<p>My oldest daughter is very likely to enter her school of choice next year with a full year or more of AP credits. This leaves her with the following options: take full 15 credit semeseters, graduate in 3 years, and go to grad school or out into the work force year 4, or take a little less burdensome semesters (say, 12 credit hours) and graduate on schedule. To complete any necessary background info, she will be a journalism student, and eligible for certain internships and classes/work opportunities after her sophmore year. She will also have to declare an area of concentration within the journalism program (i.e., print, broadcast, magazine, etc.) at that time.</p>
<p>Obviously, it is her decision, but she will very likely look to us for advice (which, as an 18 year old, she may then decide to disregard). Obviously, the three year graduation route would be a boon to Mom and Dad's bank account, whether she choose to get a Masters in Journalism or not, but that said, I'm inclined to suggest the other option. I regard the maturation, social and independance lessons one learns in college to be as, if not more, important than the specific education derived, and being there four years (and having a little easier class load) aids in that regard. I also think that having the additional time gives her more time to make certain choices (area of concentration, maybe even, I suppose, if she wants to get out of journalism altogether, though I'd be shocked). She'll take at least some classes concurrently with other freshmen, and be able to make friends among her age group while, at the same time, being able to pick and choose some courses after consulting with her peer group (she's in Honors, and a designated scholar in the j school--they live together and take some classes concurrently). The more I type, the clearer it seems to me.</p>
<p>And yet, I'm not her, and I have no experience with how such a decision would impact her in her intended field. Has anyone else had any experience who could provide some help in this regard?</p>
<p>I can tell you the advice I got from a teacher of mine who is also a recent grad. She told me to plan to attend 4 years. Here are her reasons (1) She suggested that I repeat some key classes, as her experience was that she learned a whole lot more and in a different way than she did in high school AP. Of course, it is my decision which classes fit this category, but for me I might retake Econ even after taking AP Econ. (2) Retaking a few classes makes the first year easier especially with the transition to a new school and new friends etc. (3) Going four years allows me to double major and explore more areas. (4) An easier start hopefully helps me to obtain a better GPA which will come into play when I apply to grad school. </p>
<p>No really relevant experience here, but I think journalism provides another set of considerations: If she has more non-class-related time, she has more time to write/produce (or whatever) -- assemble a portfolio -- and more time to play the politics of the campus paper, make contacts, etc. I assume it would be a good thing to have a leadership position on the campus newspaper, for example, and starting as, effectively, a sophmore would give her only about 16 months to stake her claim, from a standing start, when most of the other candidates would have known each other and the previous group for 28 months. Not an insuperable problem, but not easy, either. Same thing with acquiring mentors.</p>
<p>There's another option, too. Start as if she were going to graduate in three years, and see how it goes. She can always slow down.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your daughter's acceptance to her first choice. My advice would be to first how much your daughter can handle in a semester. It may be better to start with 12 credits rather than 15 so she can get settled in and not be too stressed first semester. One thing I am considering (I am going to college next year as well) would be to graduate in 3.5 years and either join the work force a semester before my classmates or earn a masters in 4.5 years. Graduating a semester early saves a lot of money (though not as much as graduating a year early) and gives a student enough time to choose the best major and have fun.</p>
<p>I certainly can't address your daughter's situation specifically, but I will pass on some wisdom my Mom gave me 30 years ago, that I passed on to my D. Whatever else you do, that first semester as a frosh, take it easy academically, because there are so many changes in your life. Either take fewer hours that semester or repeat the weakest subjects that you are carrying credit for - it was CLEP credit 30 years ago.
Because of the way classes and schedules are done at my D's school, she went on into a more advanced calculus class based on AP credit, and she really wishes that she had passed it up.</p>
<p>I'd recommend she take it slow. I agree with your assessment of maturation and growth. From my experience (having been in a fraternity) and getting to see people go through that change (which I don't think many people get that longitudinal view very often) I can attest that a year is a big time period in college where the advancement and potential for leadership attainment is accelerated (ie if you go into the working world, it might be three, four, or even more years before getting more responsibility - the turnover in college is obviously much more rapid, so a year makes a big difference in what people expect of you).</p>
<p>Also, going for an extra year opens up a lot of opportunities to do things like study abroad. I graduated in 4 but if I had done 5 it could have allowed me to things like that. Also college is pretty much the only time when one has an emphasis on learning in which they are free to explore a multitude of subjects. An extra year would allow her to take classes in things she's not necessarily comfortable with, or that she's had no exposure to in the past - maybe a philosophy class or a communications class, or even something fun like wine-tasting or scuba diving. Most schools have a ton of unique classes that one would never otherwise get the chance to explore.</p>
<p>I agree with above...take it slow, but don't take the bare minimum. This allows for a study abroad/work-study opporunity. She could also either double major or collect minors in different fields she has interests in, such as politics, creative writing, history, marketing/advertsing, economics, business ect. She could even do some type of science minor. Those minors on top of a journalism degree are quite nice, as you can advertise yourself as not only a journalist, but someone with knowledge about different backgrounds. My sister graudated with a Broadcast Journalism degree with a minor in global studies (its politics/concepts/ideals/cultures/ect and how they affect different countries and the world as a whole) and is now still doing journalism, but is working in the news feed room for AOL. Her minor was appealing to the company because she can document on different world events and such.
