Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Also known as: MSK
5 Star Employer Ranking
1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
Also known as: MSK
| Event | Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🎉 | New Year's Day Holiday | 1 January 2025 | Official holiday marking the start of the year; all MSK educational programs closed, allowing rest before spring semester preparations. |
| ✊ | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 20 January 2025 | Honors civil rights leader; no classes, time for community service or research reflection in cancer equity studies. |
| 📅 | Spring Semester Begins | 27 January 2025approximate | Start of spring term with orientations for new graduate students in biomedical sciences. |
| 🇺🇸 | Presidents' Day | 17 February 2025 | Federal holiday; break for faculty and students to attend conferences or advance lab work. |
| 🏖️ | Spring Break Begins | 10 March 2025approximate | Week-long break for travel, rest, or short research projects in oncology. |
| 🎖️ | Memorial Day | 26 May 2025 | Honors military personnel; end-of-spring term holiday affecting exam schedules. |
| 🏫 | Spring Semester Ends | 30 May 2025approximate | Conclusion of spring classes, with thesis defenses and evaluations. |
| 🗽 | Juneteenth Holiday | 19 June 2025 | Celebrates emancipation; observed with educational events on health disparities in cancer. |
| 🎆 | Independence Day | 4 July 2025 | National holiday; summer break period for ongoing research interns. |
| 🍂 | Fall Semester Begins | 2 September 2025approximate | Kickoff of fall term with seminars on latest cancer therapies. |
| 🛠️ | Labor Day | 1 September 2025 | Honors workers; pre-fall semester holiday for final preparations. |
| 🌿 | Indigenous Peoples' Day | 13 October 2025 | Recognizes Native American heritage; potential day off for cultural awareness in medical ethics. |
| 🪖 | Veterans Day | 11 November 2025 | Honors veterans; may include special lectures on veteran health in oncology. |
| 🦃 | Thanksgiving Break | 27 November 2025 | Extended break for family time and travel, impacting late-fall deadlines. |
| ❄️ | Fall Semester Ends | 19 December 2025approximate | End of fall term with final presentations and holiday preparations. |
| 🎄 | Christmas Day | 25 December 2025 | Major holiday; winter break begins, allowing rest for all MSK community members. |
Are you planning on applying to MSK next year? Then you need to know the important dates and deadlines for the admissions process at MSK. You can check them out below…
| Event | Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📝 | Application Opens for Graduate Programs | 1 September 2025 | Start of application period for MSK's biomedical sciences PhD programs. |
| ⏰ | Early Application Deadline | 1 November 2025 | Deadline for priority consideration in competitive cancer research tracks. |
| 📅 | Standard Application Deadline | 1 December 2025 | Final submission for all graduate applications. |
| 📧 | Interview Invitations Sent | 15 January 2026 | Notifications for selected candidates to interview with faculty. |
| 🤝 | Interview Period | 1 February 2026approximate | On-site or virtual interviews for program fit. |
| 🎉 | Admission Decisions Released | 15 March 2026 | Offers extended to top applicants. |
| ✅ | Acceptance Deadline | 15 April 2026 | Deadline to accept offers and secure spots. |
| 👋 | Orientation for New Admits | 15 August 2026approximate | Pre-semester welcome for incoming students. |
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) academic calendar serves as a vital framework for its specialized educational programs in biomedical sciences and cancer research. Unlike traditional universities, MSK focuses on graduate-level training, integrating rigorous coursework with hands-on research in oncology. The calendar typically follows a semester system, with fall and spring terms bookended by breaks that align with national holidays. This structure allows students, faculty, and staff to balance intensive lab work, clinical rotations, and personal time effectively. Historically, MSK's calendar has evolved from its founding in the late 19th century as a cancer hospital to a leading research institution, incorporating flexible scheduling to accommodate groundbreaking discoveries and patient care priorities. Compared to broader universities, MSK's terms are more compact, emphasizing research milestones over large undergraduate classes. For students, this impacts thesis deadlines and grant applications, while international participants benefit from visa-friendly timing. Holidays like Thanksgiving and spring breaks provide essential respites, often used for travel or family coordination. Prospective students should note how admissions cycles tie into the calendar, ensuring alignment with program starts. Overall, understanding the MSK academic calendar aids in planning classes, exams, holidays, breaks, work schedules, deadlines, and even tracking rival institution events. For insights into faculty experiences, check out Rate My Professor to view or contribute ratings. This resource helps in selecting mentors who align with your research interests in cancer biology.
At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, semester dates are designed to maximize productivity in a research-intensive environment. The fall semester generally begins after Labor Day, allowing new students to settle into New York City's dynamic setting, while the spring term starts post-winter holidays. Class planning involves coordinating core courses in molecular biology, immunology, and oncology with lab rotations. Students often use the calendar to plan exams and deadlines, ensuring they meet program requirements for PhD or MD/PhD tracks. Tips include mapping out course loads early to avoid conflicts with research commitments. MSK's schedule accommodates flexible work hours for faculty, who juggle teaching with clinical duties. For those planning family travel or coordinating with rival school events, the calendar's predictability is key. International students appreciate how it aligns with global holidays, reducing cultural adjustment stress. To enhance your planning, explore professor ratings on Rate My Professor, where you can rate your experiences or view others' feedback on teaching styles in specialized fields like cancer genomics.
