<p>Is it possible for someone with lots of AP credits to graduate in 3 years from college? I hope my S will attend and graduate in 3 yrs from USC to save money on tuition and board by finishing in 3 yrs and afterwards attend a medical school.</p>
<p>Have you looked at which tests and scores USC accepts? It also depends on the major. STEM majors often require a much more sequential path of courses in terms of prerequisites that are hard to schedule in 3 years. My son got 34 credits from AP but only 30 can be used to meet the 120 credit grad requirement at his school.</p>
<p>ssk</p>
<p>If courses are sequential, your son should see if offered over summer. I did college in 3 years plus one summer, much cheaper than four years. They let me take the sequential course in my major over the summer in the grad school.</p>
<p>ssk…I’m going to offer a different perspective. Does your SON want to graduate in three years…and then go directly to med school? Perhaps that should be considered as well. If you really need to save money for undergrad, there are schools which are far less expensive than USC out there…just a thought.</p>
<p>ssk…NO, NO, NO!</p>
<p>First of all, many med schools will not accept AP credits. Therefore, the student has to either retake the classes or take the “next level” classes…so, no “time” savings.</p>
<p>KayF’s situation was different since she wasn’t applying to med school. Med schools have some very picky issues…such as not liking summer classes, not accepting AP credits…and only wanting to see high GPAs.</p>
<p>Also, if your son wants to go to USC med school, be aware that USC has probably the biggest requirement list of all med schools. </p>
<p>Also…are you aware that pre-med students typically take their MCATs during the spring/early summer of junior year? </p>
<p>Then they submit their apps over the summer between junior and senior year. </p>
<p>Then they travel for interviews during the fall of senior year (so that semester needs to be LIGHT!!!).</p>
<p>More importantly…Cum GPA and Science GPA are very large components of the med school application. ** You do NOT want your son’s GPA to be hurt solely because he had to jam in too many hard classes within 6 semesters to save money. That would be penny-wise and pound foolish.** Keep in mind that even an A- will hurt a GPA since all GPA’s are re-calculated for med schools and an A- is a 3.7.</p>
<p>My son is pre-med and could graduate in 3 years, but because of these concerns and the need to have a “light” fall semester during his last year, he’ll go all 4 years. This has been a very good strategy for his GPA. </p>
<p>For your son to graduate in 3 years would mean applying to medical school AFTER he graduates…which some students do after going for 4 years, but it means he’ll have a year off before he starts med school. </p>
<p>But… If he were to try to apply to med school after his 2nd year of college, he’d be too rushed during the next fall semester to have time to interview and do well in those classes.</p>
<p>Med schools also do not like to see summer school classes…especially if the class is a pre-req.</p>
<p>Since you’re concerned about cost, a better alternative is to go to a less expensive school.</p>
<p>Anyway…I would NOT recommend trying to graduate in 3 years.</p>