So I'm currently a third-year student at UMass Amherst studying computer science with a concentration in software systems. My sixth semester is my final semester. I get asked how I was able to graduate so early once a week, and I never really had a good answer. I came in with 12 AP credits, so that helps a lot, but it wasn't a game changer. I only placed out of UMass' intro calc course. I even came in as a physics major, officially changing my major the summer after my freshman year.
I had a bit of a realization today, however: I've never had a consistent academic advisor. Every semester, every UMass student is required to sit down with their assigned academic advisor and review the courses they intend to take next semester; you are not allowed to enroll until you do so. I have done so every semester, as is required, but I have never met with the same person twice. Six times, my advisor has been changed (actually more, but sometimes I never even met the person they assigned to me). As a result, it was never possible for a professor to get to know my academic interests for more than a single 15 minute meeting. They could only go through their list of checkboxes on a progress form and say that I'm on the right track or not. It's also worth saying that I never let them pick the classes I was going to take, as some students do. They might have suggested that taking five computer science classes in one semester is too much, but what else am I supposed to do, just sit around and twiddle my thumbs not being challenged? Or take some bogus class that doesn't apply to what I want to do?
No. I chose to make my own schedule, and because I know how hard I can push myself, I was able to make the choice to take as many comp sci classes as I could possibly fit. Consistently, I earned close to the maximum amount of credits per semester (once or twice even petitioning to go over the limit), which, combined with the 12 AP credits, put me over the graduation requirement of 120.
I don't think this would have happened if I had a consistent advisor. They undoubtedly would have challenged my course selection every semester and I would have been more likely to lose those fights. I have had to make that fight quite often, however because I was just meeting that person for the first time, I had some leverage in being able to make a strong impression every time. I could use that to my advantage, putting forward my most passionate and high-achieving foot forward in order to convince them I was capable. People are always vulnerable when you first meet them, and this was why I was able to get into the classes I wanted.
I don't think that this is a particularly insightful post; I just think it is an interesting thought to consider. Because I wasn't tethered to an academic advisor for more than a few months at a time, I was able to take some personal freedoms in my education. It took some hard work (at one point, I knew all potential combinations of courses that I could take to graduate as soon as possible and I have them saved in a spreadsheet somewhere) but graduating early is worth it. I'll save a ton on student loans, start earning real money earlier, plus all my friends at school are a year older than me, so next year would have been very lonely. Looking forward to commencement on May 6, Go UMass!
