I’m approaching my 3rd year of college and somehow I have managed to get enough credits to be able to graduate a full year early. I’m not sure if that is the best option for me. I’ve Also been given the alternative to double major. I go to a decent size, reasonably priced school. My college so far has been pretty much paid for with very few loans, but after this year my college fund will pretty much be depleted, so that is one big thing that I’m looking at. I think it could also benefit me to graduate early because I still have no idea what I want to do in life. by graduating early I’ll have earned a BS in sociology and a minor in mass comm and criminal justice. I figure I can use the extra time for internships and finding a possible career. My plan after college is to move to California, so graduating a year early could help me get a jumpstart on that. Ive had senioritis since freshman year, and I love the thought of finally being done with classe. The cons of graduating early is that I am very involved in my school. I moved here (from Maine to Michigan) not knowing anyone. I’ve made a ton of friends through Greek life and random roommates and I’m not sure if I want to give that up yet. I’ll miss a lot of senior activities and graduating with my best friends. I’m also concerned that by graduating early I’ll feel like I missed out because I do have my entire life ahead of me to work, but college is only once. I’m only 19 (will not be 20 until October), and I’m pretty young for my class anyways. Any thoughts?
Thanks:)
How about you graduate and stick around Michigan doing internships there for a year, rather than heading off to California right away?
I have family there,
Isn’t it harder to get internships if you’ve already graduated?
I wouldn’t graduate unless you have a specific plan. “Going to California” to do an internship seems a bit ambiguous. If you have a job offer, you’ll be fine graduating early; if you don’t, stick around until you do.
I recommend that you meet with the career center and with your advisor at school and see what type of advice they can offer. They may have specific places where you can apply for internships or give you suggestions of how to pursue your interests. As well, they may have contacts in California who you can talk with ahead of time so you have something more substantive as far as future plans.
You have enough credits to graduate…do you have enough of the right credits to graduate? Have you completed all of your distribution/general ed requirements?
I think this can go either way. I’m assuming that you have the money to stay on a fourth year. If you do, you can use your university as a home base from which to explore career options and gain some more skills. Visit the career center on a regular basis, setting up appointments with advisors to help you figure out a direction and look over your resume. Take a light courseload of some practical skills, like statistics or computer programming. Maybe run for office in your Greek organization to get some leadership experience and have a great fourth year. Spend some time figuring out exactly what it is you want to do in California, where you’re going to move, and what kind of job you want to get. (California is a big place, which encompasses cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco but also lots of smaller cities, suburbs, and desert.)
You are right in that you have your entire life to work. My sister-in-law is Greek; she joined in her senior year, and one of the things she wishes is that she had had more time in college to be a sister and enjoy Greek life.