[PhoenixAzul]

See, I found that last year to be the most important year of my undergraduate career. The first three years were all about learning, topping up the tank. That last year was about growing into an academic in my own right. I was really busy as an undergrad- I worked part time (although I worked the 5am shift to make classes), I was involved in my sorority, I was on councils, I worked for the paper, I had two majors and a minor, honors college, training for a marathon and half-ironman, went abroad, was planning a wedding, planning my move overseas, getting ready for graduate school....and all of that was great for my time management skills. But I felt that at the end of 4 years I had done more than just build a resume, I built myself into a person I was proud of. I look back, and thinking about leaving OC at the end of my junior year (and I could have, if I'd dropped one major)...I would have failed at life. I had just had a revelation about my future career, had a revelation about where I wanted to live, and how I wanted to continue.

I don't know, it definitely works for some people, but I think that rushing through college just to save cash will short some students out of the essential life lessons and growth opportunities gained outside of the classroom. I know that's a bit Pollyanna, and it kills me to hear about students being limited by economic factors.