Anyone with a kid who entered 4 yr college mid-year?

[Catherine]

My ds is away as an exchange student this year. He will be back in July, and he only really needs a half year of English to have enough credit to graduate. He just told me he'd like to start college mid-year after he does a full semester of school in the fall.

 

Anyone else do this?

[Photo Ninja]

This can be done at many universities. You may also want to discuss the option of attending the local community college for the semester and beginning the university in the fall. He can get some college credits completed and they will transfer to the university. If the university doesn't accept cc credits, then this may not be a good choice. In that case, he could work for a semester and earn some money, or do volunteer work.

 

While many universities do allow students to enter in the spring semester, it is not always the best option. Sometimes on campus housing is filled or options very limited, if housing is needed. Many schools only offer merit scholarships to students starting in the fall semester. Beginning in the spring semester can mean losing many thousands of dollars in scholarships. Be sure you check on that before making a decision. Often times university distributed need based aid is given to students starting in the fall, and there is no money left for students starting in the spring semester. Depending on the school, there are orientations for students entering for fall semester, but not always for those entering for spring semester. While not always necessary, it can be helpful for first time college students.

 

Depending on your son's major, starting in the spring could make him off schedule for the preferred order of courses. Sometimes classes are only offered in the fall, and are prerequisites for other courses offered in the spring. If he starts in the spring, will this negatively affect him as far as what courses he can take? Is it possible to get back on schedule, or will he always be a semester off? This is not always a problem, but certainly can be. My niece had this happen and ended up having to spend an extra year at the university because of lacking one course offered only once per year.

 

So while it is possible, please check into some of these possible issues to be sure they won't negatively affect your son.

[readwithem]

I did this many moons ago, but I lived at home and went to a 4 year commuter college. Is there some place close to home where your ds could start, with the possibility of transferring?

 

Does your ds have any particular reason he wants to graduate early?

[Crimson Wife]

My brother did- not by choice, however. He was initially wait-listed at his dream school and then mid-May the school said that he was accepted for the spring semester. He said it was kind of hard because the other kids in his class already had gotten established in their friendships, extracurriculars, etc.