Graduating in three years + MA in fourth year

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northeastern University
1

I’ll be a freshman this fall at Northeastern. If the way I have my transfer credits, schedule, and major requirements mapped out is correct, I have the opportunity to graduate in three years with one co-op. I’m pretty set on doing this, as it will save me a lot of money as well as allow me to finish sooner.

I’m also interested in doing the PlusOne program with a Master of Arts in Teaching. It’s not on the official PlusOne program page, but it is up on the CPS website. I believe I’ve got this all worked and planned out, and obviously I’m going to check with my advisor this fall.

My question is really this - has anyone here graduated early, or knows someone who has? Anyone who has participated in the PlusOne program and can tell me a little bit about it?

I know that Northeastern really pushes the five-year plan, so would I be discouraged from graduating in three? The only way I could graduate in four would be if I took every summer off (which would mean going home, something I’d love to avoid) and did another co-op, adding on a year.

2

Why don’t you do 2 coops in 3.5 years?

3

@suzyQ7 I’ve thought about that, but most co-ops in the education field are going to be unpaid, and doing multiple unpaid co-ops would be hard for me to sustain financially. Plus, I’ll already have a full term of student teaching with the graduate degree, so to me that would almost be like co-op, but a lot closer to a real job. So mainly, with the two degrees and the experiential requirement of each, I think that I’ll be adequately prepared with just one. I’ll make sure to stay open to the possibility when I talk with my advisors, though.

4

I’m currently doing something a bit similar - 3.5 year BS with 1 co-op, 5 year MS with 2 co-op’s total undergrad and grad. As long as you bring a reasonable plan to the table, they will help you with doing whatever you need to do. You will have no problem with a 3 year BS.

Northeastern hasn’t really pushed one plan more than another in my experience - that may be more on the admissions side. Sit down with your advisor and share your plan, and it should be very doable given the proper credits line up. They will likely be more than happy to help.

I know people who have done similar - some even graduated undergrad and grad at the same time by technicality. It’s very common and possible for those doing a +1, though I haven’t heard of many graduating early undergrad who didn’t go that route.

One thing to note: a lot of upper-level classes are going to be a lot scarcer in the summer - make sure the classes you have lined up for the summer are available. While there is still a good deal offered, that 3000 elective in particular subject X probably isn’t. If you line up your lower level classes to summers, you can probably still manage.

Additionally, if it doesn’t line up, graduating in December is pretty common - don’t be afraid to do a 4.5 year MS if needed, etc. It may make more sense when you get into the nitty gritty details, may not, but plans change a lot. I also mapped out my full schedule before arriving, and saved it just for fun. The skeleton held, but plenty changed and you should be ready for that, as you probably are. My 5 year plan and degree plan still held, but even my co-op schedule changed over time, as well as classes of course. As long as you have a handle on where you are currently, you’re good. Just something to keep in mind.

Given your situation, it all looks good to me! You’ll still get a full college experience with 4 years, and you’ll get two degrees in the process. Kinda my thought process with 5 year MS, as nearly all of my friends do a 5 year plan so it wouldn’t feel like staying longer. People will understand 4 very easily when it comes to your friends, so that should be good as well.

5

FWIW, my D in Poli Sci has basically completed her BS in 4 years doing three coops, but included three dialogues as well. She came in with 1.5 semesters of credits from APs. She is staying one more year for a masters, essentially a plus one program (but not official.)

6

Thank you both for the help and specific examples!

At least as a freshman coming in, it has seemed like they are really pushing the five-year plan. But maybe that is just to get new students used to the idea that doing that is okay.

7

My daughter graduated in 4 years with 2 coops (a BS). When she looked into the plus 1 plan it wouldn’t work for her major (which was a combined major) and she could not do her second coop fall of her senior year (which was how her coops were going to end up falling - that would be her 4th year). For that plus one you needed to take full year graduate classes in your last year.

8

Curious. How does the tuition work for the plus one? Is it an entirely new FA process?

