How to graduate college faster?

[insatiabl3]

Hello,

Now before you judge me for this decision, please listen to my story.

I am 22 years old, and I have been in college on and off for four years. I have completely experienced all social aspects of college, and I'm very happy to have had those experiences. All my friends and my longtime boyfriend are graduating this year, as I should have..if I hadn't messed up so badly.

Due to 'unsatisfactory academic performance' to say the least, I was suspended from my university in Spring 05 after my sophomore year, and I have been an academic nomad ever since, taking classes at whichever college would teach me.. from community colleges galore to Harvard (extension).. although mostly bumming around and wasting time, hardly racking up credits like I should have been.

I should have been done with college and graduating this sunday with my friends..but I am stuck with only 45 credits and I know I only have myself to blame. I have forgiven myself and am ready to move forward.. my only regret in all these failures is the amount of money my father put into my education. I go to a private university and he has already spent 100k. If I continue at the normal pace of a college student, he will spend 100k more.

He wants me to graduate from this university since he already invested so much into it, and he doesn't believe that I should give up..and I agree with him. I see this as a personal effectiveness challenge and it could very well change my life.

I told him I would graduate in Spring 08 and I will do anything to make this goal happen. I am going to make it happen. Can some kind soul here please help me make it a reality?

It would seem like a bit of challenge. I have 40 credits and need 128 to graduate.. and a private university with VERY strict policies (unlike Steve's state university) so that they can profit from my education as much as possible.

(Meaning..they do not accept CLEP scores, they will not allow me to concurrently enroll in another college, there is a strict 20-unit cap for each semester..goodbye Steve's 30+unit plan..and absolutely NO credit from online or distance learning classes will be accepted).

Here is the math..for those of you not bored to death and kind enough to help..

I have 40 credits from this university.
5 from a class taken years ago that I can probably transfer credit for.

This summer I am taking two sessions and taking advantage of the fact that I can overload.
9 credits (3 classes) for session 1.
12 credits (4 classes) for session 2.

=66

Fall and Spring semester back at my university, I will attempt to take 20 credits (5 classes) both semesters, but this is considered overloading and I may only be able to take it for spring.

I can graduate in Spring 08 (thus redeeming myself and making my father proud) if I am 16 credits shy of 128.. the university's policy.

So if I can overload both semesters, that is 122... SO CLOSE!

If I can only take four classes in the fall, that is 118..

I CANNOT GRADUATE EITHER WAY! At this point my plan was to plea to the deans to make an exception for me, although I do not trust this. There has to be another way..

I could comfortably graduate in Fall/Winter 08..but then I couldn't have a traditional graduation that my dad paid 200k+ for. It doesn't seem right to graduate quietly in the winter time.

Please please, give me some advice or comfort... I am sorry for all the number crunching, please give me anything but negativity and pessimism.. because I know this will be the greatest challenge in my life so far, I am going to attempt it. It will be a great story to post on the boards once it's a reality.

[Freelancer]

Hmmm perhaps an idea to follow steve's plan of extraordinary work (you probably read the articles) in the first semester finishing everything you need to do immediatley. The point is that you actually have something to back up your statements that you CAN do it.

After all if you look at it from the schools perspective you've been lazy for quite some time, no reason for them to think you'll change now. So prove it to them that you changed by action not reasoning.

Atleast you'll get started this way and start moving, it will have positive results no matter what !

[Sunnybayes]

At this point my plan was to plea to the deans to make an exception for me, although I do not trust this.

Sounds like fear of rejection is holding you back from even asking.

First challenge: get over that fear by making a plan of how to convince them.

But like Freelancer said, prove to them that you can do extraordinary work because you are now motivation and have a reason to. You could do this your first semester and then they would likely let you do the exception the next semester. Or at least you do extremely well both semesters and would not feel guilty for having to take another semester.

Encouragement: You can do it!!!

But yes, and awesome idea about keeping a thread about that, would be a good first person experience for other people who've not tried it yet.

[Brutha]

Why exactly that university?

[RT Wolf]

"Rules are no obstacles fo committed people."

At my uni (one of the finest in Canada), they'll let you overload courses if you've just for a few to graduate. That is, they make special exception for graduation.

Have you talked to the dean? Or some other administration? A lot of "rules" are stressed very highly up front to discourage people from trying to bend them, but if you actually talk to the people, they can be quite flexible. That siad, you will probably have to take a regular course load for at least one semester (and you'll have to do really, really good on it to convince them that more courses wouldn't just break you).

We don't need to give you any pessimism or negativity, you've got enough of that.

Don't feel like you're being pushed into graduating. This is your choice nad your choice alone. Your father has influence on your life, but you are the one who's going to be most affected by getting a degree/not getting a degree. Your choice.

[Lychee]

Do you just want to just graduate or do you want to graduate with a good GPA? Do you plan on going to professional school or graduate school?

Unless it is possible for you to take more summer classes, it is not likely that you will be able to graduate next Spring. Going to the Dean may work. Maybe they can give you credit for a class you did poorly in in previous semester, but you'll need very good excuses to give them the reason to do so. Maybe you can ask them to bend the rules. But I would assume for private universities they would be more stringent in enforcing the rules to protect their reputation. However, that does not mean they won't do anything for you. Talk to your adviser and dean.

I'm not trying to discourage you. But are you trying to graduate solely because of your friends, boyfriend, and dad?

[insatiabl3]

@ Lychee:
I just want to graduate from college. Probably not to get further education later.. definitely not for my friends or bf's sake. I have to admit it is partly for my dad, but mostly for myself. I haven't lived up to my potential as a student or a person. I have been lazy in school for the past 8 years of my life and I'm sick of it. Of course I've thought about just not finishing. It would be a cop-out for me.

Unless it is possible for you to take more summer classes, it is not likely that you will be able to graduate next Spring.

Looking at the math, it just does not add up..but try to think of other possibilities and solutions and how it may be possible! Of course.. I understand what you're saying, I still can't help from thinking that every day..

@Brutha
It has to be this university because I can't transfer out (GPAwise) and I have fulfilled most of the gen.ed requirements..it is the quickest (although most costly) path to graduation.

[Lychee]

I understand where you're coming from. Well, as they say, where there's a will there's a way. Don't let anyone stop you from graduating next Spring. In time of need the most creative ideas spring forth.