<p>The quality and the now universal nature of the AP and IB programs should make the 3 year college degree the norm for our best students. By best, I am talking about the upper 2-3% of the graduating class capable of obtaining five or more grades of 4 or above on the AP exams. These students have demonstrated extraordinary ability since generally only 10% or so of AP test takers obtain 5 grades and maybe a slighly larger percentage obtain grades of 4. They are the future of our nation and should be moving on to five year masters programs, law school, medical school and PhD programs without delay. This cohort should not be held hostage to either the bursar’s need for more quid or the academic cumudgeon’s need to assuage his resentment at not having had this opportunity in his day. Our top students have had their first year of college already. They should not be made to repeat it, and we as a nation need their talent sooner rather than later.</p>