I'm worried my bf will propose at airport as soon as he's out of the army...?

K i just asked this but I'm hoping for a few more answers...

Basic info:

I'm 19, a freshman in college and i'm looking at 8 solid years of college cause i'm shooting for vet school. My boyfriend is 20, has been gone for 2 months, but will be out of the army for good on tuesday because of a medical discharge. We've been dating since February with a brief break in between. We both have talked about marriage, and so far we're looking forward to getting married someday.

The Story:

Okay, he's been gone two months with the army and it's been really hard on him. The only major thing we disagree on is WHEN to get married. I'm barely in college and feel that I have some maturing to do. Not to mention, 8 years of school is a long time and vet school is almost as bad as med school as far as having no life except studying. I really think that it is best to wait a few years before even getting engaged. He, on the other hand, wants to tie the knot as soon as possible. I can understand where he's coming from. Right now he's feeling a lot of pressure. He has many many friends who are either already married or at least engaged. Now that he's at boot camp, he's surrounded by a bunch of guys who 1) are married/engaged or 2) lost their girlfriend either to college or them leaving for the military. I know it's just the situation because we've talked about it and been able to more or less compromise, but his situation has changed him a little, kind of freaked him out. So, from what he's seeing, marriage is the best way to keep me. We are both trying to compromise, and were able to more or less, but here recently he's been really pushing to get married sooner and sooner.

The Problem:

He gets home on Tuesday. I've talked to him a few times and he really really wants me to be at the airport - totally understandable. I have 3 major tests next week. Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I NEED to study. To keep my scholarship and to keep my chances of being accepted into vet school i have to maintain my grades. Up until now he's been really supportive of my schooling, not having any problem with the amount of time I have to put in studying. But now he's telling me that he won't leave the airport until I'm there. So, if I can't go on Tuesday, he'll wait until the weekend and just camp out. Totally unreasonable. Don't get me wrong, I'd practically kill to be there, I love him and I miss him and I can't wait to see him. But he'll always be there, I only have one shot at these tests. Anyway, between some of the things he's said, I've suddenly had the revelation that there is the possibility that he will propose to me as soon as he's off the plane. Rash I know, but he can be sometimes, and the army has put him under a lot of stress and it will take him a while to calm down once he's back. Not to mention, he's a hopeless romantic and he'd love it, he gets home only to marry his girl and live happily ever after. I know that's how he sees it. I'm sorry, as much as I love him, I'm not ready to get married or even be engaged so if he does ask, I will say no, and hope that it won't crush him so bad that he won't ask again later when i've had time to grow up. I think that's why he's being unreasonable about the airport.

The question:

I'll be able to talk to him a few times on the phone before he gets on the plane. Do I make a comment, either directly or just kind of get on the subject and make my thoughts on the matter known? But if he has no intention of proposing and I'm worrying for no reason, that will make things really awkward and might upset him for no reason. But if he is planning on it and I don't say anything and am able to go to the airport, and he proposes... I don't want to crush him in public, and i'm not going to say yes only to avoid a scene and then tell him the truth later. I do plan on marrying him. SOMEDAY. Not now. I know it's stressful being engaged, and many people that get married don't finish all of the schooling they originally planned. I want to get my life in order first. What is the best way to avoid what could be a nasty situation or nip it in the bud? And I hate the 'if he really loves you then he'll wait.' I know he can wait, but I think he's been under so much stress that he's not thinking as rationally as he normally would be. So as long as i can stop it before it happens it will be fine, but just home at the airport he'll stil have star dazzled lovey dovey eyes, lol.