9. Do an internship! | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Ways To Streamline Success So You Can Graduate College In Less Than 4 Years

Surround yourself with motivated people!

151
10 Ways To Streamline Success So You Can Graduate College In Less Than 4 Years

In This Article:

When I started college, I was already a semester behind. After graduating from high school, I took a one-semester break. Instead of accepting that I was 'behind' (in my mind, I wanted to graduate when my graduating high school class would graduate), I worked twice as hard. Learning that I would be able to graduate a semester early, meaning I spent only three and a half years in college, was extremely exciting.

1. Take at least 15 credits every fall and winter semester... if not more.

Instagram

I took an average of 16 credit hours every single semester. This meant every semester was more expensive. Every semester needed more books, more supplies, and more time, than most other college students. Though I was studying all the time, I was able to keep a 4.0 GPA many semesters, on top of working multiple jobs and having a life.

2. Take summer classes...

Instagram

Most summer courses are online, score! You can sit by the lake and be graduating early, sounds like a win-win to me.

3. Get to know the head of your department!

Instagram

He or she can lead you in the right direction. They can also put you on the path to success faster than other academic advisors. Knowing your exact program, they know what you need to do to succeed as fast as possible. Get to know them! Meet with them at least once every semester and build a relationship so they can write amazing recommendation letters!

4. Actually take the time to study.

Instagram

Crazy, right? Who goes to college to actually study? If you're like me, and want to do bigger and better things than solely graduating college then you'll actually hit the books. This not only means studying but taking the time to get to know your classmates, professors, and the content of your classes. Don't half ass it!

5. Go to office hours!

Instagram

I am guilty of not going to office hours. Whether I have to work or am too tired, sometimes it is hard to make that effort. But, when you do it'll be so worth it! Building a one-on-one relationship with your professors can help you more than you know. Not only can they write you recommendation letters, but they can teach you how to do well in their class. Just go!

6. Surround yourself with motivated people!

Instagram

If you surround yourself with people who don't care to succeed and have no big plans, then that's all you have to compare yourself to. Surround yourself with the go-getters, the people who are hungry to do better. Those people will push you to be your best self, and seeing them succeed will push you even more.

7. Set big goals for yourself!

International Business Times

If you're trying to be mediocre, this article is not for you. Setting big goals, hard to reach goals, will set you straight. Big goals mean you have to make big moves to get there. It's not easy, but you can do it! Think about how worthwhile it will be to graduate early, and be closer to those goals.

I have many goals. I like to think of it as shooting for the moon and landing on a star. My small dream is to be an attorney, the best attorney. I'd also love to be a senator or the President of the United States. We'll see.

8. Make, and use, a LinkedIn.

Pexels

You should make a LinkedIn as soon as possible and use it just as much as you use Facebook or Instagram. Get a nice headshot, or use your senior pictures. Make connections throughout your undergraduate career and add them on LinkedIn. Keep it professional!

9. Do an internship!

Emma Callihan

Whether it is for your career path, or for a class, do an internship! This will show you what skills you still need and have already developed. This can be done during the summer, and usually, count for more credits than a regular class. It is 100% worth the time and effort, and looks good on a resume!

I did a summer internship with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and it was amazing!

10. Plan ridiculously far ahead!

Instagram

After meeting with the head of your department, you should have a general idea of the courses you need to graduate. Plan out your semesters far in advance, so that you know where you need to pick up credits. Skip the 'advisors' in your program, as they usually end up taking you the long road to graduation!

If anybody can do it, it's you!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
ross geller
YouTube

As college students, we are all familiar with the horror show that is course registration week. Whether you are an incoming freshman or selecting classes for your last semester, I am certain that you can relate to how traumatic this can be.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

Bonus points if it is more than two.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

12 Things I Learned my Freshmen Year of College

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

3614
friends

Whether you're commuting or dorming, your first year of college is a huge adjustment. The transition from living with parents to being on my own was an experience I couldn't have even imagined- both a good and a bad thing. Here's a personal archive of a few of the things I learned after going away for the first time.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Economic Benefits of Higher Wages

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

302523
Illistrated image of people crowded with banners to support a cause
StableDiffusion

Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would not only benefit workers and their families, it would also have positive impacts on the economy and society. Studies have shown that by increasing the minimum wage, poverty and inequality can be reduced by enabling workers to meet their basic needs and reducing income disparities.

I come from a low-income family. A family, like many others in the United States, which has lived paycheck to paycheck. My family and other families in my community have been trying to make ends meet by living on the minimum wage. We are proof that it doesn't work.

Keep Reading...Show less
blank paper
Allena Tapia

As an English Major in college, I have a lot of writing and especially creative writing pieces that I work on throughout the semester and sometimes, I'll find it hard to get the motivation to type a few pages and the thought process that goes behind it. These are eleven thoughts that I have as a writer while writing my stories.

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments