Fall Intake in the US
AStatista, a popular statistics agency in the US, shows that there were 948,519 international students in the US in the academic year 2021 - 2022, including 199,182 Indian students. The US is a highly sought-after study destination for international students. Most of them get their admission in the popular application period, which is the Fall intake.
If you are planning your studies in the US, you must not miss the Fall intake for various reasons. In this blog, you will get to know more about the Fall intake in the US, including application deadlines, top universities participating in the session, advantages of the Fall intake over other intakes, and more.
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Types of intakes in the US
For international students, the admission process in the US takes place throughout the year. There are three admission intakes in the US, namely the Fall, Spring, and Summer. Among them, the Fall intake is more popular, followed by the Spring intake. The Summer intake is mainly known for short-term courses in the US.
| Intake | Starting Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | September | September - December |
| Spring | January | January - May |
| Summer | May | May-August |
Understanding Fall Intake in the US
The Fall intake is the most sought-after intake in the US for admissions as most courses are open in this session, and the chances of getting admission are higher compared to the other two intakes. The following are the top features of the Fall intake in the US:
- The Fall intake starts in late August or early September and ends in late December or January
- Most US universities participate in the Fall intake, and most courses have openings in this period
- The Fall intake is also known as the September intake in the US
- The Fall intake has more scholarships and other funding options open for international students
Advantages of Fall intake over other intakes in the US
Applying for admission in the Fall season is advantageous for international students for multiple reasons. In the US, the Fall session marks the start of an academic year, unlike the Indian education system. Mentioned below are some of the top benefits of the Fall intake for international students:
- Higher chances of getting admission: US universities accept more applications in the Fall season. If you apply in the Fall session, your chances of admission are higher compared to other intakes in the US.
- More university and course options: The Fall intake is the beginning of the standard academic year in the US, and almost all universities and colleges in the US have Fall admissions. You can explore more course and university options in the Fall semester.
- Saves your time: If you secure admission in this session, you will save more academic time than students getting admission in the other two intakes. Plus, those who graduate from India will not lose a year if they apply in the Fall season, as the academic year ends before September in India.
- More job opportunities: Be it part-time jobs or internships, the Fall session has more opportunities for international students enrolling in US universities. As the Fall intake is the start of an academic year in the US, you will get more time to explore job opportunities in the US.
- Availability of more financial aids: As more students apply for Fall admissions, more scholarships and other financial options are open for the Fall session than the other two intakes. International students can explore various government or non-government-funded scholarships and financial aids when they start their application. Hit the link to see top scholarships for international students in the US.
Top US Universities for Fall Intake Admissions
All top universities in the US have Fall intake for almost all popular courses. Here are the top US universities for international students who plan to get admission in the Fall intake.
| University Name | QS World University Rankings 2024 |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 1 |
| Harvard University | 4 |
| Stanford University | 5 |
| University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | 10 |
| University of Chicago | 11 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 12 |
| Cornell University | 13 |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | 15 |
| Yale University | 16 |
| Princeton University | 17 |
Apart from the top-ranked universities, the following are other popular US universities for the Fall intake admission:
- Brown University
- Texas A&M
- University of Minnesota
- North Carolina State University
- Colorado School of Mines
- University of Chicago
- Duke University
- Ohio State University
- Virginia Tech
- Georgia Tech
- University of Colorado Boulder
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Boston University
- Arizona State University
- University of Pittsburgh
- New York University
- University of Notre Dame
- Michigan State University
- Rice University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Drexel University
- George Mason University
- Colorado State University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- St. Louis University
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- University of North Texas
- University of Arizona
- University of Alabama Birmingham
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- San Jose State University
- University of Illinois Springfield
- Hofstra University
- University of Cincinnati
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Get StartedDeadlines for Fall Intake Applications in the US
In the US, there are different types of deadlines to apply for admission. If you are confident with your application and believe you have increased chances of admission, you can apply for Early Decision and Early Action deadlines. In other cases, you can stick to Regular Action deadlines, which are the normal deadlines for admissions.
Apart from that, there are Rolling deadlines that are decided by universities. There are no fixed months for Rolling Admissions; you can apply anytime in the year, and your application is considered when the university begins its next academic session.
See the table below for a general picture of deadlines in the US in the Fall intake:
| Application Type | Application Deadline | Decision Time |
|---|---|---|
| Early Action | November | December |
| Early Decision | November | December |
| Regular Decision | January or February | March or April |
| Rolling Admission | Varies with universities | Within 4 - 6 weeks of application |
Read more about the admission process in the US and deadlines.
Application timeline for Fall intake admissions in the US
You need to plan your studies at least 6 months ago for Fall intake admission in the US. it will take roughly 6 months to 1 year to gather all your documents to apply for US universities.
Given below is a general timeline to plan your Fall intake application for the year 2024:
| Tentative Time | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| January - February 2024 | Research and shortlist your university and course options to apply for admissions |
| March - April 2024 | Take your entrance tests, such as GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, etc. |
| May - September 2024 | Get ready with documents, such as academic and financial documents, entrance test results, etc. |
| September - November 2024 | Look for universities with admissions open for the Fall session |
| December 2024 - February 2025 | Start applying to US universities for Fall intake. Also, apply for scholarships and other financial aid |
Once you are admitted to a US university and get the Form I-20, proceed with your US student visa application.
It is important that you shortlist US universities based on your profile’s strengths and weaknesses. Apply to those universities where you have more chances of admission to save your time and money. Get in touch with our expert counselors to evaluate your profile and get customized university suggestions, SOP guidance, and visa assistance. Also, if you are looking for education loan options, our counselors will guide you with minimal-interest loan options.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the duration of study programs in the Fall intake?
The duration of your study depends on your course. Undergraduate programs of 3 - 4 years and Master's programs of 1 - 2 years are available in the Fall intake.
What types of courses are available for the Fall intake?
Many courses are available in the Fall intake, including undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, sciences, IT, business, arts, humanities, etc.
Are the programs in the Fall intake available in other intakes?
The availability of programs offered in other intakes depends on the university's choice. Some universities in the US offer same programs in the Fall and Spring intakes. You need to check the university website and note down the relevant intakes, in case you miss the Fall intake.
Can I transfer my studies to another university during the Fall intake?
Yes, you can. However, you need to follow rules and regulations specified by both universities to transfer your studies in the Fall intake.
Are scholarships available for Fall intake admissions in the US?
Yes. Most scholarship options for international students are open in the Fall intake. Check the link to explore scholarships for international students in the US.
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