<p>S has enough AP credits to graduate college early. Since his school is very expensive, doing so would be a huge money-saver for him. I have mixed feelings about it and would like to hear from other parents. Since he worked so hard and was rewarded by getting into an Ivy League school, it seems like a waste not to take full advantage of the fabulous educational opportunities available there by studying all 4 years. I've never heard of anyone at an elite school doing this, have you?</p>
<p>Also, does anyone have any idea how grad schools (specifically law schools) would view a three-year degree?</p>
<p>As to the law school portion of your question, this was just my experience, but the people that did the best (Law Review, etc.) in law school were the ones that took a year or more off after graduation from college and worked in the "real world". </p>
<p>They had a maturity, focus, and life experiences that really made a difference in how they approached their law school classes. They were much stronger in being able to see that "life" and "the law" aren't black and white - they could deal with the shades of gray and could articulate it much better in both classroom discussion and exams.</p>
<p>Thanks, token for the great link. I read it quickly, but will go over it more carefully later. I hadn't thought about the impact on scholarship applications.</p>
<p>I got into law school after graduating college in three years, so that's not the issue. For me the issue was not enjoying the carefree, experimental college years to their fullest and rushing into a profession. Huge mistake. My son has enough AP credits for advanced standing, but he won't graduate early. He's going to talk to TPTB to see if he can just use it to pass on intro classes, or maybe to go for a Master's in 4 years. There's nothing to be gained by short cutting the maturation process -- have him enjoy all of those years!!</p>
<p>I took that option of getting a masters in 4.....totally worked out well. Next stop law school. My greatest enjoyment was the bump up to higher level courses.</p>
<p>haz,
Good to hear that worked out. S is definitely intrigued by the possibility. Master's in Classical Civ. and then, like you, off to law school!</p>
<p>I didn't like my big U college, so graduated in 2 1/2 years, took a year off before returning to prof school. That was definitely my best option.
If my S could manage it, he would take a semester abroad. At his college, there are wonderful Hum and grad/UG classes that are small seminars, lots of research, so there is no reason to leave early. Friends that went to engineering schools have received master's after 4th year. I like that option.</p>
<p>At the more prestigious law schools, there is a definite trend to older students (and graduate degrees as well). I'm certain that there is no hard and fast rule against three-year graduates (like Chief Justice Roberts, by the way), but their age and lack of accomplishments can't help. If your son is really interested in law school, prestige matters -- he should use the extra year in college to do stuff that will knock the socks off the law school admissions committee.</p>
<p>Ditto what JHS said. In my law school class, the average age was 26. Many of my classmates had work experiences and accomplishments that made my jaw drop. A sampling of my classmates: a Pulitizer prize winner, a gay rights activist, a handful of engineers, a few military folks, an M.D., several PhDs, former business owners, people who had worked on Capitol Hill, second-career types, etc. These are the kinds of people he will be competing against for spots in the top law schools. Using the extra year to do something interesting will definitely be a positive move.</p>
<p>FWIW, a friend of ours is a co-founder of a highly successful 40-attorney firm in San Francisco. He once said that he rarely hired attorneys who had little on their resume besides school, no matter how prestigious the school. He says job candidates with a broader background "bring more to the table" and when hiring, looks for work experience and language skills/international experience in addition to academics.</p>
<p>I was eligible for sophomore standing but not ready to declare a major. I ended up using my AP credits to save on grad school tuition. I did know a number of people who got a masters after four years. I don't know how much it helped them, but it certainly didn't hurt. (Of the ones I have kept in touch with one went to grad school in Math and now works for Microsoft, the other is now a history professor.</p>