<p>Hi, I'm considering Vassar as one of my top two choices, and I was just wondering if it is possible to "accelerate" and graduate in 3 years? This option is offered by many colleges (and specifically banned by others), but I could not find any mention of it on the Vassar website. Does anyone currently at Vassar know if this is possible? (Also, please don't debate the pros and cons of this. I just want to know if this is an option.) Thanks for any replies!</p>
<p>It’s totally possible. I didn’t take that route (I’m a senior there now), but my roommate from freshman year did. She was premed/biochem major and graduated a semester early and could have done it a year early if she had ditched her Italian minor. She also studied abroad, was accepted to her top choice med school and she still gets to walk at commencement with the rest of her class in May. </p>
<p>Basically, you can overload your schedule to do this. The max is 5 units per semester, but people go over this all the time, including my former roommate. You just have to fill out a form stating why you are doing this and if you are capable. Almost everyone gets approved. The most I’ve done is 6 units–and I’m not gonna lie, it’s pretty tough, but I also know people who have done 7 units. I don’t know if they slept. That said, this degree of work really isn’t necessary.</p>
<p>So you are required to have 34 units to graduate. Assuming you came in with the max amount of AP/IB transfer credits (4 units), you could do 5 units a semester for 3 years and graduate early so long as you fulfill your major requirements. Give and take some for summer study or study abroad. </p>
<p>Just curious, why are you considering cutting the experience short? You don’t have to answer if you prefer not to.</p>
<p>I would just add that most of the people who go over the 5 unit limit are doing it without adding additional “classes.” It’s typically fieldwork, music lessons, choir, etc. of course, people do overload on actual courses, but the vast vast vast majority don’t.</p>
<p>I’d also add that the majority of vassar students graduate with far more than the minimum number of required courses (especially when you consider APs). There are probably plenty of people who technically could graduate early who would never even think twice about doing it. It’s not a significant part of the school’s culture to do so. Many of my friends never even submitted their AP classes for credit because it wouldn’t have made a difference in what or how many classes they were taking.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for responding, both of you! To Chii C, I’m definitely planning on doing this, and I have multiple reasons. One, my parents can’t afford to pay their EFC without taking out loans (on top of the house mortgage, etc.), and I want to give them the least financial burden as possible. Two, I’m planning on going to grad school, and I would like to spend as little time in “higher education” as possible. It’s not that I don’t love learning - I just want to get a stable job and enter the workforce before I’m 30. Maybe my priorities or values will change in the future, but for now, this is what I plan to do.</p>