<p>is it possible to graduate from Cal in just 2 years?
with summer school of course.</p>
<p>don't laugh. lol</p>
<p>I actually know someone who did. & it wasn't because she was the smartest. I think for many years during middle and high school, she took summer courses at local community colleges for many years, which put her ahead. She didn't even take many AP tests, just lots of community credit that worked out for her majors. She started her first year I think with junior standing and graduated this spring.</p>
<p>As for graduating Cal in 2 years as a "typical" student, I think if your major is one with relatively less requirements, it is possible. It also helps to have a little credit to take care of breadth and other requirements, but if you want to finish in 2 years, you probably have to load up on your schedule every semester.</p>
<p>It's doable and it's a huge waste of an opportunity. Employers and professional schools want a lot more than just a laundry list of completed courses. You will also need more than two years to "find yourself" and develop the worthwhile aspects. Anyways, my smelly socks are still on.</p>
<p>lol @ you for lol'ing @ yourself.</p>
<p>Agreed with Triceps. I had two housemates who both finished Cal in 3 years as polisci majors and were applying for law schools last year. Both of them had STELLAR GPAs, test scores, and extracurriculars. </p>
<p>Neither of them got into a top-10 law school like they were hoping for. Later on when they went to a symposium at San Jose State for law students, hosted by an admissions board member of the Duke law school, they both went up to her and asked what was up with their admissions.</p>
<p>As soon as they got to "we both graduated in 3 years," she stopped them and told them, "that's exactly why." They're not looking for people who simply took the classes. They're looking for networking experience, social experience, and maturity. Those all take time; it's not just something you can learn by blasting through classes.</p>
<p>In addition, it's a mathematical impossibility. 22 max units per semester x 4 semesters = 88 units. Even if you took summer school, in which case you're only allowed to take 10 max units per session, that'll only get like 20 units out of the way, depending on how well you plan out your classes (summer session classes selection is MUCH MUCH smaller than during the regular school year). So now we're at 108 units. You need 120 to graduate. So unless you have a bunch of AP credit coming in, it's not happening.</p>
<p>Unless money is a HUGE issue, in which case you should have scholarship or finaid to help you out anyways, there's no reason to hurry through college. (Not great to stick around forever either, though, unless you're Van Wilder).</p>
<p>That was extremely helpful tastyb33f, thanks!</p>
<p>why do people want to graduate so early? if its a money issue, then fine. but what kind of experience/ecs can you show to employers or grad schools?</p>
<p>It is possible for kids who are entering with 50+ units.
However, they will miss out the college experience.
Most kids coming from my D's school have enough credits to graduate in three years. But they are interested in venturing a bit and finding out what they like..... they may need four years for that.</p>
<p>I had a friend who actually did this with relatively little difficultly - he just took a load of APs and an IB diploma and applied them towards credit to give him junior standing. As his major didn't have many requirements, he finished it in two years and went on to grad school.</p>
<p>Though, I have one thing to say: even if you could do it in 2 years, I would never recommend it. College is not just an educational process, but also a social opportunity. You should take up all four years to take advantage of the social opportunities as well as explore yourself.</p>
<p>If you find yourself eligible to graduate significantly before the four years is up, take up another major!</p>