Anonymous wrote:It's not exactly sophomore status - differs by school.

My DS's AP credits gave him the same number of credits as a sophomore at his school, but in his first year, he still had to live in 1st year dorms, couldn't bring a car to school, and couldn't rush first semester because he didn't have the required credits at this school. He did get to register early for the following year since he had enough credits to get the earlier date.

He isn't going to graduate early because he will do a minor or second major and he wants to have 4 years in college. Some of his AP credits got rid of requirements, others just placed in a higher class but he still needed to take it.

He's glad he has the APs but he really wasn't an actual sophomore.

Same for my son. Got to register early for subsequent semesters which was nice.

It’s not uncommon to have a lot of AP credits, but it’s not necessarily an advantage either. APs teach students to achieve a certain level on a particular test. A test that is scored by a combination of high school and college instructors.

If you see college just as a way to accumulate credits to be on a particular career path, maybe that is attractive. But to another student who spends four years in college, they tend to build better foundations in classes they need to excel in more difficult classes later on, like the PP who said that even if you have AP credit for calc, it doesn’t necessarily benefit you to skip Calc 1 at a university. They also have more time to develop critical thinking and research skills, in addition to having unique college experiences like studying abroad for a semester, playing college sports, exploring classes for fun not just because they check a particular box. They have a more well rounded experience.

Some may do extremely well on a 3 year path to a 4 year degree. This is probably the minority of students who enter with significant college credit, but they do exist.

But as far as bragging rights, it’s just gross for parents to be talking about that.

Anonymous wrote:why rush getting out of college, you get so much more out of 4 or 5 years than 3, academically, socially, fun, etc

I would rather my kid take a biology class at a university taught by a well respected college professor than some disgruntled high school teacher with 3 years on the job and no real world experience with a world class lab.

I wouldn't call it rushing if you do 3 years of college in 3 years. Rushing would be entering college with first-semester freshman status, and then cramming the full 4 years into 3. A student who enters as a sophomore and graduates in 3 years isn't rushing; they're just graduating when they're on track to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why rush getting out of college, you get so much more out of 4 or 5 years than 3, academically, socially, fun, etc

I would rather my kid take a biology class at a university taught by a well respected college professor than some disgruntled high school teacher with 3 years on the job and no real world experience with a world class lab.

My DS graduated from UVA college of Engineering in 3 years because the school accepted over 30+ credits from his high school AP courses. He graduated in May '23 in three years, and I gave him 44K, the money I would have to pay for his last year at UVA, to travel the world before he comes back and either starts grad school or works for the NSA. Staying in school for 4 or 5 years only benefits the university, NOT you.

Btw, some of those "disgruntled" HS teachers have degrees from MIT or CalTech, something that you do not have. Be respectful....

When he applies for jobs or tries to create something on his own, he's going to be competing against people with a full 4-year education, some including a masters or a double major.

He also missed out on building connections with the top students at his school who spent the 4th year doing the most advanced work leading to stronger post-college placements.

DP, but calm down. A student who graduates in 3 years from a decent uni doesn't have much to worry about. They will do well no matter what.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why rush getting out of college, you get so much more out of 4 or 5 years than 3, academically, socially, fun, etc

I would rather my kid take a biology class at a university taught by a well respected college professor than some disgruntled high school teacher with 3 years on the job and no real world experience with a world class lab.

My DS graduated from UVA college of Engineering in 3 years because the school accepted over 30+ credits from his high school AP courses. He graduated in May '23 in three years, and I gave him 44K, the money I would have to pay for his last year at UVA, to travel the world before he comes back and either starts grad school or works for the NSA. Staying in school for 4 or 5 years only benefits the university, NOT you.

Btw, some of those "disgruntled" HS teachers have degrees from MIT or CalTech, something that you do not have. Be respectful....

When he applies for jobs or tries to create something on his own, he's going to be competing against people with a full 4-year education, some including a masters or a double major.

