<p>Hey guys! I'm going to be applying to Canadian colleges this year so i was doing some research about the unis there. I've been to Vancouver and i found the city great, so UBC was the first one on my list. I want to graduate in 3 years. I was looking at the courses offered at UBC for each program and i saw that some of them says that the student should be in year 4 to take this course and it is necessary to take those courses to graduate. I saw that York University for example, doesn't have anything like this.</p>
<p>So, I'm confused. What happens if I get enough credits to graduate in 3 years? Won't they allow a student to take that course on their third year?</p>
<p>This will vary school to school, so you should ask the schools on your list to get an accurate answer. Are you planning on taking summer classes so that you can complete a four year degree in three years?</p>
<p>Yes I am. I really would like to attend UBC too as I have friends there who say they are very happy about being there. I don’t really understand the logic behind making a course only available to seniors though.</p>
<p>Well, if you take the normal progression of coursework, you should reach a point in your third year where you are considered a fourth year student. It is not at all unusual that typical fourth year level courses will have prerequisites. Most schools will allow you to take those courses as long as you’ve taken the prereqs, regardless of what year you are in. My Ds certainly did this in undergrad. Is there a particular reason you’re anxious to complete your degree in three years? I have to tell you that this is very unusual in Canada. Some courses may not be available to be taken in the summer, which may present you with a problem.</p>
<p>“This course is restricted to students in one of these programs: BA in year: =4”
This is what is written on the website regarding a course in econ. This is written as a note aside from the prereqs.
I want to attend law school this is majorly why I want to be done with my undergrad in 3 years. I know my GPA is important and I’m only thinking of trying to finish it in 3 years, I’m definitely not going to force myself if it means my GPA will go down. But if all seems well, I would like to have the opportunity to graduate in 3 years, this is why I’m cautious about this, I don’t want the school to stop me.</p>
<p>By “year” they probably mean standing, as alwaysamom stated. It shouldn’t be a problem.</p>
<p>That said…Don’t overwork yourself. I did summer classes during my first two summers of university, and by the end of my third year, I was completely burnt out. I went back for a fourth year (though I had more than enough credits to graduate) after taking the summer off, and I really struggled. I’m just worried that if you do the same thing I did, you’ll be completely burnt out during law school, and won’t do as well as you could have otherwise – leading to you getting worse internships or employment afterward.</p>
<p>It’s just something to keep in mind. Good luck with everything. :)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t advise completing your degree in three years simply because you want to go to law school. The burnout factor is one issue as Tito points out, but in addition, there’s no rush to get to law school. The average age of 1L students at most Canadian law schools is in the 26-27 range, and approximately 20% of them will have graduate degrees. There’s no advantage to being 21 and entering law school. In fact, it may work against you when it comes to summer employment.</p>
<p>It won’t be a problem. No one cares how many years you’ve been there, just that you have the pre-reqs. The rule is designed to ensure students who are finishing can finish on time. </p>
<p>Having said that, please don’t rush it. You have nothing to gain from doing so, and a lot to lose. The exception I would make is if you have already enough AP credits for a year, and finances are the reason to save a year of tuition (e.g. if you only need 3 years of credits, no point in wasting needed money on a 4th year just because). Otherwise, enjoy the ride. Take time to learn. Join clubs, build a network, explore, learn, grow, and make a difference. It is not a race and it is not just about collecting course credits. You only get to do undergrad once and its a unique and wonderful experience. That extra year you will learn so much more, and mature and be that much more ready for your next adventure.</p>