Exam schedules at MSK are strategically placed at the end of each semester, focusing on comprehensive assessments that test research acumen rather than rote memorization. Preparation involves reviewing lab data, presenting findings, and collaborating on group projects. Students benefit from study groups that align with the academic calendar's built-in review periods. Faculty provide guidance on deadlines, emphasizing how exam performance influences fellowship opportunities. For optimal preparation, track holidays and breaks to schedule focused study sessions. This approach helps in planning work schedules around high-stakes evaluations. If you're a prospective student, understanding these patterns can inform your application strategy. Invite fellow students to share their insights by rating professors on Rate My Professor, fostering a community of shared knowledge in cancer research education.
Thanksgiving break at MSK offers a much-needed pause in the demanding routine of cancer research and education. Typically falling in late November, this break allows students and faculty to recharge, travel home, or visit family in New York or beyond. Traditions include attending local parades or volunteering at community events, reflecting MSK's commitment to public health. Planning tips involve booking travel early, especially for international staff coordinating with global holidays. The break impacts work schedules by providing time for reflection on semester progress, such as reviewing deadlines for grant submissions. For those tracking rival school events, it's an opportunity to network at conferences. MSK encourages using this time for wellness, aligning with its holistic approach to cancer care education. To learn more about faculty support during such periods, visit Rate My Professor and contribute your ratings.
MSK's holidays and breaks are tailored to its U.S. location, incorporating federal observances like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break, which provide essential downtime. Spring break often aligns with early March, ideal for travel or short research trips. These periods help in planning classes and exams, ensuring no overlap with personal commitments. For faculty, breaks facilitate deadline management and professional development. International students find value in how these align with global calendars, aiding family travel coordination. Historical patterns show MSK adapting breaks to support ongoing clinical trials without disruption. Tips include using breaks for verifying historical dates in research archives or planning work schedules. Explore job opportunities that fit this calendar at Academic Jobs research positions.
Work schedules at MSK revolve around the academic calendar, with deadlines for publications, grants, and evaluations tied to semester ends. Faculty plan their timelines to include teaching, research, and administrative duties, using breaks for intensive writing. Students align thesis deadlines with class schedules, benefiting from the structured year. This setup aids in coordinating with external collaborators, including rival institutions. For staff, it means predictable periods for professional growth. Invite employees to rate their experiences on Rate My College for MSK.
Faculty and staff at MSK navigate meetings, grading periods, and research milestones per the calendar. Notes include preparing for orientation and commencement, which highlight achievements in cancer research. Job links to positions like lecturers are available at Academic Jobs lecturer roles. Invite employees to rate their employer experiences to help others in higher ed.
MSK's historical calendars reveal patterns from past decades, such as adjustments during major scientific advancements. Future calendars maintain consistency, aiding long-term planning for classes, holidays, and deadlines. Archives are useful for verifying historical dates in oncology studies.
Key events like orientation and commencement are calendar highlights, fostering community in cancer education. Invite students to rate professors on Rate My Professor or view results for informed choices.
| Event | Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🎉 | New Year's Day Holiday | 1 January 2026 | Start of the year observance; programs closed for reflection on prior year's research achievements. |
| ✊ | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 19 January 2026 | Civil rights holiday; focus on equity in cancer treatment education. |
| 📅 | Spring Semester Begins | 26 January 2026approximate | Commencement of spring courses in advanced oncology topics. |
| 🇺🇸 | Presidents' Day | 16 February 2026 | Holiday for professional development or lab advancements. |
| 🏖️ | Spring Break Begins | 9 March 2026approximate | Break for rejuvenation amid intensive research schedules. |
| 🎖️ | Memorial Day | 25 May 2026 | Remembrance day near spring term conclusion. |
| 🏫 | Spring Semester Ends | 29 May 2026approximate | Wrap-up of spring academic activities. |
| 🗽 | Juneteenth Holiday | 19 June 2026 | Emancipation celebration with health equity focus. |
| 🎆 | Independence Day Observed | 3 July 2026 | Holiday observance for summer research continuity. |
| 🍂 | Fall Semester Begins | 1 September 2026approximate | Start of fall with new cohort orientations. |
| 🛠️ | Labor Day | 7 September 2026 | Post-start holiday for adjustments. |
| 🌿 | Indigenous Peoples' Day | 12 October 2026 | Cultural recognition day. |
| 🪖 | Veterans Day | 11 November 2026 | Veteran health seminars possible. |
| 🦃 | Thanksgiving Break | 26 November 2026 | Family and travel break. |
| ❄️ | Fall Semester Ends | 18 December 2026approximate | Term conclusion before holidays. |
| 🎄 | Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Winter holiday closure. |
