You're standing on the North Quad, the California sun is doing that specific Claremont thing where it’s somehow blinding and perfect at the same time, and you realize you have no idea if tomorrow is a holiday or a mid-term. Honestly, it happens to the best of us. Whether you're a first-year still trying to find the Athenaeum without a map or a senior just trying to survive your thesis, the Claremont McKenna academic calendar is basically the pulse of your life.
But here is the thing: it’s not just a list of dates. It's a strategic map. If you miss the "add" deadline by one day, you’re stuck in that 8:00 AM Econ class you hate. If you forget when the "drop without record" date is, your GPA might take a hit you didn't see coming. Let's break down what actually matters for the 2025-2026 cycle so you can stop stressing and start planning your Tahoe trips.
The Fall 2025 Grind: Start Dates and Sneaky Deadlines
Fall at CMC usually kicks off with a bang. For the 2025-2026 year, the first day of classes lands on Monday, August 25. You’ve got exactly two weeks before things get serious.
One date people always overlook? September 8. That is the "Last Day to Add" classes. After this, your course fees are locked in. If you’re trying to swap into a popular government course or grab a spot in a physical education elective, this is your hard wall.
- Labor Day: September 1 (No classes, go to the beach).
- The Low Grade Notice: Around October 1. If you get an email now, don't panic, but maybe start actually doing the readings.
- Fall Break: Saturday, October 11 through Tuesday, October 14. It’s short, but it’s the only breathing room you get before the November crunch.
The "drop without record" deadline is October 16. This is a big one. If you drop a class by this date, it’s like it never happened. No "W" on the transcript. No awkward questions from recruiters later.
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The November Registration Madness
By the time November 11-14 rolls around, you’re not even thinking about Fall anymore. You’re thinking about Spring 2026. Pre-registration is a high-stakes sport at CMC. You need to make sure your portal is clear of any "holds"—usually from a library fine you forgot about or an unpaid student account balance—otherwise, you’ll be watching your favorite classes fill up while you're on the phone with the Registrar.
Spring 2026: The Thesis Countdown
Spring semester starts a bit later than you might expect on Tuesday, January 20. Since Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, you get one extra day of "winter break" vibes before the 71 instructional days of Spring begin.
Thesis. If you're a senior, this word haunts your dreams. The Claremont McKenna academic calendar is very specific about this. Your senior thesis is due Monday, April 27, 2026, by 3:00 PM. Not 3:01. Not "I'll email it tonight." 3:00 PM.
The rest of the Spring schedule looks a bit like this:
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- Spring Break: March 14 to March 22. Most people head to the desert or Mexico.
- César Chávez Day: March 27. No classes.
- Reading Days: May 7 and 8. These are the "calm before the storm" days.
Finals and the Commencement Finish Line
Finals are a different beast. For Spring 2026, they run from Monday, May 11 to Friday, May 15. CMC uses a "Final Examination Schedule Variance," which basically means your exam time depends on when your class met during the week.
Pro Tip: Check the common final exam schedule early. If you have three exams in one day (it happens!), you can usually petition to move one, but you have to do it weeks in advance.
Commencement is the big finale on Saturday, May 16, 2026. By noon on Sunday, the residence halls close. If you aren't packed by then, you'll be throwing things into trash bags while the cleaning crews wait by the door.
Why the "Claremont Consortium" Makes Things Weird
Here’s the part most people get wrong. You might be a CMC student, but if you’re taking a class at Pomona or Scripps, their deadlines might be slightly different. While the 5Cs try to stay in sync, there are sometimes tiny variations in "add/drop" dates for specific cross-enrolled courses.
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If you are doing a summer internship for credit, remember those deadlines too. The last day to add a summer internship for the 2025 cycle is June 30. If you wait until July, you might lose out on that precious unit of credit.
Actionable Next Steps
Don't just read this and forget it. Do these three things right now:
- Sync your Google Calendar: Manually 5-minute-block the October 16 (Fall) and March 12 (Spring) drop deadlines.
- Check your Portal: Log into the CMC portal today to see if you have any financial or health holds that will stop you from registering in November.
- Map your Finals: As soon as you get your syllabi, find your "Class Meeting Time" on the Registrar's exam grid to see if you have any 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM exam slots.
Basically, the calendar is your best friend or your worst enemy. It just depends on if you're looking at it now or the day after a deadline passes.