Possible to Graduate in Three Years?

[collegebound202]

<p>So I was looking at the AP credits that Smith took. Currently, I qualify for 5 of them which is equal to 20 credits. I am also taking 3 more this year, and hoping to get at least a four on each of them. I was wondering if it is possible to graduate a year early because if I get a four or higher on all my test this year I will have 32 credits which is equivalent to an academic year at Smith. Thank you!</p>

[CarolynB]

<p>AP credits at Smith are only good for advanced placement in a subject, not as a substitute for college courses to satisfy graduation requirements.</p>

[CrewDad]

<p>^^
Oops. ;)</p>

<p>AP Credit/College Credit Completed Before Matriculation.</p>

<p>

Credit may be awarded for Advanced Placement examinations, some foreign diploma programs, and/or college level courses completed while in high school. </p>

<p>A maximum of one year (32 credits) of any combination of Advanced Placement, foreign high school and/or college credit earned before matriculation may be counted toward the degree.

</p>

<p>[Smith</a> College: Registrar](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/registrar/transfer_credit.php]Smith”>http://www.smith.edu/registrar/transfer_credit.php)</p>

[CarolynB]

<p>CrewDad, thanks for the verification of Smith’s policies. I was going on what my daughter’s experience was this semester, when she was told she couldn’t use her AP Credits for one course for her graduation requirements; she wanted to take only three courses while she was focusing on finishing up her Senior Thesis, and still graduate on time. She wound up making up the credits by taking a couple of Jan Term courses which she enjoyed a lot, so everything turned out all right. </p>

<p>I guess it’s important to know what the school policies are and advocate for them because not everyone knows what they are! :-)</p>

[McPucks1357]

<p>Smith will only accept pre-matriculation credit (for more than placing out of courses) if you are using it to make up a deficit or to advance class standing.</p>

[photodad]

<p>While you may be able to graduate from Smith in 3 years with those AP credits, why would you want to spend only 3 years in college? Particularly if you’re attending Smith?</p>

[CrewDad]

<p>

Smith will only accept pre-matriculation credit (for more than placing out of courses) if you are using it to make up a deficit or to advance class standing.

</p>

<p>I know a woman who graduated in 3 years using AP credits. AP credits alone didn’t allow her to graduate in 6 semesters, she also took extra courses.</p>

<p>Smith’s website clearly states that AP credits can be used to accelerate graduation.</p>

<p>

How can I use pre-matriculation credit?</p>

<p>This credit can only be applied to your record in three situations: should you fail a course, drop one for medical reasons, or if you choose to accelerate—that is, to graduate in fewer than eight semesters. You may not use any form of pre-matriculation credit to reduce your course load.

[Smith</a> College: Class Deans](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/classdeans/faq.php]Smith”>http://www.smith.edu/classdeans/faq.php)</p>

<p>Also

If you wish to apply your AP credit toward your Smith degree, do not take the equivalent Smith course for the exam in which you were awarded credit.

<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/registrar/documents/Equiv2011-2012.pdf[/url]”>http://www.smith.edu/registrar/documents/Equiv2011-2012.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Carolyn, the issue with your daughter not being allowed to use her AP credits might be solved.

You may not use any form of pre-matriculation credit to reduce your course load

In other words, was she going be taking fewer than 12 credits? That’s a no-no.</p>

<p>Photodad, the woman I know who elected to accelerate graduation did so for financial reasons. She’s from a single parent home, and the financial burden on her mother was significant. Add to that, she was only able to afford to fly home for Christmas break.</p>

<p>If my daughter were to graduate from Vassar in 3 years, the $57,000 that I would save could help finance grad school… or better yet, I get a new BIM-mah. :)</p>

[CarolynB]

<p>CrewDad, I guess that’s it: she wanted to take only three courses for her final semester so she could devote extra time to polishing her senior thesis, which was included as one of the three. A fourth class would have been overload.</p>

<p>By the way, her senior thesis is due TODAY! Last time I heard, it was 95 pages. :)</p>

[collegebound202]

<p>Crewdad, thanks for the information! I really appreciate it, and I was wondering if I coudl graduate in three years because Smith offered me little to no financial aid, and I plan on going to graduate school too.</p>

[rocket6louise]

<p>My roommate is planning to do 3 and a half and I know a few people finishing in 3. It’s hard and honestly, if you want to go to grad school/have the breathing room to look for a job/do a thesis, I wouldn’t advise accelerating a whole year. </p>

<p>A semester? Way more doable. </p>

<p>Also: most graduate school should be funded, if that helps with your decision</p>