So, take advantage of the APs by filling the gaps with study abroad, co-ops, and an easy freshman year =) </p>
<p>FYI - if by any chance she would want to transfer, 12 credits would not do it as most schools don't count AP/IB/duel-enrollement credits. I know she may not want that chance now, but neither did I heading in to college, and I took 14 credits because I tested out of the first-year math and english, and even with engineering, there was no possible way to take more than 11 without piling on electives, and I could only fit in one, but even 14 isnt looking to good for me. Just keep this in mind =)</p>
<p>Are you sure that all her AP credits count toward her graduation requirements at her college? For example, my S took AP Biology and passed the exam but it was of no good to him at his college because it was not a class his major required. So that was about 6 possible credit hours down the drain. Make sure all her AP credits are applicable to her graduation requirement before making a decisions on scheduling.
She is obviously a smart girl so taking more than 12 hours would probably not be too tough for her. If she wants to start in that direction, she can always cut back later as more outside opportunities arise or if she just decides to go 4 years instead of 3. </p>
<p>Every kid is different but my S, who took 20 AP credit hours to college with him, took 12 hours his first semester followed by 18, 17, and 19 hours the next 3 semesters. Got lowest grades in easier courses in the first semester.
He had been super busy in high sch. with school, sports, clubs plus a part-time job and I believe he felt as if he were on vacation of sorts at college taking only 12 hours. With all that free time, he felt he could procrastinate only to find that he had underestimated what he thought was going to be an easy schedule. Not saying your D would do that of course, just what happened here.</p>
<p>what everybody said. In our case S( started with a sophomore standing) wants to double major rather than pursue the graduation in 3 years, and we support him in this decision</p>
<p>If you can afford it, 4 years is better. She can branch out and take some classes she would not be able to take otherwise - art, philosophy, atc. It will make her a better journalist as well...</p>
<p>What a wonderful opportunity she has to enrich herself as a person and as a curious, seeking student of the world! Degrees require a representation of courses across a spectrum of knowledge and a specialized field, at a minimum level, but the more she can learn and achieve, the better! I agree that she should take the full four years and get the best education she can. Good luck to the whole family. You must be very proud. Lorelei</p>
<p>If she's sure of what she wants to major in, I don't think it hurts to start down that road. Most of the kids I knew with sophomore standing stayed for a fourth year and got an MA as well as a BA. I could have gotten sophomore standing, but decided I didn't know what I wanted to major in. I ended up choosing a major where you had to apply to be accepted, inspired by a freshman seminar I took in the spring. Personally, I didn't think taking it slow was important. I did much better in the supposedly more advanced courses than I did in the lower level ones.</p>
<p>I was about to make the same point as PackMom - don't assume that all of the AP credits will get her out of enough classes to obviate a year even if they do count as credit. It'll depend on the school and the major. You might be able to determine it from their website (if you haven't already).</p>
<p>If she really ends up with free time why not take advantage of it to double major, minor, or explore interesting classes that may not be required for her major? You're only young once.</p>
<p>Many years ago, during the Vietnam era, I graduated college in 2 1/2 years. Given the distractions, I was glad to leave. I was accepted to grad schools and deferred for a year. NEVER ever regretted that decision.
Everything depends on the person & situation.</p>
<p>If she is at university she can take advantage of her AP credits, complete her BS degree requirements and also begin taking graduate level classwork toward a graduate degree, allowing her to graduate with her friends and class. </p>
<p>That is what our son is now doing. At the end of 4 years he will graduate with a double major/minor and have completed about 1/3rd of the course work for a MS degree.</p>
<p>Very much like Bookworm I got through in 3 years during the Vietnam War era. Went right on to grad school, never regretted it.</p>
<p>BUT .... I sure wouldn't recommend a shortened BA/BS experience to everyone!</p>
<p>Here are some reasons why:
1) You have absolutely no room for slack in your schedule. You have to plan on being very healthy, no relationship troubles, no distractions, no classes that were harder than you thought they'd be, no changes in major / minor, .....
2) You are going to miss some stuff that you would get in the 4-year pgm. Most AP's are not completely equivalent to college courses, even if the college gives you credit. You are going to have to make that stuff up some way.<br>
3) By and large the world is set up to expect college graduates to be legal adults. I was 20 when I graduated - there were some hassles.</p>
<p>My son also has a full year of AP credits. He's not even thinking about graduating in 3 years. [Given the way he's switching potential majors, I will be happy if he gets out in 4!!!]</p>
<p>I entered college years ago as a journalism major with enough credits (CLEP, not AP) to be a second-semester sophomore. I always took a full load (15-18 credit hours) but because of my headstart, I was able to mix in lots of fun and interesting courses along with the required ones and still was able to graduate in 3 1/2 years. This was particularly useful for a journalist because newspapers tend to have a lot more openings in December than they do in May/June. I was able to start at a major-city newspaper, instead of working my way up at a smaller newspaper. So, I missed out on attending my college graduation -- I was working a double-shift that day -- but I definitely think it was worth it!!</p>