I know that Boston College offers a bunch of credit for AP courses and may give the opportunity to graduate in 3 years for those who qualify. I also know that BC offers an Honors Program for the CSOM. Is it possible to graduate in 3 years from the Honors Program at CSOM? And what are the average test scores of the Honors Program? Do people that qualify for Advanced Standing often graduate in 3 years or do they stay for a 4th year?
I will be a freshman in CSOM honors and I personally have not heard of people opting to graduate in three years. Even if I could, I definitely wouldn’t want to because BC is such an amazing place. However, because being in honors does eliminate a few core classes, I suppose it would be possible to stack more classes into your schedule. The advisers warned against taking more classes though, because it can become too much to handle very quickly, especially with the additional time obligations of the honors-specific programs. Also, even the some core requirements are eliminated, you still have to complete the same amount of credits as everyone else to graduate. This means that even if your AP credits place your out of certain courses, they do not count towards your 120 credit requirement.
I cannot speak to the average test scores because I do not believe they release that info for honors, but I got a 2240 if that helps
Advanced standing is available to everyone – not just honors – with AP course credit. A few people choose to graduate in three years, but only a few.
Honors does not necessarily eliminate core classes; rather, it combines two into a double class. Instead of taking two separate classes, you take one for twice the class hours. For example Perspectives 1 is considered a double class, and fulfills philosophy and theology. Bcos its a double class, you will earn two grades and 6 units for Perspectives 1.
While AP credits may fulfill a Core requirement, you still need the total units to graduate, so you need to take another class instead.
Not recommended to over-load first semester.
BC does not release test scores by college. The coursework is not difficult per se, first semester; indeed, in some cases the opposite, but that means the curves can be brutal. For example, Calc 1, for those taking, if full of A&S premeds gunning for the A.
Accepting an offer to join the Honors Program and choosing Advanced Standing are mutually exclusive. The Honors Program involves academic and co-curricular commitments in all four years, so you cannot do both.
It’s important to note that Advanced Standing requires 24 credits (8 classes) earned through AP/IB exam scores. It is not merely having 8 exams with the proper scores, but having them in the correct areas. For instance, a 5 on AP Calc and a 5 AP Stat only counts for three credits (the math core requirement), not six credits.
–Boston College Undergraduate Admission
Stats is a required course for CSOM students so a 5 on both AP Calc and AP Stats should be six credits. no?
You’re right @gobosox - bad example. For the sake of a possible CSOM student, replace that example with AP Bio and AP Chem.
Hello DevlinHall208. I am currently in the Honors Program and can speak on the behalf of someone who just graduated. You CAN graduate in three years in Honors. The program tries to accommodate everyones needs so please don’t be spreading those rumors. It doens’t matter that we have requirements for senior year, the schedule can be rearranged.
I personally graduated in 3 years from CSOM. The reason I did so was that I wanted to take a “gap” before I started work (already signed offer letter) to do something I would otherwise not be able to really do for 3-6 months straight once I was strapped in a job.
I know of many people that decided to stay their fourth year even if they were eligible for advanced standing, but 1) Wanted to have a full 4-year college experience 2) Take additional classes/add another major or concentration. Just depends on your situation. You want to double concentrate? Take a major/minor in A&S? Take classes for fun? You can ponder over that your freshman year and make the advanced standing situation after. Another option you can consider is graduating December 2019 (you still can graduate May 2020, just you won’t need to take classes/stay in Boston second semester).