Are you planning to study in the USA? If yes, then you must know which intake in USA will be the best for you. There are two main intakes offered by US universities: Fall and Spring. However, there is a third intake, called the summer intake, which is offered by very few universities in the USA.

With the world's largest economy, the most advanced military, beautiful landscapes, and a number of top-notch institutions, the USA has a lot to offer. The USA is home to the largest population of international students around the globe. US universities have consistently ranked among the top universities in the world. Continue reading this article to gain an understanding of the popular intakes offered by US universities.

Table of Contents

• Intakes in USA
• Which Intake is Best for Me? Fall vs Spring Intake in the USA
• Types of Deadline
• Documents Required to Apply for US Universities

Intakes in USA

It is very important for international students to choose the right intake before applying to a university in the USA. US universities accept international students in these three major intakes:

Fall Intake

In the USA, fall intake begins in August and ends just before spring semester begins in December or early January. Students from India prefer the fall intake in the USA because it matches with their academic year in India. In the USA, this is one of the most common intakes, also called the primary intake. The majority of US universities offer a wide selection of courses during this intake. Several US universities only accept applications for fall intakes.

Fall Intake Universities in USA

Listed below are the top US universities offering fall intake for international students:

• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• California Institute of Technology
• UC Berkeley
• Yale University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Princeton University
• Duke University
• Columbia University

Advantages of Fall Intake

Given below are some of the benefits of the fall intake for international students:

• As the academic year begins during the fall, there are many scholarship and networking opportunities available during this intake.
• There is a wide selection of courses available for fall intake in the US. There are more courses available during fall intake at all universities than during spring intake.
• Fall intake students get a chance to apply for internships as they can fulfill the eligibility requirement of enrolling in college at least 9 months prior to applying for an internship.
• Students enrolled in the fall intake usually have better job prospects on campus as most of the job openings take place during the fall intake only.
• The fall semester is an excellent opportunity to join a student body or organization as the whole group is usually formed at the beginning of the semester. Fall intake helps you to showcase your real potential in order to be involved in a student body.

Spring Intake

In the United States, spring intake begins in January and ends in early May. Admissions in the spring have begun to emerge as a preference for students, who focus more on the school they choose to attend. There are generally fewer applicants for spring intake, which is definitely a plus, however it also means that some universities do not accept students in the spring intake.

Spring Intake Universities in USA

Listed below are some of the best universities in the USA for the spring intake:

• University of Colorado 
• Pace University 
• San Francisco State University 
• Temple University 
• Rutgers University 
• George Mason University 
• University of Arkansas
• University of Connecticut 

Advantages of Spring Intake

The following are some advantages of the spring intake for international students:

• Spring admissions provide students with a smooth transition. Therefore, it reduces the pressure of enrolling in a university.
• Choosing the spring intake helps you analyze your decision and see things from a different perspective, allowing you to make better decisions.
• The spring intake gives scholarly students an opportunity to complete their degrees in lesser time span.
• As most of the staff gets settled by the spring semester, students can expect increased staff support during this intake.

Summer Intake

The duration of the summer intake season in the USA is two months (May to August). However, It is a major drawback that the summer semester lasts only two months. Many universities do not accept students during the summer semester because the number of applicants is really less.

Summer Intake Universities in USA

Given below is a list of top universities in USA for summer intake:

• University of Florida
• University of Houston
• New York University
• The University of Texas, Austin
• Mississippi State University
• University of Illinois

Benefits of Summer Intake

Here are some of the benefits of the summer intake for international students:

• Generally, there are not many advantages of attending universities during the summer intake, since no good school offers summer intake, and many students prefer fall or spring admissions.
• Summer enrollment gives you an advantage to apply to campus jobs before anyone else because you will be ahead of the regular fall applicants.
• The same applies to internship opportunities. Since you are ahead of everybody else, you can begin applying for internships in the spring semester itself. 

Which Intake is Best for Me? Fall vs Spring Intake in the USA

Both the Fall intake and the Spring intake are popular intakes in the USA. Now, let us look at the major differences between both intakes:

Types of Deadline

Depending on the type of university, there is a different deadline for each intake. Many universities require that you apply at least 8-12 months in advance of starting the program. Let's look at the deadlines for different types of universities in the three intakes:

Documents Required to Apply for US Universities

In order to apply to universities in the USA, you need to prepare all the documents in advance. The list of important documents is given as follows:

• Academic transcripts
• Attested marksheet of 10th and 12th grade 
• GRE/GMAT scores
• IELTS/TOEFL/PTE scores
• Statement of purpose
• Admission Essay
• 2-3 Letters of recommendation
• An updated resume/CV
• Valid Passport
• Passport size photographs
• Certifications of extracurricular activities or internships (if any)