@moscott, in some industries, yes. In some other industries, not at all.
Don’t rush to graduate early. If you get admitted to Stanford and Harvard, and you’d graduate with no debt, I’d choose Stanford first, Harvard second. But wait and see what your options are first.
Congrats on the MSU scholarship! It is a great opportunity for sure.
I’m not so sure that being 19 at graduation would be a positive to employers or grad schools.
More likely 20 but maybe an employer MIGHT care but what grad school would? So some of you are saying to heck with the college credits you’ve earned. Start at scratch and spend 4 years at school no matter what?! Cafeteria food and dorms must be amazing now. No stress in CS courses. Just relax and enjoy the 4 years…especially at top schools. No duck syndrome going on there!
Not at all what anyone was saying. Take the credits, then take a normal amount of time for a difficult major and supplement any extra room with a minor, etc.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1953624-be-a-lamb.html#latest
~45 Dual Enrollment credit and ~ 15 AP credits.
Michigan State Undergrad (2-years), then Stanford/Carnegie Mellon/UofM Grad School (1-1.5-years)!
What’s the rush to graduate? My D has about the same number of credits and will not be graduating early. Double major, add a minor (or 2), study abroad, take some fun classes. Especially if you aren’t paying, why rush?
As someone else said, you may have 2 years of credits, but you can rarely use all of them to fit the requirements of a major/minor program. But you can definitely shave some time off. What about U of M?
Hey everyone - thank you for your insight! I did not apply to U of M because, while it is a great school, they do not have the loan-free financial aid packages that draw me to other highly ranked universities. I am primarily interested in computer science as a hobby and safe career trail. A ‘Plan B’ if all else fails. On the other hand, I would like to establish financial independence through business, stocks or real estate. Perhaps my computer science background would give me the nerve to combine software with these fields in an entrepreneurial spirit.
If I stayed 4 years at a better institution, I would take the extra time I have to pursue these financial interests. Should I be able to graduate in 2 at Michigan State, I could begin graduate studies at the intersection of computer science and another field. Or travel the world. Or begin pursuing investment opportunities. I might even use the last three years of my room & board scholarship to purchase a property near campus to flip, rent and eventually sell.
My fear is that I’ve always felt stuck in the final year(s) where I am yet. In high school, I was so excited to be in college; yet now that the time has come, I look forward to the years where I can establish a house and career. I understand that this is impatient in nature. I don’t understand if this is normal. I understand college is different than K-12. For me, everything is rushed because I can’t find satisfaction in lingering.
I interviewed with Honors College staff to review transcript transfers, which is why I am under the impression I will achieve Junior standing and fulfill a proper amount of degree requirements at Michigan State.
I will resort to this thread once all admissions decisions are in hand. Thank you to those that have recognized my optimism through the timing of this inquiry.
It is great to look at this through so many eyes.
You typically can’t use your scholarship for other purposes though.
And really, if you get into Stanford/Harvard, the opportunities you’ll have in your areas of interest will be endless (especially for business - networking will be in a different sphere).