Thinking about starting college is both exciting and challenging at the same time. You're looking forward to being on campus, making friends, and all the new and exciting experiences. At the same time, you want to make sure you're fully ready to start your studies.
Part of preparing for the semester ahead is knowing exactly when classes will start. Understanding the academic calendar is a key component of successful planning While high school class schedules are fairly predictable and straightforward, college calendars can be more challenging to comprehend.
Thankfully, after you read this article, these issues will be a thing of the past. We're going to cover exactly how you can prepare for the start of the new semester by teaching you everything you need to know about figuring out when the new school year starts.
Understanding the academic calendar
An academic calendar helps everyone (students, parents, faculty, staff, and others) get on the same page about important dates throughout the academic year. An academic calendar includes details about start dates, end dates, and breaks - along with deadlines for canceling enrollment or withdrawing from classes.
Usually, an academic calendar also defines semesters or quarters throughout the calendar year. The traditional approach is to have two 15-week semesters: one during the fall and another during the spring. This breakdown also allows for an additional 15-week summer semester if a school chooses.
Schools can also separate the year into three 10-week quarters, with students averaging four classes per quarter. This format allows students to take more courses than they might be able to when following a semester cadence, and it's easier to retake classes, if necessary. However, the quarter system doesn't allow classes to go as in-depth as they likely could if extended over a full semester.
In this article, we'll discuss a traditional semester-based academic calendar, but we can definitely see the advantages of a quarter approach as well.
Fall semester
There's certainly an excitement in the air as colleges reopen campuses for the fall semester. New students are eager to begin a new chapter in their lives, and returning students are looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and engaging in their favorite college traditions such as cheering on the school's football team or preparing for rush season in their fraternity or sorority.
During the fall semester, you'll likely have a few small and large breaks spread throughout the calendar. Perhaps you'll get a long weekend for Labor Day, or maybe you'll get a few days off classes in mid-to-late October for Fall Break. Usually, Fall Break isn't more than a couple of days.
Thanksgiving Break is typically longer, with most colleges offering students at least three days to return home and celebrate with their families and loved ones. Some schools even break for a full week.
This break usually comes at an excellent time, as it gives you a chance to quickly catch your break before returning to campus to finish final exams and class projects. Thankfully, once these stressors are behind you, you'll get to kick back and enjoy an extended Winter Break that may last anywhere from two to four weeks, depending on your school. The last day of the fall semester is usually sometime during the second or third week of December.
Spring semester
You'll return to campus in January refreshed from your time off and ready for the new semester ahead. After a week or two of resumed classes, most schools will pause for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the third Monday of January.
From there, you'll have around six to eight weeks of classes before getting a full week off for Spring Break. Usually scheduled in early to mid-March. Spring Break is an excellent opportunity for students to return home, travel with friends, or participate in off-campus educational trips and service projects.
Once Spring Break wraps up, the end of the school year will be on the horizon. You'll have four to six weeks of classes left before wrapping up with final exams. Before you know it, you'll be celebrating the last day of classes and looking forward to your summer plans.
Summer session
Traditionally, many students will head home or work a job or internship during the summer. However, some students might enroll in extra classes over the summer to catch up or get ahead. Summer courses often operate on a different schedule than fall and spring classes. Instead of meeting for two or three hours a week over several months, a summer course may only last one or two weeks.
Holidays and breaks will still impact the summer calendar. You can expect the campus to close on and around Independence Day, and most schools will take one to two weeks off after the last day of the spring semester, and another week or so off before the fall semester begins. If the break between the spring semester and the summer semester doesn't cover the Memorial Day holiday, you can expect to see campuses closed on this day as well.
Special considerations
Community colleges sometimes operate on a slightly different schedule than traditional four-year colleges and universities. These schools are more likely to offer fast-track courses and non-traditional approaches in an attempt to cater to busy and working students. For more details, it may be helpful to contact the admissions office or student success center at the community college you're considering attending.
Regardless of the length of your classes, your school likely has accessibility or accommodations services that you can learn more about if you're concerned about keeping up with the work. Depending on your specific school, you may have to register for accommodations in advance or visit with an academic counselor to learn more about the services available to you.
Financial aspects
The financial calendar is a little different than the academic calendar. Instead of explaining when school starts and when breaks are scheduled, a financial calendar includes important dates such as the deadline for financial aid applications or when you can drop a class without being charged. For example, the FAFSA deadline is June 30 or the last day of class enrollment, whichever comes first.
International students
International students might not be familiar with the typical routines of an American academic calendar, which can present an additional set of challenges while also getting used to life in the US in general.
If you're an international student getting ready to study in America, take time to become aware of unique cultural factors in the US such as American competition and individualism.
As you go through your studies, be sure to ask for clarification on anything your professors say that is confusing or unfamiliar. It's very common for students to speak up during class in the US, although this isn't the case in many countries. Of course, if you're more comfortable speaking to the teacher in private when class ends, this is also acceptable.
Tips and tricks for navigating the academic calendar
You'll quickly realize that there are several benefits to being proactive and becoming familiar with the academic calendar. Using tools like digital calendars or text reminder systems (if offered by your school) will help you stay up-to-date about upcoming breaks and any schedule changes. It's also wise to set reminders about crucial dates like application deadlines, final exam week, or the last day of each semester so that you don't have to rely on your memory to recall what's coming up.
You can also use the academic calendar to effectively plan social events and get-togethers without compromising your availability for classes. For example, if you want to get together with your family during the holiday season, you can use your academic calendar to have a clear understanding of when you're available around holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
If you ever feel overwhelmed about the academic calendar, there are resources available that can help. Consult with an academic advisor or visit your student services office with any questions or concerns.
Your college calendar cheat sheet
Regardless of where you're headed for school, it's essential that you're proactive and informed about the academic calendar. For additional information on when classes start and when breaks might occur, we encourage you to get in touch with your campus resources department. Their office, along with various student groups, will help you maximize your college experience from start to finish.
Speaking of making the most of your time in college, head over to College Rover if you're looking to learn more about specific schools and degree programs. Our extensive online database will help you narrow down your choices and make the best possible decision about where you'll study and live for the next four years. We would love to be a small part of your college journey by helping you make the search process a little more awesome.
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