http://www.kaleo.org/opinion/don-t-do-it-in/article_565788b6-759b-11e2-82ca-001a4bcf6878.html
and so did my blog post
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2013/02/im-back-on-ka-leo.html
Here's another response
lkll posted at 9:35 pm on Wed, Feb 13, 2013.
As an undergraduate who is only delayed because of a late study abroad, I think it's fair for the administration to at least pitch the 15-credit, four-year plan and suggest students to complete in four. They're not requiring all students to take 15 credits to become a full-time student—let them lay down the facts and give the students a little insight on how much their plan may help them in the long run. Of course everyone's situation will be different, so maybe they cannot; I couldn't in my freshman year when I had strict work hours, and maybe some people are in majors where textbooks cost a small fortune every semester. But as administration, it's their job to inform students that 12 credits won't cut it if you want to get out in four years so students don't complain that "they didn't know it would take so long."
OK, so far, so good!
Contrary to your opinion, 15 credits is more than possible, especially early on in one's college career since most (if not all) of the classes would be intro-level and/or large lectures where homework isn't assigned. If you're either lucky enough to work on/near campus or have a generous boss who will stick to your schedule, 15 credits shouldn't be too much of a challenge unless you're the one who needs hours upon hours to study.
If you're lucky? Obviously, this world doesn't equally distribute luck!
While the into classes might seem easy for those who are already in graduate courses, to someone who just came out of high school, it could be very intimidating to pass 5 of them while not being lucky enough to have a trust fund, a lenient employer or a nearby employment.
In fact, I tell my younger friends the exact same thing Itano suggests: signing up for as many classes as you can and dropping what you either can't handle or don't like. The perks of registering for more classes are: to guarantee you a spot in the class or to let the professor know you're interested if you end up wait-listed, to test the waters with subjects you may be interested in majoring, to save money on up to two additional classes and/or a lab, and to make your major years a lot easier by allowing you to finish up taking 12 credits per semester without falling behind. I tell my friends to sign up for more if they're available because you won't know if the classes will fill up, and it'll be easier to drop a course rather than scrambling around to find another. Plus some classes may be easier than you initially thought, so you would be able to devote those class' study times to an additional class.
The stuff I highlighted in blue above is so ridiculous I can't believe anyone takes such advice seriously! What's the point of enrolling in classes if you already know you're going to drop one of them? If that's your strategy, you're wasting your time and everyone else's time.
Look, I know sometimes, people have to drop classes due to unforseen circumstances. Sometimes a class is too much to handle at this time That was the case in the UPhx class I left last year.(It ended being the best decision, as I later decided to leave UPhx and come to UH)
But registering in classes just so you can drop one on purpose is such a stupid strategy. And for what? To make yourself more lovable to the UH admin? They really could care less about you personally, even if they say the opposite in public!
I understand it's just plain impossible to finish in four in some majors (e.g. art, foreign language if one isn't placed high enough when starting), but it's possible to finish other majors within four to five. In fact, most programs seem to be designed to be finished within two years, so it's just a matter of staying on top of your game the other two years. If you look at it like that, maybe even two years of 15+ credit semesters could get you out in four—is it really that silly for administration to suggest that?
Yes, because of what I didn't have room to write in my editorial. Some programs are NOT 4 year programs at all (ie. architecture, engineering) and plus I noticed that the UH admin kept adding more core requirements every other year during my undergraduate years. I don't know how often they still do so, but adding core requirements make it harder to graduate in 4 years!
And why is it really so important to graduate in 4 years anyways? Why the rush!
I've been outside of the university for 8 years, and I can tell you from experience that there is no need to rush all your undergrad years into just 4!
Your employers dont really care if you take longer than 4 years to get your bachelors.
With all the job interviews I have had, I had experienced many types of question. NOT A SINGLE QUESTION in those interviews asked "why did you take more than 4 years to get your bachelor's?" That question had NEVER been asked in any interview I went to!
That's a sign your employer doesn't really care if you took longer than 4 years.
Only "experts" stuck in the Ivory Tower really care if most of a college's graduates "do it in 4".
That's another topic that couldn't fit in a 500-word format I was required to follow for this Ka Leo editorial!