He also missed out on building connections with the top students at his school who spent the 4th year doing the most advanced work leading to stronger post-college placements.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why rush getting out of college, you get so much more out of 4 or 5 years than 3, academically, socially, fun, etc

I would rather my kid take a biology class at a university taught by a well respected college professor than some disgruntled high school teacher with 3 years on the job and no real world experience with a world class lab.

My DS graduated from UVA college of Engineering in 3 years because the school accepted over 30+ credits from his high school AP courses. He graduated in May '23 in three years, and I gave him 44K, the money I would have to pay for his last year at UVA, to travel the world before he comes back and either starts grad school or works for the NSA. Staying in school for 4 or 5 years only benefits the university, NOT you.

Btw, some of those "disgruntled" HS teachers have degrees from MIT or CalTech, something that you do not have. Be respectful....

NP and I remember my high school teachers and labs better than those lower level colleges courses in lecture halls. I never spoke to the professors and occasionally had contact with a grad assistant.

This is a good topic. I'm still confused on why a BA/BS is 4 years besides the fact that most schools are hurting and need the extra $. It's past time to eliminate the high school year for all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why rush getting out of college, you get so much more out of 4 or 5 years than 3, academically, socially, fun, etc

I would rather my kid take a biology class at a university taught by a well respected college professor than some disgruntled high school teacher with 3 years on the job and no real world experience with a world class lab.

Yup. This has always been my POV as well, which is I don't see the appeal in things like dual-enrollment or raking up as many college credits via AP as you can.

Same the plan is still four years.

Anonymous wrote:why rush getting out of college, you get so much more out of 4 or 5 years than 3, academically, socially, fun, etc

I would rather my kid take a biology class at a university taught by a well respected college professor than some disgruntled high school teacher with 3 years on the job and no real world experience with a world class lab.

My DS graduated from UVA college of Engineering in 3 years because the school accepted over 30+ credits from his high school AP courses. He graduated in May '23 in three years, and I gave him 44K, the money I would have to pay for his last year at UVA, to travel the world before he comes back and either starts grad school or works for the NSA. Staying in school for 4 or 5 years only benefits the university, NOT you.

Btw, some of those "disgruntled" HS teachers have degrees from MIT or CalTech, something that you do not have. Be respectful....

Anonymous wrote:why rush getting out of college, you get so much more out of 4 or 5 years than 3, academically, socially, fun, etc

I would rather my kid take a biology class at a university taught by a well respected college professor than some disgruntled high school teacher with 3 years on the job and no real world experience with a world class lab.

Yup. This has always been my POV as well, which is I don't see the appeal in things like dual-enrollment or raking up as many college credits via AP as you can.

I don't think George Washington U offers that status, but they do take into account AP credits, and DS will skip some intro courses. However, he's still considered a freshman for course registration dates, and was put on a waitlist for his preferred courses (and then got into them for the fall semester, so it was fine).

Can be common between AP's and community college? We know several kids senior year who took classes at MC.

After freshman year and a summer class, going into sophomore year, my son has enough credits for "senior" standing. He's on track to complete two degrees with basically no overlapping credits in four years, so that's good.

Anonymous wrote:It's so common at selective schools that you aren't special if you come in with credit. You're normal. Average.

Indeed, this should be obvious to anyone paying even the slightest attention to high school class choices and college admissions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why rush getting out of college, you get so much more out of 4 or 5 years than 3, academically, socially, fun, etc

I would rather my kid take a biology class at a university taught by a well respected college professor than some disgruntled high school teacher with 3 years on the job and no real world experience with a world class lab.

Me too, but that doesn't have anything to do with graduating early. If my DC already had college credit, I'd rather he replace the course with either a higher-level one in the same subject or an interesting course from a different subject vs just retaking the course in a lecture hall of several hundred.

+1 DC now has the time to double major, not be overloaded with classes, and still graduate in 4 years.