Applying for spring admission

[luftbahnfahrer]

In general, are there any major drawbacks when applying to PhD programs to start in the spring? Is chance of admission much less likely?

After my undergrad, I won a scholarship to do research in Germany for a year, and after my year I want to start a PhD program in Physics back in the US. The academic year in Germany goes from October to September, so I can't apply for admission for Fall 2011, unless I cut my studies in Germany short. Additionally, I only just arrived a few weeks ago, and I barely know my professors and research advisor here. I feel like I could get far better letters of recommendation from my research advisors here if I waited a year to apply.

Would it be recommendable to wait and try to apply for admission for Spring 2012 to programs, instead of applying now for Fall 2011?

The deadlines would be right around the time that I'd be done here next year, then I'd probably have a few months off before I start a program in Janurary 2012 (if I got accepted!).

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Also: Does having this extra year of research after my undergrad make my application look better than someone who is fresh out of undergrad?

[newms]

Often schools take on less students during Spring admission, so it could be that the chance of admission would be less likely. Also, some schools (including some top schools) do not have spring admissions, so applying in the spring might limit your options. You might want to check with the schools you are interested in to see how many students they take on in the spring and also to see if potential advisors (you are in Physics right?) would be taking students in the spring.. On the other hand, having an extra year of research (particularly quality research that leads to a publication) would definitely help your application.