<p>I am currently a Freshmen At Suny Binghamton and for the most part I think I will probably stay here for my whole college career. I came in with approximately 20 credits and Im taking 18 credits this semester. Would it be a wise choise to take summer classes and graduate in 3 years or stay my senior year and "have fun"? At the end of this semester I will have 51 credits... pending I take atleast 32 each year. I will have 115 by my senior year and you need 126 to graduate. With only 11 credits left in my senior year... does it make sense to graduate early? </p>
<p>Keep in mind... My family is not financially burdened by me coming here. Thanks.</p>
<p>As the mom of someone who graduated last December (in 3 and a half years) she found it much easier to get a job in her field (journalism) by beating the masses to the job market. Something to consider. </p>
<p>As far as the fun in senior year, I felt bad that she might be missing out, but she was ready (as are many of her friends who are still in college in their last semester and are sick of some aspects of the "fun".)</p>
<p>What are you planning to do after college? I went to professional school right after undergrad so I did an independent research project for honors credit senior year and had fun.</p>
<p>I am planning to attend law school afterwards, as long as i can improve my grades from a bad first semester (In a forced triple with awful roommates). I would hopefully like to study law and become a lawyer.</p>
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<p>I am planning to attend law school afterwards, as long as i can improve my grades from a bad first semester (In a forced triple with awful roommates). I would hopefully like to study law and become a lawyer</p>
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<p>I would recommend concentrating on your grades and taking the full four years. Senior year, you can focus on studying for LSATs, preparing your application, interviews, etc</p>
<p>In general I'd suggest spending all 4 years in school ... why? You're going to spend 4 years in college and then 40 years working ... why make that 3 years of college and 41 years of working? ... enjoy the college experience as much as possible.</p>
<p>There are a couple situations where I would switch my vote ... if finances are a big issue and saving the expense makes a big difference ... or if academically there is little left of interest for the student to pursue. In your case neither of these seem to apply ... if anything going the full 4 years will allow to carry a lighter course load each term which should help your grades for law school.</p>
<p>Dcmom raised a good point ... does the decision matter in the job market? Dcmom's story about journalism makes a lot of sence (beating the masses to the job market). I applied to big business type jobs and they have recriuting cycles built around the college calendar and even if someone graduates off cycle (mid-year graduates) they will be drawn into the same recruiting schedule as everyone else (and want to still have access to the campus placement office after their winter graduation).</p>
<p>If you are going to graduate early, then you should go into the peace corp, drive a cab or do something character building or that will give you some life experience before going right to law school. I note you are going to a state school so hopefully that has given you some exposure to a wider slice of humanity.</p>
<p>24 is normally not old enough to be a lawyer unless you just want to be a typical corporate drone doing high priced paperwork in a back corner for senior partners.</p>
<p>Another option for you would be to possibly use the senior year to maybe grade replace any courses that you may have not done that well in - like the ones you didn't do so well on your freshman year?? - would help your GPA in the long run - especially if you are considering law school.</p>
<p>It seems that your plan to graduate early is contingent on your taking summer classes. In other words, your would be taking classes non-stop nearly 12 months per year. It hardly seems worth it in order to graduate one year earlier. It's not just about having fun or not. Summer should be about doing things differently, whether it be doing research--paid or unpaid--, traveling, or working for money. The life experience one gets doing things other than sitting in classes listening to lectures is as valuable as amassing the requisite number of credits in securing a job down the road.</p>
<p>At highly selective schools, there are more students who are eligible for Advanced Standing than exercize the option to graduate early. They stay the full four years in order to take advantage of the huge array of courses available to them, to study abroad, to combine academics with extra-curricular activities, etc... Those who do not need to earn money in summer get unpaid internships, do research for their senior projects, etc... and generally use the summer months to acquire new skills and to test various career paths.</p>