Over the past few years, many colleges and universities have received huge increases in their volume of applications. There has also been a sharp rise in the number of students choosing to apply early. As a result, admit rates have dropped, some classes have increased in size, and residence halls are groaning under the weight of so many students! Students living in triples and even quad rooms is common.

These and other space constraints have prompted some colleges to offer a select number of students the option of spring admission. Spring seats open up after December graduates have left, and when study abroad students are no longer on campus. Colleges will typically offer this opportunity to high-achieving students who exhibit evidence of independence, leadership and flexibility. Students who are offered January enrollment must first pay their enrollment fees to secure their spot. Colleges will want to understand their plans under consideration for fall semester and will likely encourage classes, travel, community service or employment. During the fall, these students will be contacted for housing and meal plan options and will attend a first-year orientation before arriving on campus in January. Students who accept the offer cannot enroll elsewhere or defer their enrollment to the following fall.

One of the main concerns first-year students have about entering college in spring is whether they can still graduate on-time with their peers. The answer is almost always YES.  Spring students must work closely with an academic advisor to select the right coursework to stay on track. Some students choose to complete coursework at a local community college during the summer or over winter break – again, talk to your advisor first because it is imperative to select transferable courses. Spring admits may also want to study abroad and this is also doable. 

Some spring admits may worry about coursework within their major that is offered in strict sequence. Examples of this may be in the fields of mathematics and science.  For example, Calculus 1 may only be available in the fall and required of an engineering major before entering a specific Physics class in the spring. Pre-health students wishing to complete Organic Chemistry may find that Chemistry 2 is a prerequisite, but if Chemistry 1 is offered only in the fall, they may have to wait to start the sequence. Again, as soon as you are clear on accepting spring admission, look into course sequences and prerequisites, and talk to your academic advisor. 

Some spring admits report transition challenges: fall first-years have already built friendship bonds, spring orientation rarely has the fanfare of the big fall orientation programs, and it may be harder to learn about clubs and organizations. But look on the bright side – the smaller size of spring orientation will mean a more relaxed atmosphere and more one-on-one conversations with students and faculty are possible. Residence hall advisors create programming to ensure that newbies are quickly connected to other students. Make sure you also learn about any financial aid implications to spring entry. Some colleges also require that students live on-campus for a semester before being able to join a sorority or fraternity.

For many students, being a spring first-year is a wonderful opportunity. Treat the fall semester off’ like a mini-gap year and explore your many options. Consider an internship and start building your resume; take classes to accelerate your major completion, if the spring college allows; or just get a job and save money.