<p>Last night D called with 2 bits of news, one regarding possibly going to the Republic of Georgia (formerly USSR) in January for 3 weeks, and the other which was more of a surprise (we'd discussed the J-term program)...It seems she may be ready to declare her major (History of some type, probably Euro-ish) and minor (Studio Art) after a disussion with her current advisor, who is now transfering her to a new advisor, the chair of the history department, who she expects to meet with this week. (She's in her 1st semester) Part of her discussion was about graduating in 2009 rather than 2010. Seems she could very well be on track for that, and is motivated enough to make it happen. She's even looking at sophomore year/semester abroad. She's definitely done her "homework" on what she would like and what it would take.</p>
<p>Anyone here have any experience with their S or D graduating college ahead of schedule? Please share your experiences.</p>
<p>weenie: In the conversation she had with me, there was more than one reason. First was she felt that 4 classes a term just didn't challenge her enough and would like to bump it up, but not just with (what she called) "filler". Another was that the classes that really appeal to her would count towards her intended major. And another was she just feels ready to start moving full-steam ahead. </p>
<p>Last night's conversation was like one I've had with my adult friends, not a "kid"...it's as if she's turned a corner over the last few days, and it was quite moving really. Everything that she talked about seemd so thought-filled rather than off the cuff, or impetuous. She had details and a plan rather than just thoughts.</p>
<p>Years ago, I graduated college in <3 years. I had taken summer classes abroad, and came to college with college credits while in HS. I always signed up for 6 or 7 classes, prepared to drop at least one. It added up. I was accepted at professional schools, but decided to defer a year and work/travel. I think that gap year is invaluable. It gives one a break from academia and a chance to rethink one's future. </p>
<p>Now that more & more kids are entering college with college classes and APs under the belt, it seems to be common. Some colleges actually talk about completing a master's degree within the 4 years.</p>
<p>I would look at the person's motivation. My friends were all graduating, so I had a push to leave. My g/f also pushed to she could move with her b/f. No question about it, but this decision saved money. </p>
<p>Personally, I have less ambivalence about graduation college early than I do with HS</p>
<p>Well, I suppose if she's determined to do that, she will do it regardless of what you (much less CC) thinks. </p>
<p>My one friend's kid did it because he was desperate to save money, and he went right into grad school. He seems happy and successful. The other one did it because he's a genius and went into college with lots of college credits. He is also a bit of a social misfit - and I'm not sure leaving school early helped him with that especially - he is working at a not-so-great job, but wants to go to grad school, but he doesn't know what for. (He accelerated through engineering, but hates it.)</p>
<p>Anway, seems like your daughter is pretty early in her college career. (Is she only a freshman? Three months in?) She may decide that the "filler" classes can be interesting and enriching too. </p>
<p>Thanks bookworm. Yes, my D also went in with some credits already under her belt, has been a world traveler (both with family & independently) since she was a baby, and has never really had to "push" herself academically. Personally I think a bit of a push might be good for her.</p>
<p>Is your D at a LAC? It might make sense to graduate early if she has exhausted the courses she is interested in. If she is at a university, there are lots more courses at an advanced level she could take. She might also do a 4 year combined BA/MA depending on the field and the school. Your D should investigate the ramifications of taking Advanced Standing. How flexible is that option? What would happen if she were to change her mind? How about studying abroad?</p>
<p>If she graduates early and does not work, take into account the health insurance implications. As long as she is in college, she is considered your dependent (until she reaches the age of 24). But if she is not enrolled, she gets dropped. </p>
<p>My experience runs in the other direction. Plenty of students arrive at top colleges eager to graduate as early as possible, then decide to stay the whole four years because they find so many interesting courses (including graduate level ones), want to spend a semester or a year studying abroad, or just enjoy the college experience.</p>
<p>Unlike the question of graduating high school early, where there are maturity & developmental concerns, the college student who graduates early is an adult. There's not much difference between age 21 or 22 -- so the only issue is whether that will shortchange the student in any way related to their studies. I can't see that as a problem for a history or art major.</p>
<p>From a financial standpoint, it's a winning plan -- no more college tuition!</p>
<p>I have a good friend in college who went to school year round and graduated in 3 years. She was planning to get married. Her bf was 2 years older and she didn't want to be in school 2 more years after he graduted. 25 years and 3 kids later they are doing great. It was a good decision for her.</p>
<p>If money is an issue, I can see it. If not, why? Take a full year abroad or at another college. Double major. There are so many enrichment possibilities and only one opportunity to enjoy your college years.</p>
<p>Transferring her to the Chairman of the Department in Week 10 of her first semester? What a spitfire!</p>
<p>She may graduate in three years...or it may be a case of "eyes bigger than her stomach". Either way, she sounds like a goer. Hang on for the ride!</p>
<p>justaMom,
Our S just dropped that bombshell on us this week, too, only it's even sooner. He's a second-year student and says he now plans to graduate in one year (Dec. 07). He's mapped out all the coursework and just needs 7 more classes in his major after this semester (all the gen. ed stuff, pre-reqs and breadth reqs are fulfilled, partly through community college classes taken in high school, along with AP classes). His passion is politics and his thinking right now is that he could graduate with his BA, go work on an '08 presidential or Senate campaign, then go to law school or grad school. He's going to take the LSAT this June, he says. </p>
