<p>Patsfan59, speak with a graduate school adviser or the DGS of the schools you're interested in applying. I have never heard any of them say 2 years of college is competitive for PhD admissions.</p>
<p>I never trusted my undergraduate adviser when it came to my future. I got answers from various sources.</p>
<p>Don't rush through college. Enjoy it while you can (3 years is perfectly fine). You may regret it later.</p>
<p>Some folks may disagree with me but there's nothing wrong with having student loans or getting work-study (if you qualify).</p>
<p>What makes you so sure you will have a PhD by age 25? Graduate school is not something to take lightly.</p>
<p>I agree with what most have said here. Unless it's for financial reasons, don't do it. I entered college with 34 credit hours and had the plan to graduate in 3 years. However, I lost a lot of the "college experience" in the process. Additionally, when I was seriously considering graduate school, I realized that I was in no way adequately prepared, despite how close I was to graduating. I opted to do a math minor, some additional CS courses, and do some more research with a professor.</p>
<p>Also, I have never heard of any graduate adcom desire a preference for someone who only went to school for 2 years. If anything, they would want someone who they know would likely persevere through several years of rigorous study. In that case, who do you really think they would prefer? Someone who flew through school for 2 years, or someone who took an extra year or two in order to allow themselves to mature?</p>
<p>To add to what jpell wrote, it's VERY IMPORTANT to take as many upper-level courses in your major AND do a senior thesis if your aspirations are graduate school. This is so important. Make yourself competitive and knowledgeable of the field to the adcoms, not someone who didn't take their studies seriously.</p>
<p>Have a life. Enjoy the undergraduate experience. Expand your horizons. What will you do when you are burned out at 30 and have no other life skills or interests? Is there a way you can do any honors research as well as doing all of the math courses? Talk to math professors and find out what they do besides their subject. Your AP credits represent basic, elementary level college courses- try taking some electives outside of math at a tougher level, ie in college. Stretch your mind in many ways. My son told me he could graduate next spring in 3 years, at age 19- but why rush? He couldn't do the honors thesis, would be less prepared and would have to take the GRE ASAP. This info is to show you that you are not alone in your abilities. You do not want to "wake up" years later and realize all of the living you missed while young that you can't do when you are older. Most schools would allow you to take grad level classes as an undergrad, you could then be better prepared for a tough grad school and save time then if you wish. Or you could take courses you will never have time for again in your life. The math credits to graduate are a minimum, I'm sure most grad school candidates will have many more than those.</p>
<p>Still, what's the rush? I am finishing my first semester as a grad student (MA now, rejected for PhD last year), coming straight out of undergrad. I did complete 4 years of undergrad even though I had an option to graduate a semester early.</p>
<p>To be honest, I'm glad I stayed on for the spring term and am greatly indebted to my senior thesis advisor for pushing me to do the thesis and finish it. Doing the research and writing the thesis gave me confidence that I can rock another one in graduate school. Had it not been for my supportive professors, I can't imagine what my senior year would've been like. They knew that I wanted to apply to PhD programs and they made sure from early in the fall semester that I would be on track to be well prepared as possible. The professors I had in my major classes that year took the time to nurture me and give me guidance that developed me into a more mature scholar in and out of the classroom. </p>
<p>I did a lot as an undergrad- I was involved in several student organizations and studied abroad for spring semester and stayed on for the summer, and did 3 internships. One of my student orgs, all the internships, and my study abroad experience all helped to shape my interests for graduate school. Yes, math is different, but I had the opportunities to interact with so many different people from outside of my university who inspired me and forced me to evaluate my own understanding of the world around me. Get some internships, study abroad (there ARE math related programs in Europe), and get involved in mathematical related student organizations (or at least you can be a treasurer!). Math isn't all about numbers- you might find situations that might inspire your research. Economists do it all the time and they do a LOT of math.</p>
<p>It's part of the academia and advisor- student relationship - nurturing. You need the time. Give your professors a chance to give you opportunities to do your own research under their supervision without fear of making mistakes or screwing up big time. If it's about finances, at least use your third year for independent studies/research on a course reduction load (you may have to work in the university or town just to pay the bills, not necessary to create a nest egg). Through the year, you'll find new ideas and directions that will focus your research for graduate school because once you're in, it's pretty much expected that you will stay in your own field (I've gotten weird looks when I mention I'm also intereted in X field when I'm labeled under Y field; I have since corrected myself). See if you can look into doing a MS program at your school if it offers it.</p>
<p>I also agree to ask a DGS. The advice I've gotten here so far is quite bit different from when I was an undergrad. My undergrad profs were on track but they did not sit in grad admissions committee (I was at a SLAC) to know what's really going on and what grad schools are requiring these days. When I reported my PhD admissions feedback to my thesis advisor, she was...all "So close to what I thought but languages?! That important that they kept you out?!"</p>
<p>Nobody's in a race to finish their PhD as young as possible.</p>