With competitive job markets, economic uncertainties and price volatility, many college students become anxious about the future. Such anxiety can paralyze young people from making necessary decisions about picking a major, mapping a career strategy and finding summer employment. While unpredictability and adversity are motivating factors for some. They seek to get into the battle sooner rather than later. Focused and driven, they are willing to do what it takes to stay a step ahead. Shaving off a semester or two of the time it takes to earn a degree can contribute to that strategy. The following tips are to help you come up with a plan on how to graduate early and kickstart your career.
Start College Early to Graduate Early
Deciding how to graduate early from college is best accomplished before you matriculate. In many places throughout the US, community colleges will often partner with high schools to offer coursework that simultaneously satisfies secondary school diploma requirements while laying a foundation of college credits before you ever set foot on a university campus. Of course, there are requirements to qualify for such dual enrollment programs. However, those ambitious enough to finish early are often good scholars to begin with. There are partnerships that allow you to gain as much as 28 credits. However, you should make sure that the college of your choice will accept them. So consider a community college and the many benefits it offers.
Carry Extra Classes per Semester
This option often seems doable in the abstract but ends up more difficult in practice. Nevertheless, students who want to know how to graduate early must consider the idea of a heavier than normal academic load. For example, taking 15 credits or more, especially if you already pay full-time tuition. You should consult with an academic advisor before you make that decision. They can help you assess the amount of work required versus the academic benefit. Graduating early with a C average may not make you the ideal candidate for employers or graduate schools. (Tip: before applying to graduate school, read our blog post about when you should and shouldn’t consider graduate school).
Enroll in Summer and Winter Sessions
In 2016, Inc. magazine listed four reasons vacations are good for health: stress reduction, heart disease prevention, improved productivity and better quality sleep. This article, though, refers to year-round workers as opposed to full-time college students. As nice as it sounds, nobody needs a ten-week vacation each summer. Enrolling in summer sessions can put students six to 12 credits ahead of schedule in terms of graduation. Often, summer classes — and winter classes between semesters — are easier to get into, smaller in size and allow for more interaction with professors.
Take Online Courses
The 21st century has seen the advent and proliferation of classes conducted in an online format. Sometimes these offerings are timed and synched with the semester campus schedule. Sometimes, however, the classes are concentrated into four-to-eight week terms. This means you could complete two courses in the time that it would take to complete one course in a traditional classroom setting. Also, you can take summer or inter-session courses from home rather than you having to pay for housing during those off-season months.
You can also save money while saving time. Consider taking transferrable and affordable online courses for your general education requirements outside of the college you’re enrolled in. Before you so, however, check with your college advisor to make sure those credits will transfer to your school.
Complete PLAs for College Credit
Prior learning assessments (PLAs) are a great way to help you accelerate your path to graduation. In short, PLAs are a way for you earn college credit by testing out of required courses. If you have significant knowledge of a subject through either work experience, volunteering or something else, you can
Key Takeaways on How to Graduate Early
Graduating from college early is a must for many people these days as the need to make money and to get a head start in today’s competitive job market remains a driving motivation. Be sure to check with your enrollment counselor or academic advisor, as well as your financial advisor, when considering your options and pathway to graduating early.