<p>We are taking a wait-and-see approach because this is a kid who changes his plans a lot (last year he was planning to triple-major and take the full four years to graduate). The positives we see are timing ('08 campaigns, his political party ascending) and financial (what we don't spend on undergrad we will give him to use for grad school or help support him during campaign work; this could be around $35K). The negatives are, as Marite said, health insurance and his age (he'll be only 20.5 years old), and him moving, most likely, much farther away from us. And then there is the emotional component we are dealing with as parents, this kid is growing up way too fast! And he'll graduate from college before our D graduates from high school (he would walk in ceremonies in May 08 and she in June 08).</p>
<p>I think every person is different and so if your D has well articulated reasons for this path and goals in mind, etc, I'd be open to her plan. I do feel that it is still quite early and she should leave options open though can move forward in such a way as she could graduate early if she still wants to. She has to weigh if she feels she'll be missing out on anything against the advantages. Only she can tell and frankly, what isn't right for one person, may be just right for another. So, a lot depends on her reasons and so as long as they are well though through and all options are discussed and she still feels she wants to proceed with this plan, I say support it. I think it is her decision to make but you can help her to think through all the reasons and options. </p>
<p>Way back when, I graduated college in 3 1/2 years, though that was never my original plan. I went to summer school the summer after freshman year because I simply wanted to. I didn't want to go back home and so going to school was a way to spend the summer in Boston. As time went on, I had the credits to graduate a half year early. I often took five courses in a semester, out of choice, but not with this goal to graduate early. I got married the summer after soph year which was very very rare even in my day at my college but I was able to keep going there as my husband graduated and entered a graduate school in the same city. The only thing I gave up was a semester abroad. So, as time wore on, it just made sense to graduate mid year senior year. Then I worked for 1 1/2 years before entering graduate school. I'm not advocating this path but everyone's situation is different and so I support different paths.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your responses...Health insurance isn't an issue, she's self insured, with a decent PPO, and has been for years. She'll discuss, at length, and in depth, with her new advisor keeping options open for the 4th year, and is already looking at spending all or some of her sophomore year abroad (although it looks most likely that it would be one semester only, and that would be spring). Yes, she's at an LAC. Financially it would ease some, and would give her a smallish cushion for continuing education, or the start of an apartment, etc. </p>
<p>She has always been a go-getter, earning her first paycheck at 14 when she decided she wanted to visit cousins in London for 6 weeks. She put that together almost single-handedly, and has steadily held 2 responsible jobs through high-school, as well as decent ECs and academics. Today she started filling out applications for summer '07 work. </p>
<p>Instead of giving her my "opinion" I told her I would be supportive of whatever decision she makes. </p>
<p>Mostly I was curious about others experiences. It took me 30 years to complete my college education, so 3 years (or even 4!) makes me shake my head in amazement. But times were different, and I have been supporting myself for 32 years (out of my family home since I was 16).</p>
<p>originaloog: I never thought there was a right or wrong side to it, just different from my own drawn out experience, so I'm looking to hear what other's experiences were/are. </p>
<p>Most of the men I know were able to pursue their higher education, while many women (in their late 40s to their 60s) that I have had contact with put education on the back burner for many years, for a multitude of reasons. My D is the first in our family to go to "real" college right out of hs.</p>
<p>I think that you're right to support whatever your daughter thinks is right for her; and financial reasons are certainly a very compelling--sometimes necessary--reason to finish early.</p>
<p>I also think that it's good to think of an education, particularly a liberal arts education, as more than a checklist to be completed faster or slower than normal. It sounds like she's at a really good school, so there are professors who could change her life that she'll never have in that fourth year; student colleagues that she'll never meet; intellectual debates that she'll never take part in, ideas that she'll never encounter, lectures and concerts that she'll never hear, and so on. Depending on what the next step is for her, it's at least worth considering that there are benefits to moving on, but also costs.</p>
<p>I agree with Marathonman. I dont' know what the breakdown is between humanities/social sciences and math/science students who choose to take Advanced Standing. I would not be surprised that the preponderance would be the latter rather than the former. The sequential nature of math/science can make students feel they're "done" when they have completed a sequence of courses, whereas in the humanities and social sciences, there are so many possible approaches to studying similar topics. For example, one could study the history of the US in the 19th century from a political, economic, diplomatic, cultural, social perspective, each of which could take up several different courses.
Students who have sufficient credits for Advanced Standing often spend a semester or a year studying abroad and graduate with their cohort. This may be what your D has in mind?</p>
<p>Marite,
You put into words what I was thinking. Many of my daughters friends went into college with AP and some college credits and are enjoying taking classes outside of their majors or adding a major or minor as they mosey on to college graduation this coming Spring. Having the good fortune to be able to do a study abroad or to take classes just because they are interesting is a kind of a once in a lifetime thing isn't it? I can understand how exciting it would be to finish early, but unless money is a factor or the college experience is not an enjoyable one, I would think graduating in four years would be what I would want my son or daughter to do.</p>