Graduation is a time all students anticipate — whether it be with joy or dread — because it signifies the beginning of their “real” adult lives. However, for some students, though they may be walking this May, they have technically been graduates for months — as of December of Fall 2025. These early graduates got a unique “in-between period” of six extra months with their families before grad school, or even used the opportunity to start working full-time ahead of the game.
For graduated senior Helen Jackson, who hadn’t been able to go home for breaks for the past two years, these last few months have been a much-needed break.
“I’m moving halfway across the country in July for my PhD program, so I probably won’t be able to come home very often after this,” she said.
Jackson’s decision to graduate early only materialized in her junior year after weighing academic and financial factors.
“I was on the fence about maybe getting another minor, but the main reason [I chose to finish in the fall] was honestly money. An extra semester is expensive, so if you can graduate early and finish everything, why not?” she said.
Ajay Macherla, another early graduate, also found that leaving campus early provided him with a rewarding experience before starting medical school in the fall. Back home, he has been able to structure his schedule around both professional and personal interests: Macherla has been working at a dermatology clinic and conducting research, as well as regularly going to the gym and playing video games.
“I’ve been able to branch out and take advantage of opportunities near me that I probably wouldn’t have had otherwise,” Macherla said.
Though Macherla said graduating early required a lot of planning and strategic scheduling, it has resulted in a “much more chill lifestyle overall.”
Similarly, Danielle Colelli used her extra semester to step directly into the professional world. Colelli has been working remotely for a nonprofit focused on legal education and policy advocacy. She has also used the time to travel, visiting Europe twice this semester alone.
Though graduating early has opened new doors for Colelli, there were some drawbacks to leaving campus earlier than her peers.
“Sometimes I’ll see things happening on campus — like recruitment events or other activities — and wish I could join, but I’m working instead,” she said.
Colelli also described how her graduation in December felt “uneventful.”
“You don’t really get the celebrations right away,” she said, “but coming back in May for all the senior activities — photo shoots, graduation events, senior week — makes it feel much more exciting.”
While these students technically graduated months ago, all three are coming back to Rochester for commencement weekend, giving them a chance to reunite with friends and celebrate alongside the rest of their class.
