Which intake is better for Masters in the USA?

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Which intake is better for Masters in the USA?
Discover your best option for pursuing a Masters in the USA with our guide on choosing the optimal intake period for your academic success.

US master’s programs mainly admit for the Fall and Spring terms, and neither is better in every case. Fall is the larger intake. More programs open, more courses are offered, and more scholarships and assistantships are available. It also lines up with the academic year, which suits campus hiring cycles.

Spring works better for some students. The applicant pool is smaller, so there can be less competition for seats. If you miss Fall deadlines or need more time to prepare tests and documents, Spring keeps you from waiting a full year.

Check each program before you decide. Some programs only admit in Fall, some offer fewer courses in Spring, and internship timelines can differ. The US is a top destination for graduate study: the Institute of International Education counted 377,943 international students in US graduate programs in 2018-19, so both intakes serve large numbers of students.

Pick the intake that fits your readiness, not the one that sounds more prestigious. Related reading: how long a master’s degree takes in the USA, international student admission requirements, how to get a scholarship for a master’s in the USA, and how much a master’s degree costs in the USA.

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