For some seniors, the final spring semester is a chance to finally take that math or world civilization course they'd been avoiding for the past three years, or maybe to squeeze in a few GPA boosters. But a few ambitious Jumbos graduate mid-year, jumping head first into "the real world."
"Very few students" choose this path, according to Dean of Undergraduate Education James Glaser, who said that he discourages students from graduating early in order to gain a more complete college experience. But what about those students who do finish their degrees early? The Daily tracked down several students who graduated this winter to see why they left - and how they're doing now.
In order to graduate early, students must accelerate their class standing at Tufts using Advanced Placement (AP) credits from high school or Tufts summer session credits. Current juniors and seniors must have four AP credits or Tufts summer session credits to accelerate one semester and another four to accelerate two.
Due to a new policy, current sophomores and freshmen may mix and match AP and summer session credits, but must have five to accelerate one semester and nine to accelerate two semesters. Both policies are constructed so that students complete the equivalent of eight semesters of college education - the principal requirement for a Tufts degree.
While Tufts does not gather data on how many students choose to graduate early, the number is low. "I wouldn't call it frequent," Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education Jeanne Dillon said.
Glaser agreed, estimating that "maybe 20 or so" students in each class year choose to graduate early.
According to Glaser, early graduation may prevent students from taking full advantage of what Tufts has to offer.
"We think the whole, full experience comes from eight semesters at Tufts," he said. "Once you leave college, the likelihood that you'll be able to learn in a very concentrated way is pretty low. It's a precious gift, and there are eight semesters of it, and I think people should take advantage of it."
For two recent Tufts graduates, however, the choice to leave was clear. They said they had many reasons for choosing to graduate early.
"I spent my whole junior year away from Tufts - half of it abroad, half in D.C. I finished all of my coursework early, and I felt that it was time to move on," said Liz Parker (LA '07), who took her last classes in December 2006 and graduated officially in February. "The idea of another exam, another research paper - it just did not appeal to me, plus I could save a lot of money."
Lauren Barozie (LA '07), who graduated in February as well, left for both financial and personal reasons.
"I came in with tons of AP credits and got all of my requirements out of the way early. By the time senior year rolled around, I had finished all my credits and didn't feel the need to linger aimlessly on campus for another semester," she said in an e-mail. "Plus, my parents had completely paid for my college education, so I felt it would be nice to save them a semester's worth of tuition."
Deans do not ask students why they are choosing to accelerate their class standing, but Dillon said the reasons tend to be similar.
"The people who choose to [accelerate their standing] generally have a financial reason, or they want to be out in the job market earlier, or they have a family issue that relates to a sibling behind them and it would be better if they could finish their education earlier," she said.
For Barozie and Parker, there were many reasons - and their parents have been supportive. "They love to brag about how I finished college in three and a half years," Barozie said. "I also know my Dad enjoys no longer having to pay my rent."
Parker said she had a similar experience with her parents.
"They were initially surprised, because they didn't really see why I wanted to - they didn't want me to rush through college," Parker said. "After I explained to them my thoughts about it, they were supportive. They just didn't want me to lose the experience of senior year."
As graduates, both Barozie and Parker are still living with their college friends near campus, so life has not yet changed completely. "I'm still enjoying all the perks of senior year - I can go out with my friends, go to senior pub nights, et cetera," Parker explained.
Barozie didn't think she would miss out on much either.
"Right now I live right near Tufts with my friends who are still attending," she said. "So I'm sort of in transition - I entered the real world but still live in a 'college apartment.'"
Students who officially graduate in February are invited back to campus in May for senior week and Commencement, according to Dillon. "We keep their names in our database, and we send them an e-mail about the option to come back for Commencement," she said.
But according to Glaser, the experiences early graduates miss out on are less tangible than pub nights and ceremonies.
"Frankly, our preference is for people to stay for all eight terms," he said. "There's so much to take advantage of in the university, and once you leave Tufts, you don't have the opportunity to take advantage of it anymore. You'll have your whole life to be a working stiff."
Nonetheless, Barozie and Parker are both happy with their decisions.
"It was the best decision I could have made," Parker said. "I'm so happy right now - really happy with my job, happy to be living with my friends, happy to be doing senior things, happy still being on campus. I feel a lot better with the routine of work life than the random hours of school life."
Barozie did not have regrets either - but still acknowledged that there's no place quite like college.
"I love my job right now, and I just felt like I was done with school by senior year," she said. "Sometimes though, when the alarm rings at 7:00 a.m. and I have to get out of bed and put in a full day at work, I reminisce about the times when I could sleep in with no consequences."
