Hi everyone! My name is Arushi Shetty, and I’m a second-year Political Science major on the pre-law track here at the University of Georgia. One of the trickiest decisions I’ve made since coming to Georgia was deciding to graduate a year early. A lot of students can probably relate to walking into freshman orientation with a few credits already under their belt, whether that’s from AP classes, dual enrollment, or even an associate’s degree. At a school like
UGA, it’s pretty common to have that head start.
I came in with enough credits to potentially fast-track my graduation by a year, which felt both exciting and terrifying. I wanted to double minor, study abroad for a semester, and soak up the full Athens experience. At the same time, as an out-of-state student (and someone who is very Type A), I couldn’t ignore how practical it would be, both financially and time-wise, to finish early, especially with law
school on the horizon.
SPIA, like all UGA schools, has some incredible advisors who make decisions like this a lot less stressful. Mine helped me think through all the pros and cons: how this choice might affect my law school applications, what it meant for my degree plan, and whether I could still hit all the goals I’d set for myself. I’m happy to report that it’s worked out better than I could’ve hoped! I’ll be studying abroad through SPIA’s Oxford program next semester, and I’ve been able to take every class I wanted.
If I had to share one piece of advice, it would be this: create your own schedule and don’t be afraid to do things a little differently. Advisors are amazing resources, but no one knows your interests better than you do. I’ve spent dozens of hours scrolling through course catalogs, trying to figure out which classes I needed and which would keep me engaged. If you can find classes that check off multiple requirements,
your schedule almost builds itself!
And about the FOMO, I get it. Wanting the ‘full’ four-year college experience is completely valid – and for a lot of people, it’s the right move. For me, though, I realized that staying in Athens an extra year would mostly mean filler classes or adding another minor I wasn’t passionate about. Once I reframed it
that way, the decision became a lot clearer.
Never be afraid to carve out your own path if your version checks all your boxes. It can feel a little isolating at first, but I promise you’re not the only one doing things differently. I had met several older students through campus organizations, so when I decided to graduate early, it was comforting to already
have friends in my new graduating class. Most people don’t know what they want out of college on day one, and that’s totally normal. Take the time to explore what UGA has to offer (so much!) and figure out what excites you. It’s okay for your plan to evolve; what matters is having one to begin with.
Arushi Shetty
B.A. Political Science; Criminal Justice Minor; Law, Jurisprudence, and the State Minor | Class of 2027
