One in four college freshman will begin their undergraduate studies during the spring semester rather than in the fall, according to a new report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Students who are delaying attendance until the spring semester include older-than-traditional-age students, military veterans, people who can’t immediately afford to pay tuition and high school graduates who are unsure if they want to attend college.
Another reason why first-time students are starting in spring is that some universities are purposely admitting students on the condition that they’ll start in January, according to the Herchinger Report. Universities are opting to do this because they know that many first-semester freshmen will drop out, which leaves unused seats in classes and rooms available in residence halls.
