So I have about a month and a half left before I finish my first semester of college. Registration for next semester starts soon, so I was checking over my student records as part of my preparation, to see what degree requirements I already fulfilled and which ones I still needed to complete. I discovered that I have 30 credits that I earned in high school, which is basically 2 semesters worth. This got me thinking - can I graduate a whole year early? And if I can, should I?

I tried to meet with an advisor to talk about it, but I was turned away because "they aren't meeting with freshmen right now", whatever that means. So I did the research and the math on my own. If I want to graduate with a Political Science degree (and a Cinema minor) after only 6 semesters (instead of 8) I can - but every single course I take for the remaining 5 semesters will have to fulfill a requirement except for 1. In other words, I need to take specific classes and will have very little freedom to explore other areas I might be interested in.

What do you guys think? Should I save money and graduate early? Or should I stay for a full 4 years and have some more flexibility in my schedule? Any of you guys have any experience with this that can give me some advice?

If it saves you a significant amount of money and you feel like you'd be able to handle the less flexible schedule and workload, then go for it, saving money is always nice.

Personally though, I wouldn't do it. To me, college years are an opportunity for learning, self-exploration, and the freedom to try out "fun classes" if you so desire. If you opt to graduate early, then you'll be cramming 4 years of study into a smaller window of time. This will require a lot of careful planning (and possibly sacrifices) on your end. I don't know if you also have a job, but that would be another factor to consider if you decide to go through with this.

Overall, it boils down to type of person you are and what you can handle. If you think you can manage it, then, by all means go for it. If not, I would stay for the full 4 years to allow for more flexibility and possibly more opportunities and experiences. If money isn't a pending concern, then all the more reason not to rush it. I would personally want more freedom in my schedule and college life, but again, that's just me. With that said, I definitely think you have a lot to consider regarding your decision. Definitely speak with your advisor when they are available and see what they have to say. Their advice will definitely be the most useful in coming to a decision.

SacredShadow : I forgot to mention this but I plan on going to law school after. So I won't really be sacrificing my college experience, as I will have more college after I graduate.

I think I'll definitely be able to handle the workload, it's just a question of whether or not I want to lol.

Thanks for your input!

Its definitely worth it.
You're talking about an extra 10k+ in student loans per semester.
Since you're also going to grad school, its probably in your best interest to get done as soon as possible then get out into the working world.

Attorneys need a lot of experience before they become really good at what specialize in.

My experience: Real life starts after college.  Get a degree, get a real job, learn how it works in the real world, and enjoy it.  Freedom comes after you've left academia, not during.  College experiences are okay.  The real world is way cooler.