Hello!
Is it possible to gain the degree in three years only?
How many people manage to do so and how much of an effort is it?
Never heard of someone finishing at Midd in 3 years, but 3.5 years is really really common. Given the AP credit limit, finishing in 3 years would require taking 5 classes most semester (and bringing in the max credits from high school), which sounds hellish to me. Why do you want to finish in 3 years?
Yes, under certain circumstances you can finish Midd in three years @question123123 (I had a friend who did). What it required was a combination of AP credits (2 of 36), summer courses at Midd (Language School is 4 credits for a full 8 week session) or elsewhere, and taking a couple of five course semesters.
On occassion I did take five courses a semester vice the usual four, and it is do-able if you’re very careful in your course selection (top tip: do complementary courses). And you obviously have quite a lot less time that you would for four.
But @withoutausername is right - why would you want to finish in 3 years?
Should you want to do that though? It could put you at a disadvantage compared to students who spent there full 4 years there and took advantage of everything.
(3.5 sounds possible if you want to get a job in January after graduating in December).
Oh, and I should’ve mentioned that you’re not likely to get permission from your advisor to take five in your first year (certainly first year fall), which would demand a programme that looks something like this:
2 (AP) + 4 (1F) + 1 (1W) + 4 (1Sp) (11)
4 (2F) + 1 (2W) + 5 (2Sp) + 4 (2 Su) (25)
5 (3F) + 1 (3W) + 5 (3Sp) (36)
So yes, with 2 AP credits and one summer (e.g., of Midd language school), it is strictly speaking possible to graduate in three years. But not only would this would be pretty brutal, (and the idea of doing an optional thesis (e.g., Poli Sci) as one of your 5 in either your Senior Fall/Spring is hard to see anyone doing well), you’re robbing yourself of a lot of the Midd experience which happens outside the classroom.
In short, I think you’d have to have a really strong reason for wanting to do this, @question123123 .
Are your reasons to do in three years strictly financial? I wouldn’t count on being able to do it.
I completed college in 3 years by taking summer courses at different universities in various areas of the country/world. While this meant missing out on internships, they were not relevant to me at that time as I wanted to get to graduate school as soon as possible. I attended an LAC which seemed like an extension of prep school & I wanted & needed more at that time in my life.
For me, it was a wise course of action. However, it really depends upon the person & their plans.