Three-year grad gets head start; five-year grad gets involved in campus life

By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Staff Kimberly Barulich, a business economics student
with an accounting minor, will graduate this week after spending
only three years at UCLA as an undergraduate. Barulich will attend
the University of Southern California business school in the
fall.

Why are you graduating after three years?

I really think I came in with quite a few credits and with that
in mind, I set the pace to be done in three years and took summer
classes in order to do so. I worked strenuously in high school and
wanted to finish college and start my career. I was ready to start
with work and had an idea of what I wanted to do, which I
definitely think is important.

What do you plan to do after college?

I’ll be working with Deloitte & Touche (an accounting,
tax and consultation firm), so I’ll be in the accounting
field. They’re paying for me to attend graduate school, and
I’ll be taking a night class while I work with them. My area
of interest is tax so I’d like to eventually have my own tax
practice.

What advantages do you think you will have by attending
graduate school a year sooner than normal?

I have plans for a family, but also want to have a
well-established career. I would like to have my own business
eventually, and I think having my work experience early in life
will allow me to work toward my future goals. I’ll be able to
have a family and my own business instead of still trying to work
through the corporate world.

Do you think you’re missing any college experience
by graduating early?

It didn’t hit me until this year. I started to really
think back about what I was able to experience. I just turned 21 so
I’m barely able to share that with my college friends;
there’s a certain amount of the college life that I had to
accept that I was going to miss. I’ve had great friends since
freshman year and they all get another year of living in the
apartments together. I do get to start my career and grad school,
but I do feel that I’m leaving behind people that I
won’t get to see next year nearly as much.

Do you feel settled at UCLA?

I definitely do. Walking around campus, I already see that
I’m going to miss it. I’ll be going to USC for business
school, so I’m not quite sure how I feel about that.
I’ve gotten used to the atmosphere and being able to
recognize people on Bruin Walk.

How would you rate your experience over three
years?

It’s been phenomenal. I did dorm life for the first two
years and the people I met freshman year are amazing and I’m
still really great friends with most of them. I went to all the
football and basketball games, and even though I’m getting
out in three years, I’ve really tried to embrace everything
about the campus. People used to tease me, thinking that I had to
be in the library 24 hours a day, but you have to take it all
in.

Do you think staying another year would have any
advantages for you?

Staying another year would allow me to pick up another minor;
I’m doing business economics and accounting, and it’s
pretty structured in the areas of math and economics. Picking up
something like English and taking some fun classes would definitely
be an advantage of staying an extra year.

What is your fondest memory of your stay at
UCLA?

The last week of my freshman year in the dorms, we had a big
party in Dykstra ““ we crammed about 30 or 40 of our friends
in one dorm room. It was wonderful and definitely what I remember
the most.

How do you feel about leaving friends who entered
college with you?

It makes me sad because I just went on a spring vacation with
these people and I realized they’re going to be able to do it
next year, and if I want to, I’ll have to take vacation and
time off from work. I really am going to enter a different
lifestyle, but the reason I’m not taking a job outside of Los
Angeles is so that I can stay close to my friends.

Have there been any outside influences on your decision
to graduate in three years?

My parents have worked really hard, and they both waited to go
to college until after they had children. By watching how difficult
a struggle it was for them, I wanted to complete my education early
in life. That way I could have myself established before I develop
a family. I really admire my parents for taking on a family along
with school, so they’ve been the example I’ve followed
in trying to work toward my goals as hard as I have.

Do you have any suggestions for others trying to
graduate early, when they encounter difficulties?

I suggest if you’re considering getting out in three
years, at the end of your third year really take into account that
as a college student you can get up at noon and still complete your
day. I’ve had to go to business interviews at 8 a.m. If you
really enjoy the college life and flexibility, you might want to
take the extra year and enjoy it. If I could do anything it would
be to come back for one more year and not take any classes and just
visit with everyone.