<p>So with all the AP Credit I've stock piled over the years, (im a junior in high school) I will be able to graduate in a year or two if I go to UW-Madison. Is graduating early a good Idea? </p>
<p>I mean I'd save on college costs and would be able to go to graduate school earlier and won't have to spend a decade in school. I suppose I would miss out on much of the College experience-I wouldnt have to write as much, I wouldn't develop the dedication to work that I need, but hey, If I stay motivated I think I can do it. </p>
<p>I mean imagine being a senior in your first year at college! (One of my friends is doing this at Madison right now)</p>
<p>I want to go to Harvard Law School, and I'd bet that this would hurt my chances. What do you all think? Also, </p>
<p>What about the LSAT, is it a good idea to take a seperate year after college to prep for it, or is it better to do it while in college? I'm thinking Graduate in a year or two and then spend some time studying for the LSAT.</p>
<p>A guy did something like this last year, though he'd also graduated high school in like 2 years and so he was only 18. He had a 3.8 from UW-Madison and a 177 and he was rejected everywhere. Law schools aren't real big on admitting teenagers.</p>
<p>you would better spend your time researching your extra year(s). you could really devote yourself to research and put yourself in a position for the very best grad schools for your field (whatever that is). good idea here if you decide against law or if someone/something inspires you in your major possibly?</p>
<p>studying abroad is also an idea. if you have a desire to learn a foreign language before graduating college, id think you should take more than 2 years. there are PLENTY of scholarships out there for studying abroad that can make it virtually free. this is just a great time to get a lot of stuff paid for. when else are you going to be able to go to europe for free? its practically a vacation. there is a program i saw also that allows you to study at Cambridge for a year and you pay your home school's tuition. this, however, is for your junior year. also have seen many research grants that are awarded only for juniors and seniors. </p>
<p>i know of a friend who is kinda in your position, and he is just going to get an master's in 4 years.</p>
<p>I read an article once about how at least half of the students at Harvard could graduate in 3 years if they wanted to, but they don't. Enjoy your college years as you will never have them back again. Study abroad if you are interested. Having a short college transcript may well hurt your chances for grad school.</p>
<p>A friend of mine was admitted to Harvard Law this past month. 171 LSAT, 3.8 GPA. Those are not AMAZING numbers and I think it says a lot about UW's reputation. He is white, middle class, straight, etc etc</p>
<p>I go to UW-Madison, and there is NO way that you will graduate in one year. Here are some compelling reasons why:</p>
<ol>
<li>AP credit is capped at 32 (Link: wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/obpa/JLM/TimeToDegree_ExecSummary.pdf). Notice how there isn't over 32 listed! Even though it is not expressly stated that their policy is over 32, it says at other UW institutions. Since the UW Universites are streamlined, then they are all the same on this policy.</li>
<li>You can only take up to 18 credits per semester in most majors.<br></li>
<li>The timetable is horrible. The classes you want are hard to come by.</li>
</ol>
<p>I have tried to do so myself. I will be making it out of Madison in a total of 3 years. Besides, what makes you think that you will get into Madison? I had to go to the less prestigious UW Colleges and transfer to Madison because I was rejected from Madison the first go around. With a 30 on my ACT, a 3.8 HS GPA, and 30 AP credits to this day it still eludes me why I didn't get in. Ahh, the minutiae of college admissions....</p>
<p>I'm not a big fan or graduating early unless there is a BIG financial reason to push it.</p>
<p>Traditional approach - 4 years of HS, 4 years of college, a couple years of grad school ... and then work for 40 years (and look at those 10 years in school as relatively care free days)</p>
<p>Quicker approach - 3 years of HS, 3 years of college, a couple years of grad school ... and then work for 42 years. </p>
<p>To me it's not clear (other than serious money issues) why giving up a couple years of school to work an extra couple of years is a great trade.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice. I figured that graduating early was a cool idea, if not a particularily good one. I did have a friend who is doing this though. He is graduating in 3 semesters. I should mention that he was easily the smartest kid in his class though. I guess that this is not the best plan to go through. Once again, Thanks for all your help!</p>