NOTE: this is very long, but I REALLY, REALLY need help with advice, because I can't decide what is the best option for the life of me. So please help!
I definitely didn't intend to graduate early, I was taking classes to try to graduate within 4 years. As I was figuring what classes I needed to take left, I realized I only have 7 more major classes after this winter quarter that I'd need to take. Thus, I could potentially graduate after next fall quarter. But I don't know what is the BEST thing to do is...graduate early or the regular 4 years? People have suggested minoring or going abroad during my extra 2 quarters but I'm already minoring in something and I'd still be able to finish in Fall. And although it would be cool to go abroad, I'm planning to apply for med this summer, so I would need to stay here for interviews and what not. I don't feel like I'm rushing to graduate though b/c I didn't intend on it in the first place, but since this opportunity is available, I'm only debating it now. I don't know if I should act on it. Some say that you should enjoy your undergrad years and make the most of it. I felt like I already had a fulfilling college experience though in regards to being involved in my community and campus, and taking advantage of academic opportunities.
Here are my reasons of why I want/don't want to graduate early/later:
Graduate early:
UPs:
1. People always say it's good to take a year off after graduating before starting med school, so in a sense, my 2 free quarters would be like "time off". I would be able to spend time with my bf, family, and not having to stress about tests and such.
2. If I do interview in the middle of next school year, I won't have to worry about making up school work while I go on interviews, and perhaps I can actually stay longer and tour the places I fly to.
3. I would plan to find work as a post-grad researcher, so it would be fun focusing on researching for a time being.
DOWNs:
I'm not sure if med schools look down on this and if I'd be at a disadvantage?
Why I want to stay for my whole 4th year:
1. This is silly, but I REALLY want to learn how to speak spanish b/c I've gained an admiration for their culture and language, so I can take time and take some spanish classes...and perhaps a second language course since I'm interested in learning a little bit of chinese too.
2. I get a decent fin aid check. Although I can work as a post-grad researcher, I would get paid for just going to school, so maybe I should just cherish while I can do that.
I went to talk to my college counselor about this today, and he seemed to favor graduating early since researching will still probably be paid better than fin aid, and might look better as well. Also, I wouldn't need to take extra courses to raise my gpa so I wouldn't need to stay longer. And as with spanish, he said I can take crash-course spanish anytime.
Since I've never taken a college language class, do you really get to learn the language somewhat well by taking, say, 3 quarters worth of classes? Would I be somewhat fluent after 3 quarters or do you think crash-course would be better for conversational spanish? Also, since I have no idea about PGR salary, does anyone know the avg salary for PGR so I can make a good decision based off of finance?
Advice on ANYTHING is really appreciated...PGR, language classes, med schools' outlook on this, opinion on grad time. Thanks if you read through all this!!
I definitely didn't intend to graduate early, I was taking classes to try to graduate within 4 years. As I was figuring what classes I needed to take left, I realized I only have 7 more major classes after this winter quarter that I'd need to take. Thus, I could potentially graduate after next fall quarter. But I don't know what is the BEST thing to do is...graduate early or the regular 4 years? People have suggested minoring or going abroad during my extra 2 quarters but I'm already minoring in something and I'd still be able to finish in Fall. And although it would be cool to go abroad, I'm planning to apply for med this summer, so I would need to stay here for interviews and what not. I don't feel like I'm rushing to graduate though b/c I didn't intend on it in the first place, but since this opportunity is available, I'm only debating it now. I don't know if I should act on it. Some say that you should enjoy your undergrad years and make the most of it. I felt like I already had a fulfilling college experience though in regards to being involved in my community and campus, and taking advantage of academic opportunities.
Here are my reasons of why I want/don't want to graduate early/later:
Graduate early:
UPs:
1. People always say it's good to take a year off after graduating before starting med school, so in a sense, my 2 free quarters would be like "time off". I would be able to spend time with my bf, family, and not having to stress about tests and such.
2. If I do interview in the middle of next school year, I won't have to worry about making up school work while I go on interviews, and perhaps I can actually stay longer and tour the places I fly to.
3. I would plan to find work as a post-grad researcher, so it would be fun focusing on researching for a time being.
DOWNs:
I'm not sure if med schools look down on this and if I'd be at a disadvantage?
Why I want to stay for my whole 4th year:
1. This is silly, but I REALLY want to learn how to speak spanish b/c I've gained an admiration for their culture and language, so I can take time and take some spanish classes...and perhaps a second language course since I'm interested in learning a little bit of chinese too.
2. I get a decent fin aid check. Although I can work as a post-grad researcher, I would get paid for just going to school, so maybe I should just cherish while I can do that.
I went to talk to my college counselor about this today, and he seemed to favor graduating early since researching will still probably be paid better than fin aid, and might look better as well. Also, I wouldn't need to take extra courses to raise my gpa so I wouldn't need to stay longer. And as with spanish, he said I can take crash-course spanish anytime.
Since I've never taken a college language class, do you really get to learn the language somewhat well by taking, say, 3 quarters worth of classes? Would I be somewhat fluent after 3 quarters or do you think crash-course would be better for conversational spanish? Also, since I have no idea about PGR salary, does anyone know the avg salary for PGR so I can make a good decision based off of finance?
Advice on ANYTHING is really appreciated...PGR, language classes, med schools' outlook on this, opinion on grad time. Thanks if you read through all this!!
