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Considering the 3-year option?

Apr. 10, 2015 by Holly Everett

Are you ahead on your credits and considering graduating early? Want to save 20-25% of the cost of attending Wesleyan? As pre-reg finishes up, this is a great time to think about whether accelerating is right for you.

To graduate you must complete 32 Wesleyan credits, live on campus for 6 semesters, and complete one or more majors. There are several ways that you can get credits beyond the recommended 4 credits per semester:

Up to 2 credits may be used from before your time at Wesleyan, in the form of AP and IB scores or college courses taken during high school
In-semester course overload – there is no credit limit per semester, so it may be possible to take 5 or more credits at a time. Consider adding 0.5 or 0.25 credit courses to supplement your course load
Summer and Winter Session – you can earn up to 2 credits during Wesleyan Summer Session or 1 credit during Winter Session

In addition, there are several ways you could think about your accelerated program:

Complete your degree in 6 straight semesters and graduate ahead of your original class
For students in the natural sciences, join a lab and forgo doing a senior thesis and instead complete your master’s thesis during your fourth year. That is, graduate with a BA/MA in 4 years instead of 5!
Complete your first 4 semesters, take a gap year during your “junior year” and return to campus for your senior year with your original class

This last option is one that isn’t outlined on the 3 year website or widely known on campus. This is how I’m completing my degree and I’d highly recommend it for those considering the 3-year option. During my junior gap year, I worked in three different labs, getting full time research experience (& a published paper!) both in the US and abroad. If you regret not taking time between high school and college, this could be the perfect time. There are 15 months between the end of sophomore year and the beginning of senior year to travel, volunteer, work, or gain experience in a field you’re interested in. Many organizations offer internships during the semester that you wouldn’t be able to participate in during the semester due to location and the time commitment. These experiences can help you identify a topic for a senior thesis or gain practical skills not accessible on campus. Or, if you want the study abroad experience without the cost of a study abroad program, find an organization you’d like to work with and make your own study abroad experience. You’ll probably have to cover your own costs, but it will be considerably cheaper than Wesleyan or study abroad tuition. Feel free to reach out to me (heverett @ wes) for more information about this model!

If accelerating sounds appealing to you, reach out to your advisor and class Dean to discuss your plan. Accelerating makes the most sense when you have a clear goal, either for your post-Wesleyan plans or an unconventional undergraduate program. Graduating early is not for everyone or every course of study – don’t rush through your time at Wesleyan just because you can.