tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194240697382766576.post931088323208169333..comments2023-10-11T05:42:29.101-04:00Comments on Soc'ing Out Loud: College, Graduation, and TimingBrad Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851627786696484562noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194240697382766576.post-88131376093381415582013-04-25T08:07:33.279-04:002013-04-25T08:07:33.279-04:00Thanks for the comment, Stephanie. My argument was...Thanks for the comment, Stephanie. My argument was not that four years is important as a matter of convention or institution but that there may be real social benefits that outweigh the economic costs. There are, of course, a lot of variable moving around there.Brad Kochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12851627786696484562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194240697382766576.post-47239827975375646942013-04-25T07:43:57.979-04:002013-04-25T07:43:57.979-04:00I completed my BA in three years. I took three col...I completed my BA in three years. I took three college courses at my local community college while in high school (night school), didn't declare a major until I was sure (so I took only gen eds my first year) and then opted for sociology (which required exatly 120 hours). I think I graduated with 121 or 122 hours. I immediately went to graduate school. I don't feel like I missed out on anything by finishing in three instead of four years, but then I attended a big state school, where most of the people I new as a freshman either transferred or dropped out by the time I graduated. I immediately went to graduate school, where I was the youngest and was constantly made aware of my age. In hindsight, I probably should have taken a year to do something else, but I had no idea what that would have been and would have lost my health insurance coverage. Either way, I am glad I do not have additional undergrad debt just to do college as it "should be" done in four years. <br /><br />Now that I am teaching at a community college, I can see a strong appeal for redesigning some programs to last three years instead of four or longer. I have students who are on the fence about transferring and think if they new it could take just one more year instead of at least two, they might be more motivated to transfer. Three-year programs are probably not ideal for all students or all degrees, but do think they have a place. After all, isn't the four-year degree just a social construction? Stephanie Medley-Rathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09568613670263978603noreply@blogger.com