If your child has been offered admission to a dream school — but with a twist — you’re not alone. A growing number of selective colleges now admit a portion of their freshman class through alternative start pathways: programs that have students begin their college career in the spring, study abroad for their first semester, or spend a year at a partner campus or abroad before arriving on the main one. These offers are real admissions, not waitlists and it’s important to understand that there can be real value to these options.

The Three Flavors of “Start Elsewhere”

1) Spring start, or deferred start, is an alternative at many colleges. Cornell, U Maryland, and USC are just three universities that have some freshmen begin in January instead of the previous fall.
2) First semester (or year) abroad, is another common option. Northeastern, UNC Chapel Hill, Boston University and Elon are just a few of the many colleges that send students away for one or two semesters before the students come to the main campus for the remainder of their education.
3) Coordinated or guaranteed-transfer pathways require students to start at a partner school (often a community or state college, or a regional campus of the larger university), guaranteeing a transfer seat if they meet specific benchmarks. UT Austin, FSU, and Penn State are among the many colleges that offer this option to some of their incoming freshman

Why Colleges Offer These Paths

Managing yield and overcrowded classes or dorms, protecting institutional priorities, or providing students with a better chance for success in a smaller environment are just some of the reasons colleges offer these pathways. Ultimately, colleges want to enroll the greatest number of students they can successfully educate without stretching their resources; having alternative start semesters or locations gives a college the ability to achieve both goals.

What Should Families Consider

Your child has been offered a real admission to a college they wanted to be admitted to. Spending a semester or year abroad might end up being the best part of college, not a consolation prize. There are, however, factors to consider in determining if an alternative start is right for your child:

Will your student benefit from a smaller cohort of students at the start of college?

Will your student have a better transition into college with smaller classes?

Will your student be able to access all majors?

Will there be sequencing issues with courses if your student is not on campus?

Will your student have access to campus housing? For how long?

Will your student be able to join clubs or Greek life?

Are there financial implications for this alternative start?

Often, the alternate admission pathway helps the transition to college, allowing students to reap tremendous benefits in the long run. An alternative start can be a great opportunity, but only if it doesn’t complicate a student’s academics, delay their path, or limit their access to the full college experience. Dig deep and learn about all aspects of this admission. Most importantly, make sure your student is excited about the experience and opportunities the alternate admission presents.