Diploma Dilemma: Weighing the Decision of Graduating Early


Author: Lorin Harris

Read Time: 6 Minutes


Introduction

Whether you are a rising senior, a thoughtful junior, a sophomore inquiring, or a freshman planning ahead--the question of graduating early crosses the desk of many Penn State students. While some worry about graduating on time, others ponder if they should finish early and weigh all the options. I was in this position asking this question since freshman year of college, and went back and forth all four years. I ended up landing on graduating early in Fall 2023, but there were many pros and cons debated and tweaks I had to make in my educational journey to get there. The prep to graduate early can begin senior year of high school and it needs maintenance during every semester. Everyone’s path to graduation looks different and there is nothing that can make it truly uniform and completely easy, so here are some tips and food for thought when asking the question of the graduation date.

Advice for High School Seniors—Starting Early and Planning Ahead

When I was in high school, I had the option to dual enroll some AP courses at community colleges. Things like english, math and psychology transferred over and covered basic freshman year courses like English 15, Math 110 and other gen eds. Taking college courses in high school saved only a little bit of money, but bolstered me majorly in credits and time. I came to Penn State with 15 transfer credits, which technically put me a semester ahead in standing. Because of this, as long as I stayed on track with 15+ full time credits a semester, I always knew I had the option to graduate early. Planning ahead as a high school senior and bringing transfer credits into college doesn’t bind you to graduating early, but it does open the door of possibility if you decide it’s right for you. 

Advice for College Students and Underclassmen—Molding a PSU Plan

Even if you are a student who didn’t transfer in any credits or transferred only a few, there is still the possibility of graduating early. In freshman or sophomore year, if students keep this option in the back of their minds when planning schedules and taking credits, chances are better that you set yourself up to be able to. This may look like taking 17 credits each semester instead of 15, or taking a summer course here or there to get ahead if it works for you. Making a note of this to your advisor early on can also help them put you on a path where graduating early is a reality for you, and they can check you along the way to make sure you are meeting those requirements.

Can Students with Double Majors or Minors Graduate Early too?

I had a major, two minors and a certificate and still graduated early. It is definitely possible! However, it’s very subjective to each student. Double majors are undoubtedly more work, but some require more credit loads than others. A double major in the same department, like Psychology and Criminology, may have an easier chance at graduating early because a lot of their requirements and general education credits overlap being similar subjects in the liberal arts. Whereas a Finance and Philosophy major may be more difficult because they are completely separate colleges with full different course loads of requirements. Minors usually only add on anywhere from 15, 18 or 20+ credits of work which ranges from 5-15 classes throughout your educational plan. So, graduating early with majors and minors is technically doable, but the real feasibility comes from how much and how hard students are willing to work. The real challenges are with organization, diligence, and motivation to do so.

Pros of Graduating a Semester or Year Early

Any situation has pros and cons--the early graduation question is no different. It has a healthy balance of things students may find favorable and unfavorable after their time at Penn State. Everybody has different priorities for what they hope to get out of their education and career, and that factors heavily into the choice to leave early--it’s subjective! Here are some positives of graduating early:

  1. It saves a semester of tuition

  2. It gives students a chance to start early in their jobs or further education

  3. It can be a relaxing gap of time to travel, spend time with friends or family or pursue other hobbies

  4. It allows for extra time to work and make money without the obligation of classes/schoolwork

  5. It’s an impressive feat on a resume and transcript--it demonstrates qualities of responsibility, drive, grit, and academic excellence

  6. Commencement ceremonies in less-popular graduation semesters (like Fall or Summer) are smaller, more intimate, and offer an unlimited number of tickets for your friends and family to attend

Cons of Graduating a Semester or Year Early

There are downsides to graduating early, but they are subjective and many of them have to do with social and financial aspects. Some students want to stay and extend their time with friends and social extracurriculars, but others are ready to leave and looking for a way to be done earlier. If you are one of those people who doesn’t want to miss out or has hesitations about cutting the college experience short, here are some of the downsides that might make you realize graduating early isn't the right choice for you:

  1. Depending on the student, early graduation may affect financial aid and scholarships

  2. Most leases for upperclassmen off-campus housing are 12 month, so graduating and leaving could leave an apartment/house that you still have to pay for and subject even if you graduate and move away from PSU

  3. Graduating early may hinder your ability to continue to participate in clubs and extracurricular organizations like greek life, work study jobs, etc. if you are no longer a student

  4. Leaving friends and peers early while they are still in school can be a challenging and isolating transition students have to make

  5. Less time to capitalize on education and Penn State classes

  6. You may not be able to start work/higher education early despite graduating early and have a larger gap of time in-between graduation and starting your next chapter

I’m Graduating Early…Now What?

If you finally come to the decision to graduate early, you may be wondering what comes next. The truth is, there’s no rule book. When students graduate early, the path differs depending on whether you stay at Penn State for the next semester or move on right away. When I graduated in December, I knew that I still had a hefty lease to pay every month, I still had an on-campus job I could keep, I was able to be involved with my organizations, all of my friends were still in school, and I knew my grad school wouldn’t start until Fall of 2024. Subjectively for me, staying at Penn State for the semester after graduation has been the best choice. Here are some things you can do if you have the means to graduate early but want to stay for spring--it’s not uncommon!

  1. Work a job in downtown State College--libraries, tutoring, coffee shops, grocery stores, apartment offices, etc. are great options for jobs that are unrelated to the college and usually look for part-time or student workers.

  2. Pick up a new hobby or try something you haven’t had time for in the past--side hustles like writing a book, starting a small business, earning certifications in outside hobbies, training for marathons, traveling, or just catching up on your life are great, productive things to pursue in the few months between fall and spring graduation.

  3. Plan for further education--Extra time to study for the MCATs, LSATs, GREs, CPA exams and other important tests for higher education is incredibly beneficial when graduating early. It’s a great way to stay productive in between the time of transitioning from undergraduate to post-grad. 

  4. Enjoy the limited time you have with friends and things at Penn State that are important to you--it has been rejuvenating to have the extra time with friends and doing things I love at Penn State without the stress of school. If you have the means to do this, having a little break in time to adjust before the year ends is a unique time to savor because you may never have freedom quite like it again. It has made college all the more sweeter and enjoyable!

Conclusion

At the end of the day, your graduation date is subjective to you: your life plans, your preferences, your priorities at school and what you think is the best fit. There is no best or better time to graduate or time to complete your education in within the 3, 4 or 5 traditional years. There is no “wrong” answer or path to take, and each potential timeline of your Penn State education will suit you as a student for different reasons. Plan ahead, stay proactive and work hard—and the choice is easily yours!

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