-1200 | George Mason University | October 1, 2025 | Varies for each program |
#851-900 | Oklahoma State University | November 1, 2025 | October 1, 2025 |
Summer Intake in USA
Summer Intake in USA also known as the May Intake begins in May and ends in August. This intake offers mainly vocational courses. It is preferred less as it lasts only two months. Only a few universities offer summer semesters and it has limited program availability.
Benefits of Summer Intake in USA
The benefits for applying for summer intake in USA are as follows:
- The competition rate is the lowest in this intake.
- The admission process goes fast in this intake.
- You will get a quicker graduation in a shorter period.
- You can get summer internship opportunities.
- In this intake, you can start early to hunt for jobs.
Universities Offering Summer Intake in USA
A limited number of universities offer summer intake in USA. Some of the well-known summer intake universities in USA are tabulated below:
QS Ranking 2025 | University | Undergraduate Deadlines | Graduate Deadlines |
---|---|---|---|
#6 | Stanford University | Yet to be announced | November to March |
#801-850 | University of Oregon | March 1, 2025 | Varies for each program |
- | Bridgewater State University | - | March 1, 2025 |
- | University of Michigan-Dearborn | April 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 |
- | University of Central Missouri | March 1, 2025 | Varies for each program |
Documents Required for USA
You must provide certain documents to get admission to US universities. The documents required to study in USA are as follows:
- Transcripts of the previous qualifying examination
- Official Marksheet of class 10th and 12th
- GRE or GMAT scores
- Admission Essay
- SOP
- Resume/CV
- 2-3 LORs
- Valid Passport
- English language proficiency scores
- Passport size photographs
- Certificates of extracurricular activities, internships (if any)
Interested candidates can apply to US universities during the fall, spring, or summer intake. Fall intake is highly recommended to get the best benefits of job opportunities and to apply for multiple course options. You can apply for spring intake in case you miss the fall intake admission. Spring intake is less competitive than fall intake and thereby your chances of getting admission will increase. As an Indian student, you must apply early to secure admission possibilities in US universities.
FAQs
Ques: How many intakes for the USA?
Ans: USA has three intakes: Fall, Spring and Summer. The Fall Intake is from September to December. The Spring intake is from January to April and Summer Intake is from May to August.
Ques: Which intake is better for the USA?
Ans: Fall intake is the best intake in USA. In this intake, you can get options for multiple courses. You will get more job and internship opportunities in this intake.
Ques: Which month is fall intake in the USA?
Ans: Fall Intake starts in September and ends in December. The application for this intake is open from November to May.
Ques: Is January intake good in the USA?
Ans: January Intake is the Spring Intake in USA. This intake is less competitive so it will be easy to get admission. You can get good job opportunities in this intake.
Ques: Is January intake less competitive?
Ans: Yes, January intake is less competitive. Most of the students apply for fall intake. Only a few applicants get admission in the spring intake. The chances of getting admission to spring intake are higher than fall intake.
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