jhl

can it be done? Is it allowed?

jrpar

Very tough with the various core and distribution reqs at Colgate. On top of this: why would you want to do this? Your undergraduate experience is a special time and it shouldn't be cut short.

jhl

Because of financial issues?..

TerrarumOrbis

You would need to take 5 classes/semester and have 2 "extra" credits either through APs or summer classes...I was on track to do it when I was there.

Davie223

Isn't 4 classes per semester the norm? Does it add more to the tuition if you take more than 4?

TerrarumOrbis

4's the norm but there's no more tuition for 5. 6 is impossible

jhl

I believe you don't have to pay more to take 5 courses/semester.. you can even quadruple major if you can do it.. capability and time is the issue.. not money I believe..

Will taking so many classes mean that I will not have time to do research... and other things which can boost my chances of getting into top grad schools?

mhc48

My daughter had to drop a class last Spring and so has to take an extra class this semester. There is no additional cost.

I can't tell you about how it might affect your ability to do research, but based on her experience, I'd say that taking extra classes all the way through (assuming you were able to schedule them in the first place) will probably have little effect except on the sorts of activities considered irrelevant, dispensable or trivial for most college students: sleep, balanced meals, phone calls to parents and drinking (water, milk and juice. Anything else will certainly be out of the question).

Colgate classes require lots of reading and lots of written papers. Given Colgate's relatively generous financial aid, are you sure there is no other way?

jhl

Actually I am an international here..If I were to get in on aid (only around 9% admission rate for me).. My intention is actually to reduce the amount of loan I'll have to bear when I graduate as I want to go to grad school instead of working immediately.. But if graduating in three years will somehow affect my chances of getting into a more than decent grad school, I'll rather take my time finish up in 4 years..

jrpar

I do think that taking 5 classes instead of 4 throughout would be reflected in your grades and your quality of life and would make it extremely difficult to have time to be involved in research. While I understand the financial issue, the point I was trying to make was that one of the reasons to come to Colgate is the total undergraduate experience. If you are trying to get through college in a shorter time period, I wouldn't recommend Colgate (or most other selective liberal arts colleges).

Davie223

Thanks to everyone who shared their insight on this issue. I agree that overall college experience should be as much important as classroom experience.

gellino

I was thinking of doing this at one point and took five classes in three semesters, but ultimately decided against it. Requirements like GenEd make it especially difficult to acheive and it definitely is, at least, somewhat socially inhibiting as well.