Plan your next semester wisely

If you are a student at Boise State University, then you have probably spent time with an academic adviser to plan next semester’s schedule.

Academic planning is one of the most important parts of being a successful college student. The way in which students arrange their classes and the pace at which they take them can be a determining factor in the students’ GPAs.

Academic planning also affects student involvement on campus and overall happiness while at college.

But is it better for a student to take college at an accelerated pace or a slower pace, compared to the standard four-year plan?

Almost as common as the traditional four-year plan, the slower five-year plan offers a lot of perks. It is relatively easy for students to graduate in five years if they remain at the low-credit end of the full-time student requirement. Taking fewer classes allows students to work longer hours (25-35 is often recommended) and spend time being involved on campus, while still having time to focus on grades.

Fewer credits also gives students more time for class work, provided they do not fill that extra time with work. Essentially, taking a slower academic pace gives students all the advantages of being a full-time student, while having lower time and energy requirements.

However, students on a slower track will have to pay for at least one more semester of college than they would have on the traditional four-year plan.

Some students feel the need to pursue an accelerated academic pace. Among these students it is not uncommon for someone to graduate in only three years, or six semesters, although graduating one semester early is more common.

An accelerated schedule has nearly the opposite positives and benefits of a relaxed academic pace. Those who choose to go through school at a faster pace spend less time in school and pay for fewer semesters.

However, these benefits come at a high risk. Graduating early requires a student to take much more than the required amount of credit, often 20 credits or more. Overloading on credits takes a lot of time, and may prove to be too time consuming, even for a student that does not have a job.

As a result, many students with an accelerated academic schedule have poorer grades than they would probably have if they had followed a traditional four-year plan. I am one of these students.

The story here is benefit costs. Taking it slow and easy gives students more free time and easier scheduling, but costs time and money in the long run.

Credit loads near the top of the scale can help students graduate early, but it restricts what they can do during school and can cause stress and a drop in performance.

This is why the university has a standard four-year plan for graduation. It is a healthy, balanced plan that works for the majority of students.

However, the system is set up to serve the students’ needs, whether a student needs a faster or slower pace, or has to make a change at semester.

When signing up for next semester’s classes and finalizing your schedule, remember to consider what is important to you and choose the academic pace that suits you best.

STEPHEN HELEKER
Opinion Writer

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