When I'm sitting in my earliest class staring at a blackboard full of Baudelaire* and his symbolism, I start to think of two things. First: I need coffee. And second: Man, college takes a while. I guess my undergraduate career has been slightly atypical—I spent three-ish years at a private university in Pittsburgh (ketchup, Steelers) before transferring into New York's CUNY system (...Yankees). I think I have about a year and a half left. Honestly, I've been a little afraid to find out.
Anyway, it turns out I'm not the only one eager to expedite the college process. Newsweek recently
reported on a growing trend among undergraduates: the three-year degree. Some colleges are now offering programs allowing students to graduate faster (and for less cash) by cramming their credits into a three-year period.
One such program began this year at Hartwick College in upstate New York. The school has, as of now, 20 three-year students, who are required to take 40 credits a year instead of the usual 30. They can fit some of those into the school's four-week January semester, in addition to optional summer courses. And, since it's only three years, the students will save 25 percent on tuition.
Another college, Nashville's Lipscomb University, offers a three-year program that still includes the standard eight semesters, meaning some summer classes are required. Thus Lipscomb three-year students don't save a full 25 percent, but they wind up paying about $11,000 less on tuition overall.
But of course, money isn't everything. My father actually finished his undergraduate degree in three years at a private school, but since he was one of the only students doing it, he wound up missing out on many of the non-academic aspects of college (socializing, "finding yourself," studying abroad).
And even yours truly, Ms. I'm Sick of College, can't imagine my undergraduate career crammed into three years. I wouldn't have had a chance to switch majors from physics to math to professional writing to creative writing (yes, that actually happened) or join the school paper (and fall in love with journalism).
I suppose three-year programs are like most things—they're good for some people, but not everyone. I think colleges with the means should offer three-year programs for their students (especially since we're in a recession) but it seems unlikely they'll ever eclipse the four-year standard. Official three-year programs, at least, might allow their students to lean on each other and still get a taste of the college experience, instead of feeling singled out in a sea of four-years.
*Some readers got offended when I
made fun of Shakespeare a couple of weeks ago, so I decided to rag on a Frenchman this time. Perhaps I'm missing the point.
Do you want to finish college in under four years? (Or do you wish you had?) How important are college's non-academic aspects?
Comments (41)
I took a detour from college and will be graduating 4-5 years behind schedule.
However, I won't change it for a bit. During the detour, I built my work experience and network. I am more focus than I ever been compared to my freshman year of college. Now that I'm back, I am on top of my classes and assignments, because I know my goals. I intend to be in school for a while.
@thisboyissexy@xanga - Yay, another unconventional college person! High five :)
haha, i'm getting my bachelor's degree in May after five years of torture.
So...I'm not sure technically how long you would say it took me to get my degree. I graduated 2 years before my high school classmates. But I took a year of college while I was still in high school, and graduated early from high school. I took light semesters for a year because of my high school's requirements of 14 credits or less while in high school. I then took massive summer sessions twice (12 credits or more) and once graduated, I took 17 (or more) credits each semester. The only reason I graduated in 09 rather than 08 was a failed attempt at attending a private university that lost me a whole semester's of work.
All in all, college took me 3.5 years to complete, high school: 3. So in the end I cut 1.5 years from my program. No regrets. I absolutely love my choices and am currently taking a year off and I start medical school next August!
If you can handle the courseload, do it. It was the best decision I ever made.
If I didn't have to have a job, I would absolutely do this.
I'm enrolled in a three-year course and it kind of sucks to have to go to school year-round with only two one-week breaks and two three-week breaks. Plus, with school the whole year I can't work extra during the summer to save money so it kind of balances out.
I graduated after three years in college mostly because of taking summer semesters and testing out of several classes. Sometimes I wish I stayed that extra year to get more internships and hang out with my friends more (all my friends are still in college, so it's kinda lonely here, haha), but then again, I'm kind of glad I did graduate because if I didn't, I don't think I would be so lucky with my job hunt, and I wouldn't be here now with the awesome company I work for. :)
You're right, everyone has their own kind of pace, so there really is no right or wrong. :)
@MaganLe@xanga - Im the same way! Im graduating in three, last quarter! im definatley sick of college and I want out. I want to work and start my life now and use my education. All my friends are way older than me. and im lonely in college .. So Its definatly the right thing for Me :)
I took college classes in high school and graduated with 18 credits. I took 1 summer class, have 20 credits this semester, 22 next, and will then get my associates. I think it was the best decision I made in high shool :]
I'm in a 3 year, 2 summer degree at Stephens College and I've so enjoyed it. I'll be 20, almost 21, and a college grad.