9

I thought it was not recommended to look for a job as a new teacher with a masters degree as school districts with unionized teachers often don’t want to pay the additional salary to a new teacher that the Masters degree would require. I thought it was recommended to get a masters after you were already hired. Perhaps this advice doesn’t apply if you are targeting charters and private schools.

10

For me, I am keeping a single one credit class until my final semester of both undergrad and grad - my first semester of graduate studies will be under my undergrad scholarship and FA. For my final semester, I’m guessing it’s a new process, but I’m okay dealing with paying for a single semester if need be. I’ll be crossing that bridge soon I’m guessing.

It looks like @whitespace would have to do something similar, as using all summer sessions in Year 1 and 2 only would add up to 8.5 semesters.

11

I honestly think it’s a bad idea to try to cram all your classes in so aggressively; summer classes can be pretty taxing with long blocks of class. I can understand not wanting to be home for the summer, but maybe try applying as an orientation leader? You would stay in Boston all summer with a bunch of friends living in the res halls for free with a free meal plan, and nice stipend. It would give you some time off and a great leadership experience for your co-op.

I think admissions pushes the five year plan to 1.) normalize the idea/reduce stigma-- it’s usually a caution sign to prospective families before understanding it and 2.) encourage students to maximize their education. Nearly the entire Honors college could probably have graduated in three years with one co-op, but for the vast majority it’s much better to stay in school, try more co-ops, take a little time to make sure you like what you’re doing, etc. If you were on a path where you needed non-stop classes to graduate by whatever date, I imagine registration would be really stressful in trying to get classes/teachers you need. Additionally, if you had to withdraw or did poorly for some reason, it’d cause a bigger problem than normal.

12

My schedule would work out so that I would take all of the graduate classes in fall and spring of year 4.

My attendance pattern would be: fall, spring, summer, fall, co-op, fall, spring (BA), fall, spring (MA)

@CheddarcheeseMN I hadn’t heard that advice before, but it does seem logical. All of my former teachers and family members who have taught just sort of assumed that I’d go all the way through my master’s. A few commented that it can be difficult to go back and take night classes. I’m not sure if it is different in different parts of the country. I’m mainly planning to go all the way through because my undergrad won’t include more than one or two education classes, and I want to be the most prepared that I can be.

I’ll probably take a similar approach to @PengsPhils - use my undergrad FA for as long as possible. It’s my understanding, though, that once you graduate with your BA, it’s used up. I’m fine with paying for my MA out of pocket.

I thought about the idea to take summer off, but I’m really not interested in taking long breaks from classes. I’ve hated summers throughout high school, and it’s not necessary to take the time off to work or go home.

Obviously, this plan is very flexible and can absolutely change if I need to lower my course load, withdraw, etc. I’m comfortable with taking a break, and I’d like to think I know myself well enough to know when I would need one.

13

Most kids do some summer sessions at NEU - even with the 5 year 3 co-ops option - so they are very good at teaching summer classes. My daughter loved her summer classes - enjoyed having only 2 classes instead of 4 and never felt they were rushed or difficult. Remember co-ops for most majors are 6 months and so they sped 2 months of every co-op during the summer time (either summer 1 or summer 2). Since they have co-ops there is no pressure to take the summer to get an internship. For my daughter (who did get her first summer off), she felt it made sense to do the 2 summer sessions she did the other years (split with co-ops) and graduate a year early.

14

As @kiddie states most coops run Jan-June or July to Dec. You do not have the option of taking summers off except after freshman year.

15

I’m aware of the summer requirement, and I’m actually looking forward to taking classes during the summers. I would do that even if I didn’t want to graduate early.

The summer off suggestion I mentioned in #11 was about being an orientation leader after freshman year - something I’m not really interested in doing.

  • Looking back, it looks like I missed adding in Summer 2. So it would be fall, spring, summer 1 and 2, fall, co-op, summer 2, fall, spring (for BA).