<p>I'll be going into my senior year here, and due to poor class/requirements planning, I'll have to take three classes after senior year ends (I know...).</p>
<p>I have two options:
1) take three classes during the summer (I'll get it over with, and still can walk April graduation - I'll just get my diploma in August)
2) take an extra semester</p>
<p>Financially, the tuition difference is about $2,500. I can always apply for scholarships to cover this gap and I'll be paying for the remainder for both options by myself anyways.</p>
<p>I know most people would probably take summer in a heartbeat. But I've enjoyed college so much that I really don't mind the extra semester. They're both 4 months, so it's just a matter of when I'm completing the classes and when I graduate. Plus, being here during fall would allow me to take 4+ classes, so I could dabble in something that's not too academically crazy and a class that I've always wanted to take. Doing well in four classes could potentially all help with the gpa, which would definitely help with grad school later on (but that's a pretty insignificant detail, b/c it would work in the other option too...). I'll also be able to take a summer internship, while being able to take advantage of all the amazing opportunities here during the fall and would have a break after a hectic/crazy senior year (as opposed to going into another 4 month summer taking classes).</p>
<p>However, by doing summer, I could just get it over with and move on with post-grad life. I realize I'm not going to be a student forever, and that moving on is definitely necessary. I'm also concerned about job recruiting, which I know mostly happens in winter semester. I'm interning this summer, but may not get a full time offer. I don't want to get job offers starting the fall after I'm supposed to graduate, only to have to turn them down because I'm going to be taking classes. I know I can just job hunt after I graduate in December, but I feel like it would be much harder, because I'll be out of school and (at least to my knowledge) won't be able to use career services/go to recruiting events in winter right?</p>
<p>Basically, in summary: I'm not too worried financially. It's just a matter of job/career and other opportunities that I may potentially lose by staying in school an extra semester. But I don't know...</p>
<p>Thanks so much for reading this! If anyone could offer me thoughts/advice, I would appreciate it : )</p>
<p>I would definitely do summer! What is your major that you are not so worried about a job? I would think that would be your number one priority! Where is your summer internship? If there is any possibility at all that they would offer you a job then you better do the summer option!
Would love to know your major and how you ended up in this situation so others don’t…share if you don’t mind…</p>
<p>I would keep your options open so you can make the decision at a later date. From a school perspective, you should be able to wait on this decision.</p>
<p>Going the extra semester is not that big of deal. It may be harder to find housing. You will get an extra season of football. Most of your classmates will be gone unless going to grad school so it may not be the same socially.</p>
<p>It is a really a toss up. If your summer opportunities are better than the fall ones, go to school in the fall. If you have a great opportunity to start in the fall, finish school in the summer.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t obsess over the decision because you will have opportunities either way and sometimes it is a better approach not to rush on with life.</p>
<p>One other possibility. You may be able to take two of the classes spring term and finish your degree off campus with either independent study or a night class at another school or an extension program. I would look into this because I don’t know how it works.</p>
<p>Unless LSA is very different from COE in terms of recruiting seasons, you should know that fall semester recruiting is the heaviest. That said, I think you are better off graduating in the fall assuming that you secure an internship that you want. It’s the choice that you are leaning to anyway. Would I do that I were you? probably not, but that’s a personal choice. You can always look for FT job opportunities in the fall while you’re finishing up your last term. I’m not sure how you would go about doing that if you are graduating in the summer, probably start applying for jobs in winter term?</p>
<p>Also, by summer you mean spring term and summer term right? During these times, life on campus is very different since most people are gone, and you can take max 9 credits for each term. And finally, it is also very possible that the classes you need/want to take are not offered in the spring/summer terms.</p>
<p>square - hmmm, I’m not too sure. I thought there were more companies recruiting during winter semester, but this might just be because I was looking for internships and not full time jobs. But I think you’re probably right for full time offers…err right?</p>
<p>If I was going to stay the summer, I would look for full time offers this year. If I got an offer, I would try to negotiate with them my start date (which would be at the end of August). Most full time jobs start around then anyways right?</p>
<p>gottagonow - let’s just say I’m looking to go into healthcare, but on the business side of things and my major/minor reflects this. The reason I can’t graduate “on time” is because I decided to add in a minor last minute. I also just found out I never fulfilled two distribution requirements from my school. </p>
<p>My senior year is already going to be pretty hectic, so rather than trying to squeeze one of the classes in (which I could do), it might just be better taking it during the summer…</p>
<p>So my advice would definitely be to map out your schedule, while keeping in mind the distribution requirements and NOT just your concentration requirements. Because I didn’t do that…</p>
<p>res ipsa - well said! I think this is probably the direction I’ll go towards.</p>
<p>If, after senior year, I get offered a full time job that I’m happy with, then I’ll just finish in the summer. True, while most people may be gone, I can still live on campus and housing is significantly cheaper then and most of my friends should be here then too.</p>
<p>However, if I don’t get offered anything or don’t end up with anything I’m not a big fan of, then I think it might be wise to take the fall semester. I can use that summer to intern in a place I might like to work in…</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the responses! If anyone has anything else to add, that would be great too!</p>