<p>I want to know if it is typical to be able to graduate in four years with your BS? My son is a junior and considering applying next year to UW...He will be a molecular biology major, and intends on attending graduate school to earn a PhD so every year to him counts. We are from California and so many of our state schools are saying it will take more than 4 years to graduate with a BS, so he is looking elsewhere. So, do students graduate in 4 years typically from UW, or not? Say, if you have some AP's (he will have probably taken 8 by graduation) and if you stay on the track for the major you applied for?</p>
<p>I have the same question, and really didn’t find a good answer. Partly because there are so many variables. About half of the students do graduate (as of a year ago) in 4 years, so it is certainly possible. As you mention, having some credit coming in helps, and of course not changing majors, etc.</p>
<p>Another tip I picked up (from a different school, but probably applies), is if your son says he can’t get a class, ask if there were openings in the 8, 9, or even 10 am sections…</p>
<p>You need a good plan on what courses you would like to take and what are the requirements for those courses. And you need to register at the first available time for those hard to get courses.</p>
<p>If you want to it can be done without much trouble but you might need to take an 8am class or one that meets on Friday, etc.</p>
<p>I think they say about 54% graduate within 4 years. 75% graduate within 5 or 6 years (can’t remember which).</p>
<p>if your child is willing to go to school in the summer, that will help.</p>
<p>Personally I will be getting a double degree in 3 years, however I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone. (The first year I did 20 credits per quarter & have/will be attending all summer quarters)</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your comments. Ok, this is the thing: Here in California, the reason the students do not graduate in four years, is not that they do not want to take Friday classes or an 8 am class, it is because they cannot get the class at any time…or the class is full and they cannot get into it. This is because of the budget cuts and the reduction in classes available. I am not talking about a particular student’s choice whether he/she wants to take an early class or not, or wants a three day weekend every weekend.
So, if you were willing to take whatever time the required class was available, you stayed on track with your major, did not change majors, took the usual amount of credits per quarter, AND had some AP’s that were accepted by UW, would you be able to graduate in four years, not necessarily having to take summer school?</p>
<p>You could, but it depends on a lot of factors (changing your major halfway through, not planning out ahead enough, having to retake classes, the major you choose because some have higher credit requirements)</p>
<p>If you want to and you already know what you want to do, it’s not hard.</p>
<p>Thank you spaceneedle. Just the answer I was looking for! My son knows what he wants to do, and I doubt he will change his mind. Of course anything is possible! He is planning on majoring in molecular biology…anyone know if these requirements are impossible to complete in four years? He is planning on going to graduate school afterwards for PhD possibly in genetics.</p>
<p>If he is truly set on what he wants to do, a molecular biology major is actually quite achievable in the four years with quite some room for exploration, even a minor probably. No summer classes would be necessary. Just look at UW’s requirements for a bio major. It looks like a lot, but because of our quarter system, it actually is quite flexible. It can be difficult to get registered for the classes you need, but the quarter system forgives that since you can take less necessary classes without really wasting time. </p>
<p>Trust me, it’s possible. I’m attempting a double degree, one a BS and one a BA, and it’s possible, it just requires planning ahead.</p>
<p>Thank you Ottermax. He is pretty set on what he wants to do. I just wanted to know if it was typical to graduate in four years or not. Here in California kids are not being able to get into classes due to the budget cuts, and rumors abound that it takes on the average five years to get a BA or BS…Lately guidance counselors are even encouraging their students to go out of state or to private universities. My older son was told last year the average person who graduates from UCLA (he was admitted there but elected not to attend) School of Engineering takes four and a half years…which makes me think a lot of the students take five years to graduate…So we are looking elsewhere for son number 2!</p>
<p>Engineering often takes more credits and harder classes to graduate than most other majors. Also most students try to do a co-op or internship that can run 6 months so taking 4.5 years is typical and not due to classes not being available. They don’t pay tuition while doing a co-op and make good money.</p>