By: Neda Ghomeshi / Staff Writer
With the current economic condition, everyone is looking for ways to reduce their expenditures. One way in which students can accomplish this is by graduating in three years.
These days, competition is severe. This generation is not only competing with students within their nation, but also with students around the world. According to a New York Times article from February 2009, “Three-year undergraduate degrees are the norm in Europe.” European students are graduating and getting graduate degrees more quickly than American students.
FIU students can do the same thing as their European counterparts, for the University offers a wide variety of courses at three different campuses (University Park, Biscayne Bay and the Pembroke Pines Center). Online courses and evening courses are also available.
Students can easily enroll in 18 credits during the Fall, Spring and Summer. According to The New York Times, “The idea of three-year degrees has been gaining favor in some circles, with several colleges talking about or experimenting with online courses or summer school.” If students took advantage of these opportunities, they could graduate sooner, which would save them time and money.
Some universities are taking advantage of this idea and offering it to their students. Hartwick College, a private liberal arts college in New York, will be offering students the choice of graduating in three years as opposed to four to help them save money. While Hartwick costs about $16,000 a semester, a 12-credit semester at FIU costs about $1,500. Although Hartwick’s tuition is astronomical in comparison to FIU’s tuition, it’s still money that could be saved or, if necessary, spent elsewhere.
One of the benefits of graduating early means getting a head start on earning your next degree. Christopher Patron, a sophomore international business major, cannot wait to graduate so that he can move on to earn his Masters in Business Administration.
Patron said, “As soon as I get my degree, I want to get my MBA. It’s going to cost me a lot of money … so if I could graduate in three years, that would be amazing.”
Another great perk about graduating early is the ability to attain a full-time job. Working full time and attending school is extremely stressful and nearly unfeasible. Some students, like freshman Charly Stiban, are motivated to complete school for the sole purpose of getting a full-time job and making money.
Stiban said, “I can’t wait to just get a degree. I want to make money, but most jobs require a degree in something, so the sooner I get one, the better.”
Though I know the majority of FIU students commute to different campuses everyday while holding full-time jobs, a three-year track of study should be considered. And some may argue that students shouldn’t rush through college because of the standard “college experience:” learning and making lifelong friendships. But the benefits of graduating in three years cannot be ignored. Graduating in three years still allows one to have a fun “college life,” but it can help start the next inevitable phase of life sooner.
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