Graduating early is a route few students explore to save time and money in college. It can dramatically decrease overall costs, but it should not be attempted without some serious considerations.
Some students who have thought about an early graduation perceive it to be a daunting task, and do not explore the idea further. Those who do assess all of their options and the many components of graduating early may find it to be a manageable task that is worth the additional effort. That is not to say that graduating early is easy. It is a challenge that requires planning ahead, strategic scheduling, research, and the guidance of an advisor. Graduating early is not for everyone, so it is important to understand the benefits and the potential challenges of graduating early.
Things to consider:
Time
Graduating early allows students to leave campus early to begin life in the working world, continue with graduate studies or begin other experiences. That being said, some students may feel that graduating early can cut short precious college years. It is important to understand whether the efficiency of an early graduation is worth losing time with friends and enjoying the many opportunities college has to offer. It is also important to recognize that the extra planning and steps it takes to graduate early also takes time. In many cases, students will need to take one or more courses over summer or winter breaks in order to meet credit requirements.
Money
Leaving early means less money will be spent on tuition, room, board and other miscellaneous costs on campus; however, the credit requirements for graduation do not change. Financial aid is a huge help to many families throughout the academic year, but it is not always offered for summer or winter credits. This could result in higher upfront, out-of-pocket expenses if credits must be taken outside of the traditional fall and spring semesters. Although the initial costs may not seem worth it, credits taken outside of the academic year are often cheaper than the cumulative cost of the semester. These costs depend on individual financial aid packages and require extra attention in order to make the best financial decision.
Credits met through Dual Enrollment or AP credit transfers make it cheaper to expedite your intended graduation date, but every college has different credit transfer guidelines. It is important to look at the credit transfer policies of the colleges you are considering.
Stress & Social Life
Fitting four years of schooling into three and one-half years or less will inevitably result in extra stress. The extra classwork and assignments will take additional time out of the typical college schedule. In order to ensure all necessary classes are taken, you may need to take classes at less than desirable times. This could result in more 8 a.m. classes or evening classes. This may mean less time for naps, Netflix, friends, clubs, and/or other social experiences. Just because you graduate early, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy campus life. Although some sacrifices may be necessary, becoming more strategic with time management decisions will ensure that not too many naps are missed and no friends are lost. Prioritizing schedules to allow for a few fun activities each week will break up busy class schedules and help you maintain the motivation to continue with the intense workload.
Academic Program Requirements
Each college has different requirements for various academic programs. It is important to understand the graduation requirements of your major when deciding if early graduation is an option. Some credit-heavy academic programs have specific requirements that make it very challenging to stray away from the traditional path. Discussing these requirements with an academic advisor will help you figure out if scheduling will allow you to graduate early. Your advisor will help you keep your goals in mind, and they can sometimes help you pre-enroll into courses you need to graduate before your designated scheduling time.
Novelty & Opportunities
When applying to the first few jobs out of college, an early graduation date is sure to impress employers. An early graduation date shows motivation and responsibility, and it demonstrates efficiency and time management skills. The early date could also mean less job competition. Most students are still in classes, which means fewer applicants to compete with you.
Graduating early is a decision all students must make according to individual goals and schedules. Many benefits can result from an early graduation, but if academic requirements or financial aid issues make it overly difficult, it is probably best to stick with the traditional path. When the opportunity arises, students should save time and money while making the most of the college experience in order to get an edge on the competition and fully enjoy professional opportunities.