Do Undergrad Early Graduates Get Into Top Programs?

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Graduating from undergraduate programs in less than four years can be common among students who take advanced courses in high school, but it does not guarantee admission to top graduate programs. Many successful applicants to prestigious schools have completed their degrees in the traditional four years, emphasizing the importance of academic performance and relevant experience over the speed of graduation. While some believe that graduating early may enhance competitiveness, it can also lead to missed opportunities for research and social experiences that are valuable in graduate applications. The consensus is that motivation and hard work are more critical factors than the duration of undergraduate studies. Ultimately, finding a school that aligns with personal and academic goals is often more beneficial than solely aiming for a "top program."
  • #31


Uhm, timeout.

How do you guys even get a B.Sc. in less than 4 years? At my university this is impossible in about all subjects (maybe except for math... maybe!) due to the interlock of pre-requisites that make such feat unachievable.
 
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  • #32


Jokerhelper said:
Uhm, timeout.

How do you guys even get a B.Sc. in less than 4 years? At my university this is impossible in about all subjects (maybe except for math... maybe!) due to the interlock of pre-requisites that make such feat unachievable.

A combination of high school credits, summer courses, and taking more than the average amount of classes per semester.
 
  • #33


Jokerhelper said:
How do you guys even get a B.Sc. in less than 4 years?

Since you wrote "B.Sc." I'll wager you're not in the US. In the US, the first year of university is more or less on the same level as the last year of high school (or whatever you call secondary school) in many other countries, and it's possible to take "Advanced Placement" (AP) courses in high school that many universities will accept in place of their first year courses.
 
  • #34


jtbell said:
Since you wrote "B.Sc." I'll wager you're not in the US. In the US, the first year of university is more or less on the same level as the last year of high school (or whatever you call secondary school) in many other countries, and it's possible to take "Advanced Placement" (AP) courses in high school that many universities will accept in place of their first year courses.

Yeah but I'm from just above the border, so I can't be that different :smile:
I am aware that AP or IB courses can get you some credits in advance, but I didn't know you could get a full year ahead even if you complete that entire program. For example, I'm quite confident at my university all science or engineering programs require Calc II to be completed by the first year, or you might not be able get into all the second year courses required for your program. Yet at my school - and I imagine also at the other G13 universities here in Canada - you can't get AP credit for Calc II, hence making it impossible to completely skip a first year of studies. I'm sure there are plenty more examples that could apply here.
 
  • #35


Jokerhelper said:
Yeah but I'm from just above the border, so I can't be that different :smile:
I am aware that AP or IB courses can get you some credits in advance, but I didn't know you could get a full year ahead even if you complete that entire program. For example, I'm quite confident at my university all science or engineering programs require Calc II to be completed by the first year, or you might not be able get into all the second year courses required for your program. Yet at my school - and I imagine also at the other G13 universities here in Canada - you can't get AP credit for Calc II, hence making it impossible to completely skip a first year of studies. I'm sure there are plenty more examples that could apply here.

You can get it, but most Canadian universities won't allow you to skip the course. Take UofT for eample
 

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