<p>Thanks DC 
you always put things into perspective.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about language but for math science related things.</p>
<p>Basically, if your placement exam goes all wrong and you have AP credit, it isn’t difficult to get placed into a higher class if that is your desire. In other words, you get to choose what will give you more (or anything less than that…).</p>
<p>For physics, AP credit is ONLY for the “12000” sequence (e.g. this won’t count for Physics OR Chemistry majors though it works for anything else).</p>
<p>For math, AP credit can get you out of 15100/15200 (1st/2nd quarter of calculus) but the placement exam can place you as high as 20700 (Honors Analysis).</p>
<p>For chemistry, AP credit can get you out of General Chemistry. Many forgo AP credit and take Honors General Chemistry (and find it difficult…).</p>
<p>I think the bottom line on AP/IB credit at Chicago is this:</p>
<p>– It doesn’t do any good at all for getting out of the core of the Core (Hum, Sosc, Civ).</p>
<p>– It works fine for getting you out of other general education requirements (math, biological sciences, physical sciences, foreign language), with the really important caveat that if you plan to go farther in any of those fields (besides languages) it is likely that all you will get from it is placement into a higher-level class, but you will probably be taking a comprehensive course that substitutes for the AP course, so you will lose those credits.</p>
<p>– Other than that, it can give you up to six elective credits, which can help you graduate early or to qualify for a joint BA/MA program.</p>
<p>Just how feasible is early graduation?</p>
<p>LeCavalier, it definitely depends on your major. I came in with 6 quarters of elective credit. My major (English) has relatively few requirements, and elective credit plays a heavy role. Every student needs 42 credits to graduate. Since I came in with 6, I had to complete 36. Taking 4 classes for 3/4 quarters and 0 classes over the summer quarter, I am technically able to graduate this spring (a full year early). Now, different majors have different requirements (obviously) and it might be more advantageous to take a class one year as opposed to another. It’s difficult to say for sure that if you enter with x amount of classes you’ll be able to graduate early, but if you talk with your counselor early on it most likely will be an option for you (supposing you came in with a lot of credit).</p>
<p>OK. But it’s fair to say not completely impossible if you’ve got a fair number of decent grades in decent A-levels in the bag? Thanks, that’s made me you’ve no idea how much more likely to pick UC over Oxford.</p>
<p>It’s probably a bad idea to graduate early, especially if you want to go to grad school.</p>
<p>Oh, really? Well, yes, I sort of do. I mean, even provided that I worked bloody hard and covered all the material for a major? Hopefully the fact that A-levels are deeper, if less broad, than APs, means I should be able to get by (obviously, British universites graduate in four years as standard)? Or say I did a four year program leading to a masters?</p>
<p>Well the only real reason is, I guess, you have less time to get to know professors, to do research, and to prepare for GREs. If you feel you’ll no problem with all that, then grad. schools certainly won’t dock you points for graduating early. I assume doing some research after graduating early is probably a good plan depending on your major.</p>
<p>No, no, I know. It is sort of the wrong attitude to have. I mean, just I’m getting a lot of stick from my family for having to pay for four years rather than three, and from my friends who’ll have their bachelors or even masters within three years. I just want to know that’s something I can at least aim for.</p>
<p>Lots of people could theoretically graduate from Chicago early; relatively few do. It would require a lot of focus right from the start to get all of the requirements for the Core and a major in, and severely limit any electives you took. I think most people don’t do it because going to the University of Chicago is a great opportunity to learn things, and people don’t necessarily want to cut it short if they don’t absolutely have to. Also, it’s a lot harder to assemble an impressive graduate or professional school application, or to get a great job, if you have only the two-and-a-bit years between the time you start and the time you start applying. You won’t have done the research, internships, jobs, papers, high level courses, etc. But focused people CAN make it work. At least outside of the hard sciences – they may just have too many requirements.</p>
<p>(If you work through the summers, that doesn’t count because that’s equivalent to taking, and paying for, another year. Pretty much anyone can do that.)</p>
<p>Counting AP credit, S1 will have about 50 out of 42 credits required to graduate. He still says there is so many more courses he would like to take. I did quietly mention the fact it costs about $18,000 a quarter for him to “enjoy” himself, and 50 is enough.</p>
<p>By that analysis both of my kids had/will have well over 50 credits at graduation.</p>
<p>Yep, my guess is that many kids could graduate earlier, but don’t really want to.</p>
<p>I have two friends that are graduating early this year and financial reasons played a pretty big role in those decisions. So, to echo the others, very possible to get what you need to get done in the time you have here.</p>
<p>OK, well adjusting for the concern that three years is so short as to significantly decrease your chances of getting in to a decent graduate school, what would be the issue if you were to have a pop as a third-year applicant, then either take what you get or re-apply after a year’s worth of fun, productive messing around with electives or whatever you call them.</p>