Regular decision in spring: what's up with that?

I heard something about regular decision options in the spring. Is this a common thing, and which schools might offer a spring regular decision option for incoming students?

Believe it or not, some universities indeed offer spring admission, although it's not as common as fall admission. This option can be beneficial for students who need extra time to polish their applications, students completing a gap semester, or those who did not secure admission in the fall. However, it's important to note that not all universities offer this, and those that do may not feature all programs during the spring semester.

Some notable schools that have been known to offer spring admissions (but always double-check directly with the universities) include University of Southern California, Northeastern University, University of Maryland, and University of Colorado Boulder. At some universities, spring admission is not a separate application—rather, students who apply for the fall semester and don't get in might then be offered a spot for the spring semester. In contrast, some universities do have a separate admissions process for the spring semester.

Additionally, community colleges and state schools often have more flexibility and can provide spring admission as they may have rolling admissions policies.

Remember that financial aid, housing, registration, and orientation processes may differ for spring admits, so always check with the specific institution for their guidelines and protocols.