Why do people choose to graduate early?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>It seems common for people to graduate a year early or a semester early. Does this confer any advantage in terms of employment or graduate school admissions? I was under the impression that employers or graduate schools would think of someone who graduated a year early as less mature than his or her peers. Is it to enter the workforce earlier, or to save tuition? What are the advantages to graduating early? I can't think of any for graduating a semester early, except for saving tuition or potentially getting employed six months earlier.</p>

<p>Also, is there any difference between graduating in fall/winter, spring, or summer? I heard you may run into troubles with grad schools/employers if your diploma says you graduate in August and you need to start straightaway in fall; is this true? If so, why?</p>

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<p>Those are indeed the main reasons for graduating. It all boils down to $$$$ – especially at a private school where that 4th year can cost $50,000!</p>

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<p>I plan on graduating a semester early so I can get started on the nursing school pre-reqs (They’re much cheaper at the JC level). Plus, I’ll have much more time for a part-time job and volunteer experience when I’m not a full-time student.</p>

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<p>Quick question, if you graduate in the fall, do you still attend commencement/receive your diploma in the spring?</p>

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<p>I personally plan on graduating a year early because a lot of graduate schools (including the one’s I’m targeting) have programs that start in the Fall only. Personally, I prefer trying to go continuously through the school process instead of having a period inbetween.</p>

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<p>@SkWz: If you graduate in the fall, I believe you can choose to attend the commencement for either the summer before or after that fall. For example, if you knew you were to graduate in Fall 2010, you could attend the Summer 2010 or Summer 2011 commencement. I could be wrong, but I believe I read this somewhere.</p>

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<p>^I’m not sure that’s right. Trying to find a link…</p>

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<p>[UGIS</a> Commencement](<a href=“http://learning.berkeley.edu/commencement/]UGIS”>http://learning.berkeley.edu/commencement/)</p>

<p>Here’s a link that may offer explanation. Well, it’s specifically for UGIS Commencement, but I thought I remember reading that it’s the same for other majors too. (It’s on the right sidebar.) If anything, just ask the administrative people of your major department and they should know.</p>

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<p>For people like me taking 9 semesters, you can walk at the end of your 8th semester or at the end of your “10th semester” (you won’t be a student during this term, so it won’t really be a semester).</p>

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<p>hmmm… should I do the 8th to get it over with or the 10th when I’m officially done? Any thoughts?</p>

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<p>Walking when you haven’t finished your requirements kind of defeats the purpose of walking? That’s just my opinion.</p>

<p>Some departments like MCB have fall events for graduating seniors.</p>