Hey y’all! I am about to start my third year at college this fall and am on track to graduate in the spring, taking 18 hrs. this fall and 16 in the spring. I am set on graduating in 3 years, but my parents aren’t very supportive of this plan. They want me to fully engage in and enjoy my college experience. However, I am very unhappy at school and am ready to be done with it. I know that my experience could improve over the next year, but I need to start making decisions now about post grad life. What are y’all’s opinions about this. I would especially love to hear from the perspective of people who did graduate early and also parents!
Th financial side is that I am on an academic scholarship, so paying tuition isn’t a problem, but I do still pay for off campus housing, books, sorority, etc.
Thanks so much!
Yeah, I’m thinking about doing this as a CS major to save some money. I’m taking 18 units for my 1st semester.
Well, I had the opportunity to do this but instead decided to divide the required classes among my final two years. Personally, college has been a blast and I’m not particularly eager to cut it short and enter the “real world.”
Perhaps, if you’re on pace to graduate in 3 years, you’ve been taking too rigorous of a workload. You might be able to enjoy college a lot more if you split the classes up among two years. Obviously there are some extra costs, but considering you have free tuition, you’re in perfect position to do this. You can take classes that you may find interesting in your spare time or pursue a minor.
I know college isn’t for everyone and you may just feel uncomfortable. If that’s the case just do whatever makes you happy.
I’m planning to stay as long as my scholarship lasts because I want to take as many advanced classes as I can to prepare for jobs and graduate school. I’ll probably never be able to attend college full-time again, at least not as cheaply as I can now.
If you’re in a rush to go work 40 hours a week for the next 45 years, go right ahead…
Personal view: I saw it as rushing myself to the fun courses / internships. IDK, after 2 years I only have 27 units left and am pretty set on graduating in the three year time span… So why not?
I’ve always had the thought in the back of my mind that I do not like wasting my parents’ money – I’m going to a cheaper low tier university and getting out fast – I often would refuse their offers to buy me stuff as I grew up.
To slow down the process of the full on work world, I’ll stay involved in college activities / similar activities after I graduate (I commute). I have plenty of time to do the things I want to do when I graduate too.
My daughter had a ton of credits from HS and was able to graduate early. We did tell her not to rush and that she could take 4 years if she wanted. She did not want to and was able to get into a Masters Program.
I imagine your parents are worried you won’t get to do things like study abroad/internships/leadership opportunities while in college…you will be younger (less mature) than other graduates…in my daughter’s case she was in grad school but wasn’t even 21.
They are also thinking “You have your whole life to be an adult…why rush”…but if this is what you want to do and are driven then no reason not to.
Some universities (maybe the OP’s school?) have programs where undergraduates can get a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree at the same time. They normally take five years, but it’s possible to finish in four years. (This is what I’m doing in preparation for Ph.D. programs, and I guess I should have said so in my first post.)