<p>I hope to graduate with a mechanical engineering major in 3 years that then go to graduate school for 2 years to get an MS in biomedical/biomechanical engineering. Would that be possible?</p>
<p>Unless you’re comming in with substantial AP credits and/or are planning on taking summer classes, it isn’t likely that you’ll be able to do it and do very well, unless you are VERY smart and motivated, but presuming some reasonable combination of those, yeah.</p>
<p>highly doubted… I’m graduating in 3.5 years even with 22 hours of AP Credit applied to my major</p>
<p>^With no summer classes though, right?</p>
<p>I think it would be possible to graduate in 3 years, but fairly stupid.
Does it matter in the end whether you spent 4 years in college and 45 years working in industry, or 3 years in college and 44 years in industry?</p>
<p>Take your time and live your life. Your college years are precious!</p>
<p>“Take your time and live your life. Your college years are precious!”</p>
<p>People say that, but if I asked if I should take a 5th unnecessary year and triple major or something, I imagine most would say no.</p>
<p>Yeah 3.5 years with no summer school. But I might do a CO-OP so that might push back my graduation. Don’t graduate early- take your time but don’t take your time like 6 years time.</p>
<p>Yeah I do plan to take some summer classes so I get graduate within 3 years. Is that a good idea?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If it is to triple major, then of course not. But if you are taking a 5th year to finish your main degree, there is nothing wrong with that.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not if you ask me. You are much better off in most cases spending those summers in internships. Why do you want to graduate in 3 years anyway? Enjoy college, it is a helluva time!</p>
<p>
It’s not a race - employers care about how much you learned, not how quickly. A better option would be to use the 4 years to do a really good job, take extra classes, do internships or research projects, etc.</p>
<p>Also, if you are dead set on this, I would look at one of the integrated BS/MS programs. They will generally do a better job of managing your courseload in this circumstance than you would doing it yourself.</p>
<p>One of my classmates graduated in 3 yrs. My roomate graduated in 4 years with an BS in EE and MS in Comp Sci; no summer classes, just Ap credits and a few additional classes.</p>
<p>Graduating in 3 yrs could save a year of tuition/room/board but I do not think it makes much differences to potential employers.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Someone paying full rate at a $50,000 / year private school would have a different opinion about that than someone on a full ride. Even then, a “trust fund baby” will have a different opinion about that $50,000 / year private school than someone who is paying tuition all in debt. </p>
<p>Really, how long it takes to graduate is a personal decision based on your financial situation, your college, and your life goals. Some people might “need” to graduate in three years.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No, unless you sell it as a positive event. For example, if asked in an interview about time management skills, someone who can talk about managing a 21 hour/semester workload for 3 years with internships and multiple club activities can make a very positive impression.</p>
<p>Like most people have said, the only practical reason to attempt to graduate in an accelerated fashion is to avoid having to pay for another year or semester of tuition. If you’re reason is only for status or to get a head start in your career path, then it’s probably not a good idea. Taking your time and not burdening yourself with excessive credits will likely lead to a higher GPA and a lower stress level. </p>
<p>Also, in your 4th year of college, most of your friend will be turning 21 and that means campus bars, which are an integral part of every college experience.</p>
<p>Yes it is possible. At my school, WPI, one can graduate in 3 years. However, it is quite stressful and relieve you the opportunity to do research or do all the coursework you want to do. If you are really on a budget and don’t get enough scholarship, you can try to graduate in three years and then join an MS program where you will get paid rather than paying. It will be hard though and you must plan well.</p>
<p>I just don’t see how doing a degree in 3 years will be viewed upon favorably by employers (especially in comparison to getting work experience- internship or just plain old work experience) in the summers. It just makes you look like you are all book, and have no real life, or wherewithall. Who wants to hire someone without work experience of any kind?</p>
<p>“If it is to triple major, then of course not. But if you are taking a 5th year to finish your main degree, there is nothing wrong with that.”</p>
<p>If it’s to complete my main degree, it’s not a proper analogy. </p>
<p>This guys last year would be unnecessary. My last year (maintaining my original analogy) would be unnecessary, if I finish all my 1st majors classes in 4 years.</p>
<p>Hmmm…</p>
<p>I graduated with a BA in History in 28 months from my first college course to my last. That’s a little under 2.5 years. </p>
<p>I didn’t get many job interviews (which is why I’m doing a BS in Engineering now!), but let me explain what happened in the five or so I did.</p>
<p>NONE of the hiring managers noticed that I had graduated early, even though I clearly stated the dates and it was almost at the top of my resume. I think one of them looked at the the dates and became suspicious. Two of them completely misinterpreted my background. One thought I had taken 4 years and the other thought 6 years. </p>
<p>So I am convinced that it does not matter to employers how long you take. You don’t even have to say how long it took you to graduate if you don’t want to.</p>
<p>If you have a job waiting for you when you graduate there is no reason not to graduate early. Graduating a year early could literally make you fifty thousand dollars richer.</p>
<p>no 10 char</p>
<p>It absolutely is a proper analogy. Think of it this way, if the OP spent his summers in internships he would need at least another semester, and internships are much better for someone than graduating early. Then factor in that by taking lighter semesters he could raise his GPA (since most people have a rough time taking 20+ hours in a semester). You could definitely argue that him taking that fourth year is necessary, and I do. Graduating early just isn’t worth it if you have to take summer classes instead of internships and load up your schedule every semester.</p>
<p>Actually, if I remember correctly, University of South Carolina has a plan for mechanical engineering majors to graduate in 3 years. If you’re really into this, I would check it out.</p>