<p>My daughter was accepted to the Honors Program at one of our State Universities. She entered with well over forty hours credit because of her I.B. results and HS classes that were cross-registered at the Community College. She's had a great Freshman year and will be attending Summer School this summer. </p>
<p>Here is the issue. By the end of the Summer she will have fulfilled all dist. requirements and will be 2/3 of the way toward # of credits needed for graduation. Basically, all she will need to do from there is wrap up her major, probably English.</p>
<p>She loves her school and really had no intention of graduating early. She doesn't have a strong sense of what she will do next--maybe law school, maybe something else. However, with that much credit under her belt, I don't see how she can stretch out her college career for a full four years.</p>
<p>What are the advantages and disadvantages of moving toward early graduation, particularly for a student who doesn't have any strong feelings about what to do post college? Any advice?</p>
<p>If money is not an issue, she can take some classes in areas she would not consider otherwise. Maybe she will discover an area of interest she hadn't thought of.</p>
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She loves her school and really had no intention of graduating early. She doesn't have a strong sense of what she will do next--maybe law school, maybe something else. However, with that much credit under her belt, I don't see how she can stretch out her college career for a full four years.
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<p>Why? The requirements are minimum requirements. My S is eligible for Advanced Standing (sophomore). But he is adamant he does not want to graduate early (although he graduated early from high school). There are over 300 courses in the catalog; there are more courses in his major than he can possibly take in four years--and he does know what he wants to major in and what to do after graduation.</p>
<p>If your D does not know what she wants to study, all the more reasons to take more rather than fewer classes, and in different areas.</p>
<p>I graduated in 3 years versus 4 - saved a lot of money and started my career.I don't think I missed out on anything in my college experience. Especially if you are going to graduate school - save the money. I can see some arguments not to finish high school early - but college? I guess I don't fully understand the dilemma. Of course I had decided on a major right away and knew what I wanted to do post graduation.</p>
<p>how about a double major? work in her major at a master's level while completing the undergrad? study abroad for a year? internships? take a lighter load while getting heavily involved with a pertinent extracurricular? do independent study with a mentor?</p>
<p>If money is an issue, then graduate with all possible speed. If not, come up with some great ideas for the time you have available and get out of your college whatever you can. This is not a time that will come again. jobs, family, and budget will all interfere later in life -- i advise my kids to take advantage when the opportunity is there.</p>
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<p>I graduated in 3 years versus 4 - saved a lot of money and started my career.I don't think I missed out on anything in my college experience.<<</p>
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<p>I also graduated in 3 vs. 4 years as a science major. Looking back now, I wish I had not graduated early and had taken classes that had expanded my horizons more. . .art and music survey classes, for example. I was amazingly ignorant in those areas for a long time--now I am just somewhat ignorant.</p>
<p>I have met quite a few people working in specialized fields who regret not having taken classes outside of these fields when in college, or not having seized the opportunity to get involved in extra curricular activities.</p>
<p>Lot's of food for thought here. Thank you for the input. A double major is definitely one thing for her to consider. She is enjoying some ec's and continuing her music studies, too; those are some things I stupidly failed to do in college. She's not necessarily one to "explore new areas," but we are going to urge her to do more of that, as well.</p>
<p>The way I've looked at finances, the in-state tuition with some scholarship help is doable for us. Professional school tuition (what I've read about) seems completely out of reach. I know that having her as an undergrad for 4 yrs won't change that, but it seems nice for now to have her in a situation we consider manageable. The next stage is where I start to get real worried about the finances.</p>
<p>OMG - I was going to start a thread today on exactly the same topic. My son (first-year) is now a sophomore and by winter break of his second year will be a junior (lots of AP credit + heavier-than-normal course loads). He is pursuing the option of a combined Masters/Bachelors program in the 4-year time span. It's not like he gets the Bachelors in 3 and then does the Masters. I not exactly sure of the details, but he gets both at once after 4 years.</p>
<p>Since he has a 4 year scholarship, it seems like it would be a waste to leave early, so why not get the grad degree paid for as well?</p>
<p>If she wants to stay the 4 years at university why not complete a masters degree too. Our DS is considering that although it will take him one additional semester. With a 3.5+ gpa, admission to the graduate program is guaranteed and he will be able to beging taking courses for graduate credit as soon as the 6th semester.</p>
<p>Almost all universities have these accelerated programs and if she wants to attend law school afterwards it may set her apart from some other applicants.</p>
<p>My D. finds herself in same situation. With some planned summer study she will be a junior in the fall, her second year. She's exploring all her options now. Finish in 3 years and head straight to PhD program...take advantage of 5 year combined BS/MS and finish it in 4, double major in 4 years, two minor fields of study, early selection medical school or MD/PhD assuming she can get into these competetive programs...extended internship, research opportunities??? So many choices and plenty of time. Your D can create many opportunities for herself--smart and lucky girl! I would suggest same as some of the above posters...explore all the possibilities and expand her horizons.</p>
<p>Yup, Riparian stole my thunder! A full year abroad can be an amazing and broadening experience. My niece chose Paris (made her parents crazy too because it added a full year to her UI-Champaign Urbana undergraduate degree). Like the OP my D entered university with Sophomore standing. She has no intention of graduating early either. Besides time abroad, she has widened her area of UG study from Biochemistry to Premed. Works for us.</p>
<p>Another thought for an English major is to get a teaching certificate, take some accounting courses or some finance/business courses. Computer courses would be a good option, too. Sometimes it can be challenging for liberal arts majors to find jobs, and this might be a chance to get some extra job skills without increasing her overall education time. Perhaps a visit to the career center to see what jobs are in demand. I guess I'm thinking of things like technical writing, marketing, etc. She could even take more LA courses, but do computer skill classes at night - desktop publishing, perhaps?</p>
<p>Thank you, Cangel, and others. This is a smorgasboard of options. We'll have some good things to discuss with her when she comes home next month!</p>