<p>A lot of colleges also offer 3+2 programs, or even 3+1, where if you do complete your undergraduate degree within 3 years, you can go on to pursue a masters in certain fields. I know Cornell offers program where students can pursue a B.S. in Engineering and Masters in engineering in 5 years, as well as a Masters in ILR (accelarated one year) for undergrads who complete their courseload in 3 years. There are a few others, but those are the main ones I know of.</p>
<p>On top of that, a few of those programs here also allow you to pay undergraduate tuition rate while you’re completing the first year of the Masters degree.</p>
<p>Graduating in three years sounds like a great idea when wanting to save money and time. But I really feel like if you can afford college for a fourth year, it’d be nice to spend four years in college, rather than rushing to finish college. </p>
<p>Personally… I’m contemplating graduating in five years.</p>
<p>Most Bachelor courses in England are 3 years, and it seems fine, not too long, not too short. In Scotland they are usually 4 years, but if you’re from England and have good A Levels, you can sometimes be accelerated into a 3 year honours program, which lots of people do. 3 years does save loads of time, but having friends do both, I think those doing 4 years in Scotland say they really like the whole “laying a good foundation for 2 years” thing.
Plus, doing 3 years means that you lose a lot of freedom and choice to relax, and first year, “no worries” times are over WAY too fast!</p>
<p>I’m doing 4 years, and I am SO SO glad. So having the choice, I’d go for the longer degree … better in every way for me! =]</p>
<p>(then again, England’s fees are more than Scotland’s, which are sometime free, so money isn’t usually a big issue.)</p>
<p>I went to college back in the 50s. Almost all of the veterans (of the Korean War) finished in three years. I had one friend who finished in three - her folks could not understand why she should not be making graduate money one year earlier. Logically, I agree.</p>
<p>I finished five years after high school graduation - dropped out and worked for a year and a half, taking night courses. If I had the AP deal that kids do today, I would work in the summer if I could get appropriate jobs and attend school otherwise.</p>
<p>I finished a master’s in three years working full-time and doing school half-time. I was at the limit of absorbing what I would have over a longer time, but I don’t feel that I shorted myself - just my family.</p>
<p>I am currently a senior, and I am pretty sure that I could graduate in three years or less. I have enough AP credits and I know what I want to major in; however, I just don’t see the point in doing so. I feel that graduating early would be short-changing myself in many ways. I really only have one chance to learn about all of the subjects outside of my major from top professors in the world. Why would I want to cut that short and miss out on some great courses? Also college is a fairly unique opportunity to make friends for the rest of my life. I don’t want to rush through what will most likely by the most intellectually and socially stimulating experience of my life. As mentioned earlier I will have many years to work, but only a few to attend college. Obviously if finance becomes a large issue then it is understandable for a person to graduate in three years.</p>
<p>Waldorf College offers 3 years Bachelors, although they will be phasing them out because here at Waldorf, many students ask, “Why did I want to grow up so fast?” I’m a first-year Creative Writing major at Waldorf and I hope to get out in 3 years to pursue my Masters and then my PhD.</p>
<p>I graduated in 3 and a 1/2 years due to AP units. I missed out on the chance to go abroad. But otherwise, I don’t think it was a mistake. I used the 10 months I had in between college and law school to go to work and save money for law school. I was able to pay my own way through law school without any help from my parents. And when I was applying for my first job as an attorney, a lot of the law firms were very impressed with the fact I finished college in such a short time. It was a definite plus from their perspective. I guess it made me seem focused, which they liked. In these economic times, I don’t see a down side.</p>
<p>I went back and forth on this one forever. I had enough AP credits to be done with a year of school, but I ultimately realized that it was more about experience for me. I wouldn’t feel like I was shortchanging myself academically if I graduated this year, but I can say that I’ve had so many amazing experiences and met so many fantastic people in the 3 years I’ve been at school that I wouldn’t want to cut out that last year. In that year are potential friends, mentors, jobs, letters of rec…etc. </p>
<p>Another option is to check out a school’s dual degree programs. Instead of graduating early, I will do Master’s level work next year and graduate with both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. That way, I’m not just here to hang out and take pointless elective during my Senior year. Though Wine Tasting 101 did sound appealing…:)</p>
