<p>JUSTAMOM - there are ''degree-in-three'' programs out there - if your gal has herself set up to complete her college education in 3 years - and is happy with that - go for it - not a thing wrong with that at all. I am assuming that she may be considering grad school - just puts her 1 up in that case - and you save a years tuition :)</p>
<p>My worry would be that 5-10 years from now the young lady will look back and wonder why she was in such a rush. My oldest graduated in 3-1/2 years. The reason was financial. She wanted to go abroad and the only way she could fit it into her program was to go the summer between her junior and senior year. We paid for her to go, but with the understanding that she would need to graduate in December because we could not afford that extra semester. She did graduate in December, but stayed in her college apartment and worked at a part time job while she completed two internships. She was financially responsible for herself. I am not sure she would have been very happy if she needed to leave school that December and look for a real job., so this was a nice compromise. She loved the college atmosphere and really enjoyed that spring semester, even though she lived like a pauper. College is such a special time, I'm just not sure if long term, it is the best thing to do in three years.</p>
<p>Dogwood, you've summed up my concern about our S graduating after just two and a half years. To me, college was so fun, inspiring, interesting, liberating, confidence-building. I wanted only to extend it, not rush through it. I look back on those years as blissful, even though they had their bad times and stresses and even though I've loved my life post-college, too. </p>
<p>I plan to talk with S over Thanksgiving about his reasons and I might even suggest he go work on a campaign without graduating, then come back to finish college (sort of like a year abroad, without the abroad part). </p>
<p>The one difference between my S and me is that I've always really liked being a student. I love sitting in lectures, taking notes, researching, writing, studying, just absorbing the knowledge and turning it over in my mind. He's more of a self-learner, I guess. If he's interested in something, he'll study it on his own, and on his own pace. I get the impression sometimes that he finds the classroom and the assignments sort of one-dimensional, limiting or not really that challenging or maybe, not that meaningful. He's very bright, but I think he has been spoiled in a weird sense by the technology that is available to him and his generation: the internet with its vast information resources and communication possibilities, where you can explore anything and everything without a syllabus and where you can get as specific as you want to and where you can have a voice no matter what your age or experience or education; video and computer games, with their capacity to demand problem-solving from every neuron in his little analytical brain over short bursts of time; cable and internet news 24/7, which makes it seem as if events are moving very fast indeed (which they are, no doubt) and which probably reinforces the feeling that some lectures are drip-dripping information while the real world is lurching ahead just outside the door. </p>
<p>I dunno. I don't think there should be a rush to get out of the special place and time that is college, but perhaps he just feels called to the adult world? And then, with the idea of grad/law school on the horizon, perhaps he feels that he's really only taking a hiatus from school, not leaving it behind for the workaday world forever. </p>
<p>Still, it gives me pause, and I'd hate to see him rush off and then regret it years down the road, since you can't get that time back. :(</p>
<p>I was in honors program at large U. There was only one other female in my major's honors program. I was quite happy to get out of college early. I enjoyed the years of professional school much better.
My college was a poor 'fit' for me. Intro classes in art history, Chinese history, and philosophy were huge. At a different college, I could have whetted my appetite in a pleasant fashion. I'm pleased others found this time blissful, but everyone is different, and the college experience is so variale.</p>
<p>bethievt. You are welcome :)</p>
<p>My #2S could graduate in 3 with his major, but instead is getting a diverse major and minor that will require 4. He's in no hurry, though I don't think he realizes that this means an extra $5500 in subsidized loans he will have to pay back someday. I tried to tell him but it went in one ear and out the other, like most of the irrelevant advice I have to give.</p>
<p>Three years ago I was sitting exactly where you daughter is now. I came into university with a year's worth of credits and a firm idea of what I wanted to do. I declared my major first semester (Euro history!), studied abroad for a full year (the middle soph/jun year) and graduated at the end of three years. My parents didn't like the idea and still are not happy that I did it but I was the best decision I ever made. I had an amazing experience abroad and I was definitely ready to graduate after three years (I was unhappy and unchallenged at my university.) I'm a grad student now at a much more challenging university in an accelerated program and, if all goes well, I will be graduating this spring with my MA when my high school friends are getting their BAs. If I could do it over I wouldn't change a thing and I think your daughter should go for it. If you or you daughter have any questions, I'm always willing to answer them.</p>
<p>I was going to try to be neutral on this one but I can't.</p>
<p>First, if finances are an issue than graduating early is a HUGE help.</p>
<p>But other than for money I'd ask why. If my kid was academically ahead and pushing I'd advocate a second major and lots of interesting electives ... or a semester travelling ... or .. or anything. Bottom line ... what's the rush to get to the job market. College and grade school is something like a 3-7 year window with great cohorts and lots of growing opportunities ... cutting a year of that window is not a big positive to me. Going the other way my kids are looking at 40-50 years of working ... why make that 41-51 years of working. Rushing out of school to work longer just doesn't do much for me.</p>
<p>I had 3-4 friends who did their undergraduate degree in 3 years ... all of them (from my incredibly small sample) wish they had stayed for 4 years ... all sighting all that they did was get into the work place sooner and that that was a bad trade compared to another year at school.</p>
<p>Interesting to see this thread come back to life...6 weeks later, and D is relatively settled in to a 4 year graduation plan. She's heading to the Republic of Georgia next week for a 3 week internship through her school, and is very much looking forward to the next semester. She's already exploring study abroad, as well as beginning the talk of graduate school. </p>
<p>She did meet with her new advisor (the history chair) and he is guiding her nicely and has shown her (on paper) all the things she has available to her going forward. </p>
<p>I think it helps her a lot to talk things out rather than stew internally.</p>
<p>She had a good 1st semester, and she is pleased with the results.</p>
<p>I support whatever her decisions are.</p>
<p>Our son will be nearing completion of his compsci-psych double major/philosophy minor early but will enroll in the Graduate School his senior year and begin his MS program while completing his undergraduate thesis work during his fourth year.</p>
<p>It is the best of both worlds. Beginning his masters degree while maintaning his $25,000 merit scholarships and remaining at RPI for four years with his friends. He will need to remain an additional semester to complete his masters degree requirement but hopefully he will receive a TA or RA position to pay for that. That is definitely one advantage of attending a research university vs an LAC.</p>
<p>If your student does not have these options available, the decision to graduate early can be more complicated. Some just wish to begin the next phase of their life while others choose to remain with their class and friends. I would suggest that students in this position apply to graduate school early and see what happens w/r to acceptances and finaid. If a very good offer comes their way that could seal the deal to leave early. I know I was very grateful when I got that call from Cornell early one spring term morning notifying me that i had been accepted into their PhD program with tuition/room/board taken care of. BTW, I did not graduate early but the call came to the apartment spring quarter senior year. And yes that did seal the deal.</p>