I'm okay with 4 years. 3 year degree sounds too stressful, and it seems like you would miss out on college life, even though it's by a year.
Shoot at the rate I'm going I'll have my undergraduate degree done in 5 years at the earliest. But thats ok cause the military is paying for it! Tuition assitance while I'm in. GI bill when I get out!
I graduated in 5 years. 3 years community and 2 years at a university of california. I didn't really review my choices too much during my 3 years of community and didn't choose my official major until my 5th year LOL managed to cram all those upper divs in that last year.
I wish I didn't go to college right out of high school and I wish I could have attended my university for 3 or 4. I don't know how I would have been if I did it that way, but if I have the mind I do now for then, I would have tried to finish in 3 without a specific 3 year program (which I don't think exists at the university i went to).
Anyway, now I have a degree that I don't use. GReeeaatttt.
Lesson is: don't go to college unless you know what you want to do.
I crammed 4 yrs of college into 6 and don't regret it at all. Granted, one year was done at community college before I transfered to a large university. But that way I was 23 when I graduated instead of the 21 I would've been if I had done my program in 4 years. And working at a 'real world' job now, it's definitely a plus to be a few yrs older. The younger you are, the less people assume you know.
But if you're going straight into grad school, guess it doesn't matter much....
I'll probably be 24 when I graduate from college because the school I'm in right now isn't a college. It's a Bible institute from which I'll graduate at 20. Then onto college... I'd like to do a three-year program when I finally get there.
On a completely unrelated note, if I wasn't attending the Bible institute, I'd be at David Lipscomb in Nashville...@tastytimmm@xanga - Tell me about it. I have no academic goals in community college. i feel like i'm wasting my time and not knowing what to do. if i take the time off from school, i think my family would be super piss off.
i really have the urge to stop school for a while and go back when i have a motivation and the right mindset. right now. i dont know what the fuck i'm doing. i'm taking classes for either business or biochem major; this is how undecided and screw up my mind is.
if i end up working while putting off school for a year, i may not even be eligible for governor tuition waiver or not getting financial aid when i report my income.
@falconfraudless@xanga - No worries!
My advice to community college students that don't know what they want to major in:
Just take classes that interest you. Sure, some time will be spent, but it's better than spending tens of thousands of dollars every year at some whatever University doing a major you don't really want to do (which is pretty much what happened to me).
So go ahead and take those anthropology or sociology or polisci or whatever-you-want classes! It doesn't cost much at community college and you'll figure out what you like.You'll spend a little more time in college, but it's nice to know that you'll be doing something you like.
And I figured out that most people who do well in school and into life are those who do what they like. OR they're super OCD and willing to do anything to get a degree that will satisfy their parents :p
I finished my undergrad in 3 years and will have a bs and a masters in a total of 4-4.5 years. I didn't miss anything socially. I was in a nongreek sorority, went to football games, changed schools, and still managed to graduate early with only taking 2 classes over one summer. You just have to be dedicated...it helps that I have no money lol
dp
I finished my undergrad in three years. I only took one partial summer quarter (about a month of classes every day). I took 18 credit hours per quarter, and, as an English major, that meant I took around 4 literature course per quarter.
Now, I'm about to graduate from graduate school at 23. I don't regret finishing my undergrad in 3 years, but I did miss out on some things - the social aspects of college, mostly.
Here in England a lot of our degrees are only 3 years full-time or 4 years sandwich. Some are 4 years full-time though. I personally like the idea of only being at uni for 3 years =]
Go pricecheck Christmas-semesters and summer school and get back to me on your money-saving. Your 25% savings is well.... way off when you include that extra time.
If you can graduate in 3, good luck. Basically, its an undergrad. Nobody really cares how you got it. The faster, the better, imo. Just be aware that if you walk into a grad course and write like a teenager, you'll get kicked out. Lots of undergrad "course-work" is useless. The method, however, is not.
I think all Universities here in Western Australia have courses that only take 3 years to complete.
ah, i'm actually scared to graduate!! my college years are flying by so quick and i'm currently in my junior year.. and it doesn't seem enough! :( i actually thought about cramming it into 3 years but then i was like wait, college is suspposed to be one of the best times of your life.. why would i want to get out of it faster?! i don't wana leave college and start working like a real adult hehe..
I think it depends on what your concentration is. Certain major I would say definitely go for the 3 years cramming. Other majors like engineering I think deserves the full 4 years.
If you're business or child education, 3 years is fine. If you're engineering or math or physics, 5 is reasonable.