<p>Here’s my frosh son’s situation. His AP credits gave him 20% of the credits he needs to graduate. So does he accelerate and graduate in 3 years, take a normal course load and graduate in 3.5 years, pursue a double major, or take his time and graduate in 4 years? He likes college and wants to enjoy all 4 years, but realizes by the time he’s a senior he will just want to get out of there, kind of like he did in high school. He may be interested in going to law school. Would graduating in 3.5 years give him a nice break and a chance to earn $20K before starting law school. Would graduating in 3.5 years be an advantage or disadvantage in terms of finding a job? i.e., are recruiters looking for June grads?</p>
<p>I’m a senior in high school, and the university I’m going to offers an accelerated BS/MHS in 5 years. Therefore, I’d technically be done with my undergraduate degree after the summer of my Junior year. This works for me because I’m being guaranteed a spot into a pretty competitive master’s program for Physician Assistant studies. However, it also works out that a large majority of the students who go to my school graduate in 5 years anyway due to these accelerated programs/co-ops. </p>
<p>I know what I want to do for the rest of my life, I’d say that most kids my age don’t. If you can get into an accelerated program for what you want to do, why not? 2,000-3,000 people with bachelor degrees apply to the the graduate program I’ve already been accepted into and less than 100 make it, I’m just being smart about my future.</p>
<p>Hartwick started a 3-year bachelors but some departments are not participating. I wonder why.</p>
<p>You take 20 credits per semester, no summers. You have to have at least a 3.0 gpa in HS to participate, I think.</p>
<p>I conclude that students at Hartwick who take 15 credits per semester have extra time on their hands. Normally, I don’t think you can learn as much in three years when you are already going full speed over four years. </p>
<p>I am also struggling with this idea. I would like to have my son to graduate in 3 years becasue the tutition is so expensive. He can easily graduate in three years with BS in biology since he passed all the tests for freshman’s general institute requirement. But he is taking all kind of Physics and Math classes because it is so interesting to him. I think I will let him decide himeself as long as we still can afford it.</p>
<p>I am not a fan of kids gradutating in 3 years given other options. I look at it this way for an 18 year old.<br>
Option 1 - 4 years as an undergrad and about 43 years of work/grad school
Option 2 - 3 years as an undergrad and about 44 years of work/grad school</p>
<p>College is a unique opportunity to learn and grow … why rush it to get to the part of your life that will take up the lion’s share of your life? If the choice was between 4 years at a less elite public school and 3 years at a elite private school I would advise my children to go for the 4 years. </p>
<p>Like almost all situations there are exceptions … 1) If financial considerations make 4 years at a public school infeasible then 3 years full-time might well be a better option for lots of kids and situations than going part-time or going to CC and then a four year college … 2) Some kids are just ready to move on early from the college social scene and for them leaving early may make sense. Personally, I believe the best use of AP credits is allowing students to take additional electives, a second major, or gain advanced standing in required courses.</p>
<p>I don’t think Americans (which I am) have an appreciation for the truly rigorous study which is common in other countries! Well, let me modify that… the 99.9% of us who have attended U.S. public high schools or not-particularly-competitive parochial high schools.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to be provacative… our educational system is so SSSLLLLOOOOWWW. We dumb things down to hit the great middle. Precisely at the age when kids can absorb concepts quickly… 10-15 … everything is so prescribed, and slow paced. Kids can’t break out until generally sophomore year of high school, and that is only in the 25% or so of high schools with beefy AP programs.</p>
<p>So… this concept of slow it down, get a lot of growing up in, enjoy the college life while you can, damn the torpedos… mom/dad will pay, or we’ll get loans!! … it’s so … 60s America really. That way of thinking surely doesn’t seem to fit well with the current recession/depression we’re experiencing. It’s so… ENTITLED.</p>
<p>I have this decision coming up myself. If all goes well in May, I’ll have 30 credits from AP tests, which is a full year’s worth.</p>
<p>On another note, a friend of my sister is about to graduate from Madison with a triple major after 3 years (nuclear engineering, math, and physics).</p>