Susan Mani wanted to minor in theatre arts, but she didn't have time. She wanted to join more organizations, but couldn't do that either. Mani loaded up on credits in order to earn a four-year degree in three years.

"I realized that I wanted to do it while I was a junior in high school," said Mani (senior-premedicine). During freshman advising, she told her plans to Robert Mitchell, associate professor of biology and premedicine adviser.

"If someone is that determined, I encourage it," Mitchell said.

Each year two or three students who have 10 or more advanced placement credits ask about graduating in less than four years, he said. And according to University records, 0.3 percent of University students graduate a year early.

James Rambeau, associate dean for undergraduate education and director of the University Scholars Program, said the University is not considering beginning a three-year program, although students can graduate early.

But some colleges may implement a three-year program. Stanford University's commission on undergraduate education is researching the possibility and may include their findings in a report next October, said Paddy McGowan, director of institutional research at Stanford, adding that 1.7 percent of the students who were freshmen in 1989 graduated within three years.

The University of New Haven will begin a three-year program next fall. Carl Proctor, admission representative at New Haven, said the program only includes some business majors, but other students have also done it.

Mitchell said a program like that may help students save time and money. Even an office specialized for counseling in this area would help, he said.

The biggest concern with graduating in three years is the class sequence because some courses are not offered every semester, Mitchell added.

But there are opportunities within the premedicine program to accomplish this, he said. During the summer, the department uses funds from the Howard Hughes Foundation so 20 or 30 students can get a six-week head start with their tuition fully paid.

Another program allows students to accumulate 96 credits within three years -- which must include all of the general education requirements. During the first year of medical school the credits also count toward their undergraduate degree.

Another accelerated program allows students to complete their undergraduate and medical degrees within six years.

"The biggest disadvantage is that students miss out in the college experience," Mitchell said.

But Allyson Ankerbrand, a student at Dickinson College, said she is active in the college community while trying to graduate within three years.

Ankerbrand (sophomore-psychology and political science) came to college with four AP credits and plans to take a course this summer.

Although she sometimes gets stressed when working on a paper at 4 a.m., she said it is worth it.

"That's what college classes are about. I'm a person who needs to be busy all the time," she said, adding that her motivation was to be able to say she "could do it."

Rambeau said college costs may also motivate people to graduate early and can be managed in a variety of ways. Some students enter college with 40 or more credits, so if a degree requires 124 credits it is possible to graduate within three years, he said. Others attend classes during the summer, Rambeau said.

But Mani did not. She worked in the summer to pay for college and her 30 AP credits helped give her a start. She compacted the rest of the credits with heavy semester loads.

"I survived on two hours of sleep and lots of Mountain Dew," she said.