If you are an international student who is new to the United States, it might take some time to adjust to the yearly timelines associated with higher education. The following is a brief overview of the most common American academic calendar.

Starting in Autumn

Most schools in the United States operate on a yearly academic schedule that stretches from late August to early May. September is a very busy month for incoming students.

Just a few of the activities that keep students busy in autumn include:

• confirming class schedules
• securing and settling into housing
• purchasing books and materials
• “rushing” (another word for the process that Greek fraternities and sororities use to select members) or joining student groups
• attending American football and soccer sporting events
• becoming acclimated to a new campus

With few exceptions, annual groups and events tend to convene in the fall on campuses all over the United States. It is the season that many students associate with exciting beginnings.

During the fall, your host university will likely offer special opportunities to help you become acclimated. “International Nights” and “mixers,” where both foreign and U.S. students are invited to mingle, can be a great way to meet new people and learn more about your surroundings.

Session Lengths

One of the most common session lengths used by U.S. colleges and universities is the “semester.” This is a roughly 15-week period of study; there are two semesters per year, beginning in fall and spring respectively.

Somewhere around the ninth week of each semester, many teachers will post mid-term grades so that students can gauge their progress (although instructors are generally only required to offer mid-term grades to first-year students).

Mid-term grades are also sometimes offered in academic “quarters,” wherein the normal 40-week academic year is broken down into four equal portions with students attending classes for three of those quarters. A less popular method of academic scheduling is the “trimester” in which the entire 52-week year is sectioned into three blocks, and students attend classes for ten weeks of each trimester.

Most colleges and universities in the United States also allow students to take courses in the summer months or during breaks, which is a great way to earn a degree quicker or to make up for courses not successfully completed during the regular term.

Commencement ceremonies for graduating students normally take place twice per year, in December and in May.

Breaks

The most common holiday breaks for U.S. schools occur in the winter (usually mid-December to early January) and in spring (usually one week in late March or early April). A fall break can sometimes consist of two to three days off during the month of October.

Breaks are a great opportunity for students to travel to warm destinations and relax with friends. Some campuses close down (including dorms and residence halls) for holiday breaks, so international students should take particular care to secure short-term lodging during those periods if necessary.