Fall vs Spring

posted at June 15, 2019, 3:38 p.m.

Are you wondering about which season of intake to apply to? Are you constantly weighing the pros and cons of Fall vs Spring? Are people constantly confusing you with the myths or things they have heard from a friend of friends?

Let us first dispell all the myths regarding the disadvantages of a Spring admit.

Myth 1: There are fewer scholarship opportunities- False! Scholarships depend on how well the department is funded and not when you decide to enter the university. If your profile is solid enough and if the department has the funds to waive a part of your fee then you will get the scholarship or aid.

Myth 2: TA/RA is difficult- False again. TA/RA depends on how well you network with the professors and your undergraduate grades in the subjects you wish to TA for. For instance as an entering graduate student for an engineering management program, if your scores in your undergraduate math course containing statistics courses are good, you can then TA for your professor’s undergraduate stats class at the university. It's as simple as that.

Myth 3: Getting a visa is difficult- So so false! This is the worst assumption. Your ability to secure a visa depends on the university you go to, your ability to pay for the program and how you show significant proof that you won’t settle down illegally in the country. Think about it practically. Carnegie Mellon isn’t going from a good school to a school that is worthy of visa rejection from fall to spring.

Now that those myths are out of the way. Let me talk about things that actually make the fall entry a largely better option

Not all universities and programs have a spring entry: Fall is a more traditional entry for foreign universities. Hence almost every single program and university will offer a fall admit. Hence if you are applying for spring and you find a course that is ideal for your aspirations and your profile, there is a chance it doesn’t offer a spring admit. Hence, if you are hell bent on targetting a spring entry then you might have to be ready for certain compromises.

Internship difficulties: You can intern while you are at a master’s program at a US university and this is an opportunity you always should take up. There is a chance this internship may convert to a full-time opportunity. Even if it doesn’t convert to a full-time opportunity, adding an American internship to your resume will help you a lot when you eventually look for full-time employment in the states.

Students who enter in the fall have their summer sem off and hence take up an internship using the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) available on their student visa. If you enter in the spring and you finish your course in three semesters (which is becoming increasingly common these days due to cost-cutting benefits) then you will lose out on this internship. You need to have 2 semesters of education at a US university to be able to intern at a company in the states under CPT. Entering in the spring will mean you won’t have that behind you for a summer internship. Hence you will seriously risk not securing an internship.

At Gradvine, we’ve had spring admits to the likes of Cornell, Purdue, Carnegie Mellon, and scores more. All of these students are quite happy and at the end of the day, the university you go to matters the most. Everything else can be tackled. Please schedule a free call with Gradvine to know more and have a look at our reviews and mentor profiles!

Still unconvinced? You can always reach out to us at (https://bit.ly/free_profileevaluation) for any further questions. Remember to choose your sources of information wisely. At Gradvine, you can speak to master's students and graduates from the finest global universities to help you with your application queries.