Traditional students generally begin college in the fall semester. But for a variety of reasons, some students don’t begin college until spring. Sometimes this is the student’s choice, but it may also be the university’s.
It’s not uncommon after high school graduation for a student to wait out a semester from attending university, either to work and earn some money, or perhaps to go to a community college to save money and get some credits for prerequisites. But sometimes the college offers spring admission for its own reasons.
Spring Admission
More colleges and universities are sending out acceptance letters that request the applicant to enroll in the spring semester. The college or institution might instruct the student to spend the fall semester at a program abroad, for instance.
But the main reason colleges ask students to enroll in spring is crowding. After December, there’s a certain amount of freshman attrition, as well as graduation, when the campus population drops. Vacancies in housing and classrooms occur, and mid-year admissions help shore up the vacancies.
Coping With Spring Admission
For some students, spring admission can be disorienting. They may find they have to catch up with their cohort in terms of credits if they want to graduate with their class, so they have to plan on taking more credits or attending college in the summer. Another disadvantage is that there may not be as many classes available, since other students who registered in the fall had first choice.
But there are some advantages to spring admission. Avoiding the chaos of moving in during the fall is a huge advantage, as is having the attention of student services and administration, who won’t be as busy as in the fall. You may also have more choices when it comes to dorm rooms or an apartment for rent in Athens Ohio.
Fall students may also experience some challenges during spring semester, changing roommates or making a move to a new residence hall. So don’t feel like you’re the only one facing adversity if you enter college in the spring.
Students who find entering in the spring semester should avail themselves of mid-year open houses and orientation to help diminish the stress and prepare for what lies ahead. These programs are usually offered in January. Colleges may also arrange to have other mid-year students call new students and give them the lowdown on how things will be.
Students at OU can get the OHIO BSO (Bobcat Student Orientation) app in the AppStore and find orientation schedules, campus maps and other information.