[tongue-tied]

Okay, now I feel completely worthless. I need 3 more classes for my BS, and can't seem to find the time. That is one amazingly dedicated (and smart!) young man.

[CarrotAndStick]

Banh's parents, first-generation Vietnamese immigrants, did not have enough money to pay for both his education and that of his siblings. He could have taken out loans for a second year, or taken on a part-time job while completing his studies. But he said it seemed to make more sense to just finish the degree in one year.

[DemforBush]

"Banh said he was already halfway to his degree before stepping foot on campus. He had a whopping 72 credits from advanced placement exams in high school."


Something for parents to consider the next time their teenager says "I'm never going to need this dumb class." Those piddly core requirement courses cost just as much as the upper level ones. Testing out of even 12 or 15 credits can mean thousands in savings.


Neat story, btw - thanks for posting it! :)

[Frwy]

I hope this isn't a commentary on the quality of the education he received. As most public schools are failing most students, is the same thing happening at the college level? I'm not saying it is, just asking.

It's probably that the kid is a genius with a work ethic that has no bounds. Good going. Please use it for good. There is way too much evil going around these days.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

He has no plans for world domination-yet... : )

[Alouette]

So he went for it _ taking 11 classes in the spring of 2006 to complete his bachelor's in mathematics.

It took me 2 years to complete a BS in mathematics. But that is not counting the other 2 years I spent taking various liberal arts and humanities courses 16 years previously.

[Tax-chick]

He signed up for 23 credit hours his first semester at U.Va., but found the workload wasn't as bad as he thought it might be.

"I found myself sitting around a lot with free time," he said.

Okay, I'm going back to bed ...

[CobaltBlue]

Amazing that they let him take classes that conflicted! It seems wrong, somehow.

Not that I don't admire him, I do!

72 AP credits is awesome. My older son, with an IB degree, had two semester's worth, and my younger son, the slacker, has one semester's worth.

I keep telling them about CLEP tests, but they won't listen.

Heck, in high school I tried to get them to go to junior college instead (an option in Virginia), but they wouldn't listen.

I think they are enjoying staying in school (on mom and dad's dime) just a little bit longer.

[Jim Noble]

This is what comes from multiple choice tests.

[jocon307]

A very impressive acheivement. Quite a good idea on the AP classes. Maybe it will catch on. Not to this extent, of course, but I had no idea there were even that many AP courses you could take.

Good job Mr. Banh!

[jocon307]

PS and yeah, I feel pretty lazy and worthless too right now.

[Raycpa]

I realized the same thing and did it in 2 years.

[AmericanMade1776]

E-mailed the story to my graduate student daughter.

[Just mythoughts]

Congrats to this young man. My middle child at 18 went to college with 70 + hours, however, not all applied to an electrical engineering degree, took him 3 years to earn that degree.

He considered seeking a major in math but decided he did not want to spend the money on another semester. He at 21 entered an EE PhD program.

[DustyMoment]

A YEAR!!?? SLACKER!!!!!





/sarc

[AppyPappy]

Amazing since at UVA, you must reapply to your school every year. Something doesn't smell right here

[Labyrinthos]

Banh's parents, first-generation Vietnamese immigrants, did not have enough money to pay for both his education and that of his siblings. He could have taken out loans for a second year, or taken on a part-time job while completing his studies. But he said it seemed to make more sense to just finish the degree in one year.

BS Alert: The kid is a highly motivated child of immigrant parents who maxed out on AP credits and probably aced his SAT exam. I doubt he's paying any tuition at U.Va., and if he is, he should have gone to one of the many schools that offered or would have offered him a full ride.

[sportutegrl]

Since he did this to keep from having to borrow money, I wonder why he didn't qualify for scholarships? Maybe he wasn't the 'right' minority.

[LIConFem]

Pretty Impressive! I wonder how long it'd take him to get his UVB degee. :o)

[1riot1ranger]

Thought you would find this interesting after yesterday's immigrant post.