Graduating Early

Jarhead713

Jarhead713

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Kinda an off topic question I guess

So, I did the math. If I pass my 5 AP exams and 2 CLEP exams, I'd have 34 credit hours (I have credit hours from Dual enrollment and previous AP classes)... enough to skip a grade and enter as a sophomore. How would this effect commissioning?

Good idea or Bad idea?

All opinions are welcome.
 
Enter where as a Sophmore ? Certainly not any of the academies.
I hate to break it to you but lots of other good schools are not going to give you all of the credits that you are claiming.
For instance, many have a "transfer limit" and only accept X number of courses. You are also assuming that all of the courses that you're claiming actually fit into the major that you wish to complete.
I am a professor at a pretty good technical university. We're a state institution and the state law says that our universities are supposed to accept
all satisfactorily completed courses from our local community colleges. Despite this, I've had MANY students who came in with their Associate's Degree get limited to only about a year of credits and end up repeating a number of courses. I don't like it but that's how it works.
It happened to me personally with Graduate school. Like many military people I took a number of courses as I moved around and when I got to my final school, attempted to bring in my courses and ended up getting only partial credit for them.
 
It's fine to get all the credits you want/can get in high school. If attending one of the SAs, it won't make a difference on the timing. You might be able to validate some courses, but you will still spend 4 years at the academy of choice. My DD had about 70 credits by the time she was appointed to the Coast Guard Academy (CGA). None of that mattered, as none of the courses transfer. CGA performs validations, where the cadet takes an exam, and if the score is acceptable, then credit is given for having completed the course - which allows you to take the next course in the degree plan. She was able to validate many of the core courses, but she will still be at the academy 4 years. Sadly, no validation was provided for English, so she was stuck repeating English. Bottom line: don't count on being able to "enter as a sophomore" when it comes to any SA - it won't happen. For CGA, course validations will free up more time in your 2/c and 1/c years for additional electives.
 
If you end up in a ROTC program you will still almost certainly do four years. I've seen folks do it in 3.5 by doubling up and that same person could have done it in 3 but that is an extremely rare case. Use any credits that are accepted to lighten your course load, pursue an interesting minor, or even a double major.
 
The Service Academies are a 4 year program....period (well, maybe 4.5 in few rare cases). You can validate classes, but i don't think credits transfer, and regardless , you will spend 4 years. Validating courses does open the doors to post-grad and other externship opportunities your First Class year though.
 
Take the credits that do apply and either lighten your academic load (as compared to someone without the credits) or choose to double major. Congrats on the achievement, but understand the limitations and how this would or would not impact your time at a SA.
 
Ah yes, sorry I forgot to mention this on my Original Post.

I was talking about ROTC at a University, not at a SA. I know SA's don't usually take transfer credits.

It sounds like all I'd be able to do is take a lighter course load... hey howdy hey, that's still pretty appealing
 
Jarhead713 said:
Kinda an off topic question I guess

So, I did the math. If I pass my 5 AP exams and 2 CLEP exams, I'd have 34 credit hours (I have credit hours from Dual enrollment and previous AP classes)... enough to skip a grade and enter as a sophomore. How would this effect commissioning?

Good idea or Bad idea?

All opinions are welcome.
Click to expand...
Take a lighter load. Take some classes for pure interest and GPA boosting. Do a semester abroad. Graduate on time. The biggest advantage with all these credits that at most schools you will be able to register earlier for classes.
 
To follow up @AROTC Parent, if you have a stem major AND have a 4 yr xROTC scholarship, don’t push it. Make you life easier and leave open your options. You won’t have this freedom after you commission. You will look back on these years as golden years.

Best of luck
 
My non-SA son just graduated from a D3 school with a STEM major. He had close to a year's worth of credits entering as a freshman, but used this flexibility to secure a non-STEM minor, engage in sports, and continue his study of music.

JMPO (+1 to @AROTC Parent & @cb7893), create a four-year graduation plan that allows you to explore some of your non-major interests. Explore. Take additional courses that interest you. Find new interests.
 
FMHS-79 said:
My non-SA son just graduated from a D3 school with a STEM major. He had close to a year's worth of credits entering as a freshman, but used this flexibility to secure a non-STEM minor, engage in sports, and continue his study of music.

JMPO (+1 to @AROTC Parent & @cb7893), create a four-year graduation plan that allows you to explore some of your non-major interests. Explore. Take additional courses that interest you. Find new interests.
Click to expand...

My DS did the same thing. He majored in Chemistry. He filled the open spots with foreign language and computer science, both of which are meaningful to his MOS.

He received CLIP-B payments during his college years and bonuses still today for foreign language proficiency.
 
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