If you come to URI with at least 15 high school credits, chances are you’re going to be able to graduate early.
For me, I arrived at the University in the fall as a freshman with 17 credits after taking Advanced Placement classes in high school. This semester, to my surprise, I was informed by my advisor that I could graduate a year early, even as a double major.
I’ve spent the past few months trying to decide what to do: stay at URI for a full four years, paying tuition, taking my time, getting the most out of my undergraduate degree, or plan my semesters strategically, take less free electives and save a lot of money?
It’s a tough choice. A lot of people come to URI with credits from high school and are faced with a similar decision. Many take up double majors or double minors just to fill up their schedule, and even that isn’t enough oftentimes. Does this mean that our degree programs are too short? I don’t think so; I think they’re just flexible.
This is not a fault of the University or the programs we have here. They are designed for students to be able to do what they want with them, and gives you the option to graduate early, intentionally or not. The general education program and major programs are designed for students that don’t enter with credits. If they were to increase in rigor and course-load, it would be to the detriment of those students: people without credits would likely be graduating in five years rather than four.
While it is, perhaps, viewed as unfortunate for those of us that enter with a fair amount of credits, the programs have to be designed for everyone. Those of us that came in with credits are just the ones that need to make a tough decision whether to finish fast or take our time.
Entering with credits gives you the choice to do unique things: complete semester-long internships for credits, go abroad for a semester, or even a year (and pay in-state tuition). I think there’s a lot of options for people that want to stay longer to get creative and make it last, even if your program can be finished quickly.
Sure, my political science degree is only eight courses and can be completed in no time at all, but what’s wrong with that? It’s great to pair with another major and makes it simple for students to get two degrees.
I see graduating in three years as a benefit. You get less time for fun and living with friends before you enter the “real world,” but the money you save and the student loans you avoid are worth it in the long run.
For me, I still haven’t figured everything out, but if I can graduate early, I’m going to do it. It will give me time to figure out what I want to do. Who says you have to enter the “real world” right away, anyways? I want to graduate and travel the world, taking time to see places I’ve never seen. And if I’m really missing school life, that’s when I can think about going to graduate school and get a master’s degree.
I know I’ll miss URI and my life as an undergraduate student, but there’s a world of possibilities outside Kingston, as much as we hate to admit that sometimes.