When people ask me this question, I respond with a question of my own: “Why not do it if I can?” Don’t get me wrong. I value my education and I consider myself blessed to have the experience of being a student at a private liberal arts college. However, there are a number of factors that signal it’s time for me to go.

1. There’s nothing I’m going to experience in one more year that I haven’t already. Professors and peers tell me I’m depriving myself all the time of the full four year package. Sure I won’t be able to study Reconstruction with Eric Foner, intern for Bloomberg, or partake in another meaningful extracurricular activity, but really, in my three years at school I’ve covered a lot. I’ve had debates about Marxism, literary symbolism, sexism and any other kind of -ism debate you can have in a seminar class. I’ve studied New York Theatre, Freud and cinematic narratives in lecture halls. I’ve written for campus publications, sang in performance groups, and worked on a senior thesis. I’ve pulled all nighters with my roommates, received noise complaints about parties I’ve thrown, and managed to meet individuals who I know will be my friends for life. There is not a doubt in my mind that I am walking away a better person based on the experiences I’ve already had; an extra year won’t make much of a difference.

2. Learning is a luxury that comes with a six figure price tag. My school’s tuition has increased at a rate of 5 or 6% every year since 2004; just a few days ago it was announced that there will be a 5.6% tuition increase making the cost for the ‘07-’08 school year total a whopping $46,736. The average college student graduates with debt that’s more than $20,000 while most entry level job positions have salaries that range from $30 – $40K a year. I’m fortunate enough to have parents who have put me through school debt free and to ask them for one more year would be flat out selfish.

3. There’s learning to be done beyond campus gates. The completion of my undergraduate career does not signal the end of academia for me. I still plan on going to graduate school and there’s a whole lot of growing that I need to do emotionally and intellectually. The way I see it, that can only take place when I’m doing it on my own, for myself, on my terms. Sure it’s great to study with some of the world’s best professors and attend classes with some of America’s future leaders, but I will benefit just as much from travelling to China as I will taking an East Asian studies class. I need to talk to real people who aren’t stuffy academics and I need to have experiences that college credits don’t cover.

4. I am burnt out and drink way too much caffeine. I was one of those kids in kindergarten who never liked to color outside the lines. In high school, I was high achieving and over extended and that continued throughout college. There are only so many all nighters I can pull, A’s I can get, and clubs I can join. I’m looking to break free from this mold that I’ve encapsulated myself in and slow down. I want to sit on park benches and read books that aren’t listed on syllabi. I want to enjoy my weekends without anticipating the work I have due in the coming week. I want to debate and question, but I want to be able to do it on my time.

5. College is just the beginning for me. I hate when people say this experience is supposed to be the best four years of my life. That’s bull. If it’s supposed to be the best four years of my life, then why don’t I just end it all after graduation? There’s so much I want to see and do in life and I’m anxious to get started. I already started a list of things I want for myself within the next year and its more than 50 items long. For me, the past three years have been transformative, memorable and definitely worthwhile, but I’m ready to move on.  It’s time.