My daughter wants to graduate a semester early, and I don't think it's a good idea

[cobrat]

@Cobrat, I did an honors thesis at the school in question. A B+ average in the major was required–and this was not so easy to get at a time when the average grade given in any class was a C–and one had to receive an invitation. This, plus the selecting of a topic and an advisor, all happened at the end of junior year.

@Consolation

We largely agree on the main point. Unless OP’s D had all of that squared away a semester or two previously at least, the honors thesis ship has long since sailed.

Most classmates interested in doing honors at my LAC started inquiries during the first semester junior year at the latest and if there was some encouraging signs of support from adviser/department, it largely followed how you described your own experience.

I misspoke earlier: I meant to say that some people took 2 regular courses plus the honors thesis senior year, not 3, which would have been a normal workload. They racked up extra courses during the second or third year in order to do this.

Sounds largely like how most students doing honors thesis at my LAC structured their senior year.